Therapy: Jen Jen nominated me...can I have a title?

Jen Jen nominated me, can I have a title and possibly a tiara?!? I responded to her post last night and now I've been given a job.... I think I was bamboozled.... Seriously, we were talking about food issues and addiction and I suggested that we start a thread about our deeper (or as deep as anyone wants to go) issues with food. I thought we could ask questions--anyone who wants to under the 'therapy" title so we recognize it and we could respond. I hope somebody responds, cuz I feel I have some serious food issues I should explore to get the most out of the therapy. So.... by way of long explanation, my question for tonight is: What sort of emotional eating do you do? My response is that I realized when I had my psych consult for surgery that I do a lot of emotional eating. The psych asked me what sort of feelings may be want to eat. I replied "all of them". Sadly, I eat when happy, sad, tired, worried, anxious, relaxed, etc... I said that I saw no distinction. Some of my happiest years were my fattest--- I didn't think I only ate when I was feeling negative emotion. She said that perhaps there was something scary to me about feeling my emotions and I ate to suppress them all. That rang true with me. I've tried to be a little more reflective about my feelings. The only thing else I want to say is that I once had a very stressful day with my father that brought up a lot of old sad feelings and it was very upsetting for me. We were having a day out and I remember feeling so much calmer when we stopped and had a piece of pie. I felt soothed. It was a revelation. The next day I had hives for the first and only time in my life. I think they were psychosomatic--because I was so bothered by the previous day. Now, you know something about me that very few people know.... I'd appreciate any of your reponses---- Cathy

Therapy!?! Lord knows I need it. What kind of emotional eating do I do? Well I eat when I lonely. My therapist told me I have abandonment issues. DUH!!! So Ive noticed I eat late at night when Im alone or when the kids arent home. I guess its true, I have issues. kristi

First, what is you address, I will mail you a tiara. You can then take a pretty pic of yourself and post it on your profile. Second, title - Coping with Cathy, Cathy's Chat, Cathy's Corner, Cathy's Cure, Therapy and the Tiara, Tiara Thinking. those are my masterful suggestions ... EMOTIONAL EATING I eat for every reason, happy sad, angry, glad, bored excited. I do not only eat whne negatives are going on. So much of our society and life involves eating, cake with b-day celebration, anniversay dinner, softball banquet. I think we are conditioned to use food as more than nutrition. I am not saying that I do not accept responsibility for being fat I do, I am guilty. No one shoved those chips and all the other crap down my throat. I think part of my excess comes from the more you have the better you are. This thinking was true in many areas of my life - bigger job, bigger house, bigger car, bigger clother - bigger meaning better. I know that this is false thinking. Things cannot make you happy and make you better. Thanks for taking the ball and running with it. I am reading Exodus from Obesity. If anything "therapy" comes out of that I will post it. God Bless, Jen

Well let's see.... I eat when I'm alone and bored. Usually late at night when I cant sleep. I HATE being alone. Even when my partner is gone to work, I feel like she will be gone forever. Food kept me company while she was gone. It kept my mind occupied. She works third shift. Now at night when I cant sleep, I constantly walk in the kitchen like I'm looking for something to munch on. I only gave in once since surgery and ate two pringles. So it sounds like my issue is being alone? Nice post, Your really making me think. Kay

I too eat for all reasons, happy, sad, lonely, bored, poitive and negative times!! I can now say that I feel somtimes that I want to munch but I stop myself from taking the leap of destruction. That is not to say that I have not eaten badly since surgery, I have, I have just not "pigged out" on anything since then, I have a couple of something get the taste from it and move on. I am glad you posted this, I can definately use some supportive therapy!!! Thanks! Steph

I'd eat ALL the time! Happy, sad, tired, sick, mad... anything as long as it was food! I usually ate more alone- then it was just me and my buddy food There were times when I'd go to home town buffet, pig out and then come hme later and eat a whole pizza! My poor poor body!

I ate with all emotions. I didn't realize the depth of that until I was on my pre-surgical diet and could only eat the barix products. And then after suregery, when I was on the liquid phase. I really found out then what a hold food had on me. I feel like I have worked through some of those issue now, but know there are still more. Leeanne

Stress is a huge trigger for me...especially at work. Pre WLS...I'd find myself at my computer working on something big and ugly and somehow a box of Cheez-its was in front of me and I would be eating away...so unconscious of having gotten the box out! I really have to be present with myself and my emotions...something my therapist is helping me with. Jen