To ask how you deal with stress

[FabiantheFish]

I have a problem with emotional eating. I am going through a really stressful time at work and every time I come out of a meeting I just want to stuff a lot of food in my mouth as quickly as possible .
I feel like I am out of control but the thought of imposing any limits or trying to control my eating makes me feel panicky and more stressed.
Please tell me how to deal with stressful situations without turning to food for comfort?

Running.... or other activities. Nothing beats it as a stress buster. You feel like crap when you start but all the endorphins have kicked in by the time your done.

Hi Fabian. I take myself off on a brisk walk. Gives you a bit of thinking time, and I generally feel better afterwards.

No advice, OP. I'm in the same boat so I empathise

Walking for about an hour a day

I'll start by saying I'm maybe not in the best position to give any advice as I tend towards not eating at all when I'm stressed. What I've found helps me though is using Bach Rescue Remedy, crazy cleaning, listening to music, going out for a drive, spending time with the animals (cat, rabbit and dog in particular make good comforters!)

I also find keeping a mood tracker (basically a table for the month that tracks various things per day. You gauge whether you've been a little, moderately or severely affected on any given day by a variety of things including anxiety, over eating, conflict, stress, alcohol consumption, menses etc. It really helps to provide a picture and see when things are building that you might not even realise in the moment iyswim.

Above all trying to get into the mindset of there being a light at the end of the tunnel is what has pulled me through most things. I don't get ruffled 90% of the time now whereas when I was younger I was a walking stress balled pretty much 24/7!

I eat too. Carbs. Not good when you are overweight and diabetic.

Things that help me are only having healthy options available, only drinking water and staying away from caffeine and in particular more calorific coffee like cappuccino (free where I work) and getting enough sleep. Also when it gets really bad at work just surviving the next minute then do the next minute.

I work quite long and slightly offset hours late start and late finish so I split my lunch so sandwich at lunchtime and a piece of fruit around 6.30/7pm ish when I would previously get a craving for food or a calorific coffee.

I also find logging what I eat helpful.

I hope it gets less stressful for you soon.