Not only do I eat to deal with emotional problems but I also seem to go for alcohol as well. I don't get drunk but I will have a drink or two on extremely bad nights.

I want advice or opinions on how I should deal with these problems instead of eating or having a drink to take my mind off it.


Anything is helpful.

The things I do to cope when things are stressing me...

- write in a journal
- put on music REALLY loud and dance around the house
- pull out a favorite book

Kind of silly things, but they really help me to take my mind off the problem until I can relax enough to deal with it rationally.

I also bust out a favourite book. Or a favourite movie.

Depending on what's bothering me, I'll also sometimes try to go to the gym, or a yoga class - gets me out of the house, distracts me.

If it's a big thing, though, I'll call in some support. I'm generally intensely private, but I have 2 or 3 people I depend on, and I find talking to them helps me sort it out.

But honestly, sometimes (rarely, but sometimes) I just have a glass of wine and watch baseball. I just make sure to write it in my food journal before I drink it so I'm sure I'm counting it. I'm absolutely not advocating alcohol as a tool for stress relief, but I want you to know you aren't the only person who sometimes goes that route.

I did tonight but I didn't even take more than a sip of my drink. I put my post up after I poured my drink and I took one sip and then just sat there zoning out on my couch for a little bit.

I would talk to someone but really the only person I can talk to about this is the person who is breaking my heart over and over again. There are 2 people I could also turn to for support but one lives in Canada and it's hard to get ahold of her and the other I just can't bring myself to tell what's going on to. I can't actually text her and we've been friends for 2 years and I can't bring myself to call her or text her and tell her what's going on.


I think I may try the book approach.......I have a ton around here. I may also start writing down what it is that I'm feeling first and just analyze the situation and try to think of another way to deal with my feelings other than eat or drink them away.


Thank you two for your advice. <3 I appreciate it

Hugs to you sweetheart. Emotional eating is probably what got most of us to this site! And I can understand the drinking thing too. I am in my 4th year of studying psychology and I would really recommend going to see a counsellor or something, if you cant afford that; write everything down. It really really helps! Talking about/getting it all out is a lifesaver!!

Feel free to private message me also xx

Not having a big enough support system could be a reason you are drinking. A counselor or therapist would be good if you can afford it. Also you can do your own Cognitive Behavior Therapy with books like Feeling Good. CBT is meant to totally change your thought patterns. It's supposed to help you deal with situations by looking at them differently. A lot of people have said CBT, particularly the Feeling Good book, changed their lives.

I would like to add : go shopping. Doesn't have to be clothes, even go shopping for groceries is fun It always help me to relax.

Coming onto 3FC just to read around and poke around. Go for a walk, or exercise really really hard. I love a good workout to get the frustration out. God, did i really just say that???

Yes, yes you did just say that lol.


I think I'll go the workout route. Walking seems to work for me too so if I can't write down what I'm feeling or talk to someone that seems to be the next best thing.

Except I'm not allowed to go anywhere this weekend...see bad things happen in 3's: 2 weekends ago a friend passed out and went to the hospital (I went with was emergency contact), last weekend another friend went to the hospital (i didn't go since I was out of state) so I'm thinking this weekend is my weekend (doesn't help I already hit my head on the stairs today when some jerk pushed me and scraped my head)