And yes, I do the same thing. Emotional eater/bored eater here.

I have the same problem, or did for a long time, that only helped me gain a lot of weight. It takes time and even when u realize that it's bad u may still eat bad. Keep battling though cause now I don't attack the fridge when I'm really pissed or frustrated. It doesn't help that my mother is living with me right now, cause she is (in real truth) an instigator of my frustration. I just have learned to deal with my own problems, cause I know I can't deal with hers. Drama lover and problem creator, I hate admitting it in type but that is what she does for attention. I never have gotten why, but at this age I can't use any more time finding out why, when I got significant problems in my own life. It might not help that I'm one of four and she's an only child. Anyway, sorry for the rant, but identifying what really gets u crazy will help. Then deal with it from your end cause that is the most you can control Most of the time, if not all.

Unfortunately, I can relate to using food to treat emotional pain. I gained 20lbs in ONE MONTH after having my 3rd miscarriage.

Is there a public mental health clinic in your area? They have MUCH lower rates from what I've been told. A friend of mine used to go and they also got her free medication (some antidepressants can be very expensive).

Usually the public mental health clinics are operated and funded through whatever state/city/county you live in. If you don't know of any public mental health clinics in your area you can post your location (city, county, state) and someone may have the information for you.

Good luck and many :hug:

Check in your area to see if there is free or low cost services in your area. I know here in my area we have something like that for all the people who fall thru the insurance "crack". Dont be too proud to use a facility like this because once you get feeling better you can help someone else. I suffer from serious mood swings and apparently right now insomnia which is throwing my whole life off track. Its easy for someone that doesnt understand depression to tell you to just get out and do something but we all know its not that simple. Somedays I can hardly get out of the house but when I do I seem to feel better. Im a stay at home mom so it makes it easy for me to hull up in the house and not go out. I am currently looking for a job so I will have to get up and get moving and out of the house. If you can make plans with someone or volunteer a couple of times a week. If you make a commitment you will feel like you must keep it and it may bring you some happieness to see that you have helped someone else. Also try to be around positive people. Good luck. Kimberly

I do too!
 

Willmakeit - I have that happen all the time! I know lots of people do. I get excited when I am going to go get food or go to lunch at work. It's like eating makes me so happy and if I am down, I will most likely eat to feel better. But I know the story, you go to bed that night so mad that you just keep doing it over and over. Then, you'd think you'd learn next time, but no. I actually came to this site though because of the way I mindlessly eat. Just eating even when I am already kind of full. Just a few minutes ago a coworker who wanted a sweet, went and got some nutter butters and gave one to me. Of course, I ate it all right away. The point is, I was stuffed from lunch and wasn't even particularly wanting sweets (for once), but I jsut inhaled it anyway! I mean ughh it is so bad. I know how you feel though, and I guess it takes serious trying and willpower. Try to distract yourself byt getting out of the house maybe, or sometimes if I just lie down when I get the cravings they pass and I realize I don't have to eat right then.

Holyteror - Omigosh don't get me started on bored eating! That's probably my number one problem w/ food!

Hi all, I can relate too. First when I was younger I was like BeachPatrol, lost weight because I was deeply depressed and couldn't eat. Wish in a way it was like that now. But I think I switched somewhere.

I am trying to change my behaviors to something else when I'm down.

:hug:

I'm the same way. When I get depressed (which is far too often) I eat everything in sight even when I am full. I was doing really well for the last few months but this month was harder. Sometimes I do the opposite though. I know starving myself will make me feel better about myself so I tend to do that too. Being depressed sucks.

I eat when I am bored and lonely.....it has been so long since I have been on track I wonder if I ever will be again.

L

P.S
I was recently at a work related conference....there were only two in the group that were over weight......guess what we were the only two drinking diet soda........does that even make sense?

Me Too!
 

Emotional/Bored Eater Here!!! So happy to know I'm not alone!!
I also like to shop when I'm bored or depressed (ie:spend money). Do you think the two go hand in hand? I think I see a pattern here.....

the key to depression and stress is to find something to alleviate it. Using things like shopping and eating, only get you further stressed when you look at the scale or your wallet. Although, using these things in extreme moderation and along with other things to help relive stress can be okay. When I am stressing and I immediately start craving chocolate, I try to find something else to do that's appropriate to distract me. I often play video games or watch TV, but this is another one of those things that should be used in moderation. As others have mentioned, journaling and exercise are really good coping skills. One day I had an *extremely* stressful day at work and I saw a girl eating chocolate ice cream and i started craving it really hard. Luckily, I had something I had to do and didn't have access to ice cream. I went on about my day and was able to relax through the course of the day. Several hours later, I still wanted Ice cream, but the craving had probably been reduced down to 1/3 what it was. In the end i had 3/4 of a cup of healthy choice ice cream instead of the huge triple chocolate waffle cone that I had been craving earlier.
Distraction really works, but it's very difficult to make yourself do.
Anytime I'm stressed and want ice cream, I just think about how far I've come and how much I'd hate to ruin it. Then i go do something else--soemtimes if I have the willpower, i'll have a small indulgence like diet ice cream or weight watcher's cake.