Stress Traps

Exactly the same as you. I eat and watch all kinds of things to avoid, avoid, avoid. I'll play words w/ friends, have a show in one part of my computer and the news in another part of the screen. Its like I can fill my self with enough distraction to numb out... its almost frenetic. And like you, I don't "live" there, but this is my stress loop.

You're not alone.

sigh. all the usual suspects. unhealthy 'treat' food. too much computer. junk food tv (although that one's a reward too!) unwinnable mental arguments with people who don't care and which only keep me fired up.
i'm slowly learning to replace these with better behaviors.
but it's an uphill battle.
khairete
S.

Stress gets everyone. Myself included alot. Now actually. And sometimes it feels like it wont end. I retreat within myself, eat sweets, and have those mental arguments with that person and say what I wish I could remember when its "convenient" for them or they need something. Anyways I justice have to tell myself its not my problem right this minute and find good ways to distract myself and give myself a "break" from it all. Stress is mind torture. You have to find a way to withdrawal from it.

Go for a walk, play with the kids, something fun for awhile.

Hope things get better soon!

I cry. I'm an Olympic CryBaby.

I'd like to say it really helps. But it doesn't. Just makes everyone around me feel bad.

:'(

I stop eating. When I am stressed, I cannot bring myself to eat. This, in turn, makes me tired and even crabbier. The weight loss that comes with this isn't worth it!

I will also retreat. Much like you are doing now, I will log in and stay away from the world. Maybe I'm thinking "if I ignore it, it will go away". It rarely does! Then I snap out of it. Clean a room, do a load of laundy and slowly make my re-entry back into the world. I find out it's not so bad after all.

I hope your stressful times do not last long- take care, A.!

Games on FB. I tend to want to withdraw and avoid the stress in the other rooms....

Sometimes we do need to get out and go for a walk. It really makes me feel so much better. But of course I won't get out and walk at night so that's when I tend to be on too many hours.

If you are going to snack then just make sure to watch the salt content. I tend to want sweet. If I take tootsie roll suckers I can satisfy that desire for a sweet, well, if it's a chocolate sucker, then I don't go searching for more sweets.

I also find that chewing gum will take that urge to eat away. It gives me chew time and makes my body think I am eating. It signals the stomach to empty and turns on all kinds of stuff in the body.

I have to find things that work so I don't find myself on the "My 600lb. Life" TV show. Eating lifesaver mints, lemon drops, cinnamon drops, any hard candy that you like. It really helps to satisfy that stress craving and is not 1000's of calories that can go straight to the butt. It also helps with blood pressure and stuff if they don't have tons of salt.

When I am stressed I turn into a cleaning machine. Everything has to be in place, I scrub the walls and underneath the cabinets, or the kids toys, scrub the bath tub, stuff that usually gets ignored. I get out of control with the cleaning and I can't stand being interrupted. I usually put something educational on for the kids and clean away. I also find my self eating and wanting greasy and salty food. I also over eat when I am stressed to the point I want to vomit. It is disgusting. Other times I can not get off the computer to save my life normally reading others stories on here to make myself feel better. I used to cry a lot when I was stressed but now it is inconvenient to have a good cry with the boys around. The worst one is when I start getting agitated with my kids for fighting, they always seem to pick on each other MORE when I am having a bad day.