Do you eat for comfort?

Netherlands
February 3, 2009 8:45am CST
People are so different in the way they handle what comes their way. For example a lot of people use food to comfort them when they are depressed, sad, hurt, angry etc. while others tend to eat less or sometimes even stop eating when something gets them down. Personally for me I don't do either. I am not a big eater to begin with but I have noticed that when something gets me down I seem to eat about the same way as I always do, just lucky I suppose! And what about you? Do you tend to eat more and eat food that you know is not good for you when you get down in the dumps to comfort you and help you to feel better? And if so, have you ever found that it really does make you feel better or do you tend to get more depressed because now on top of everything else you have managed to gain weight also? Or are you the opposite? Do you tend to eat less food or in the extreme stop eating entirely when you are depressed?
3 responses
@wjcp2008 (106)
• China
3 Feb 09
I'm sorry to say that sometimes I also eat more things just because I feel uncomfortable.I know this is a bad habbit but it really need time and insistence to get rid of this and many times I give up.But luckily I do not have the idea of losing weight by eating less,I think it's bad to our health.
2 people like this
• Netherlands
3 Feb 09
I am sorry that you eat for comfort sometimes but I suppose that at times it is the only way for some people to feel better. I don't think there is anything too much wrong with it as long as it is not an everyday thing then it becomes a problem causing possibly more problems! It is good though that you are not trying to loose weight and I agree that eating less sometimes can be bad for our health especially when we stop eating all together! Thanks for responding.
@ellie333 (21016)
4 Feb 09
Hi Greeneyelady, I love my food whether I am depressed or not but everything in moderation and don't really eat or not eat more or les if stressed or depressed but I will treat myself to more of my favourit foods and have the odd bar of chocolate, always good for the serotonin levels. LOL. Huggles. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
• Netherlands
4 Feb 09
Hi Ellie! I am like you, I don't generally see much difference in my eating habits when I am down in the dumps or depressed but I must admit I will usually have a dinner or lunch of something that I really like to treat myself but I would have to eat lunch or dinner anyway and would have a special treat anyway at some point so I don't see that as going overboard...a little more "comforting" yes, but not overboard. And I may just sneak in a little piece of chocolate to top it off but I'm not a big sweets eater so that would be minimal. Speaking of a piece of chocolate, I had a horrible craving for chocolate all day on Monday and I finally did get a little piece of Belgium Bon Bon, it was the first piece of chocolate I've had in probably 6 months but it did the trick and got me over my craving! I'm so naughty huh? ;) Thanks for responding!
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
9 Feb 09
Thanks for the best response, appreciated. Huggles. Ellie :D
@dodo19 (47082)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
9 Feb 09
I must admit that there are times when I eat food, when I'm feeling low, or depressed. During those moments, I'll primarily eat chocolate to help lift my spirit, but if I don't have any, then I'll just try to find something else that is sweet. I'm not sure why I do it, but it certainly helps me, which is why I'll occasionally do it.
1 person likes this
• Netherlands
9 Feb 09
I think a lot of people do eat, (maybe their favorites or over eat), occasionally when they are depressed and to tell you the truth I don't see much wrong with it as long as they keep it within reason. But sometimes you hear people are always depressed and are always eating to help the depression and that is when I think it becomes a problem. First I think that if you are depressed all of the time it would do you a lot more good trying to find out Why you are depressed all of the time and do something to try to get help and/or a cure for your depression and I also think if someone eats all of the time they will probably gain weight and of course that will probably cause more depression. Then it becomes a never ending circle and one that is almost impossible to get out of. Thanks for responding! ;)