got the munchies's Journal, 03 April 2014

Hey, GTM. I'm so sorry to hear you're going through a tough time. Yep, I certainly get that. I would be willing to bet that somewhere in the ballpark of 95% of those of us on here do. It's funny how two completely unconnected things somehow become connected in our minds -- our rocky relationship problems and the process of consuming fuel. Really they ought to have no connection whatsoever, yet we form a connection between them all on our own. I've been reading a book recently ("The Power of Habit", by Charles Duhigg) that explains the connection as two-fold: 1) Many of our habits are triggered by responses to outside stimuli -- in this case anxiousness and stress. We have a system of habits that automatically do everything for us (kind of automated routines that kick-in whenever a habitual activity begins). When you're stressed, the habit-response for stress kicks in. The second part of that, of course, is that the habit-response you have formed over the years for stress is : TA-DAH! : Eating. It's a comfort thing, of course. Anyway, he says it can be battled. The thing is to change one of the things, either the trigger, or the habit-response. Fiddle with the rules of the "habit", and your response suddenly shifts to the new habit-response. Since we can't really change our stresses, we can change how we respond to them. When stress gets to you, try and find another (different) activity to respond with. After you do it so many times, it will soon replace the old automated response with the new one you've created. Take a look at the book on Amazon. It's pretty neat. 

Rob thanks for your comments. I can not change the trigger (family members) but I can alter my reaction. I have turned to exercise as a way to decompress I just need to eliminate the craving for sweets during these times of high stress - or at least learn how to ignore it. I am envious of those that are able to count on family for unconditional support. 

I've been avoiding my "triggers" as much as possible...... 

i was an eater, stress, emotion, sickness, social, lonely, you name it, i ate. Stress eating i tackled by getting the food and throwing it! you don't know how much a piece of applepie against a wall exploding can work in therapeutic way! try it... 

don't say its a shame to waste food, because if you had eaten it, it would also have gone to waist... YOUR WAIST! 

I eat when I get board, so when that happens I make a protein drink instead. As far as the toxic relationship I can't really answer that one. Live life for you and nobody else. You may want to try saying screw it, but really it is all up to you how you change the situation. I wish all the best for you, and remember we are all here for you.