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Using food as a escape

D

dogsoldier

Bluelighter
Joined
Sep 2, 2007
Messages
73
Location
Perth Australia
Anyone else using food as a escape while staying clean ive noticed I eat a ton more this last year while trying to stay clean... Gotta start lifting some weights as im getting pretty big :-/
 
i think its common when people get clean they gain weight, not all people do... but essp if you get on psy meds or anti depressants or if you quit smoking.
 
I have always used food as an escape and I don't even have the excuse of doing it to stay clean (in which case you are choosing a less harmful escape to keep yourself from a more detrimental one). Lately I have been trying, with some success, to use some form of mindfulness when I get a craving to eat. I try to focus on my body and see if I can feel whether I am truly hungry or whether it is boredom, angst, depressed feelings etc. that is making me want to eat. If it is not true hunger I try to give myself a task (preferably physical) to get through the moment. If indeed it is hunger then I have to get myself to eat something with protein in it and I try to make a satisfying experience out of it. I sit down, take my time and try to really enjoy it rather than just eating on the fly without even noticing what I am doing. Changing habits is hard! 8(
 
herbavore said:
I have always used food as an escape and I don't even have the excuse of doing it to stay clean (in which case you are choosing a less harmful escape to keep yourself from a more detrimental one). Lately I have been trying, with some success, to use some form of mindfulness when I get a craving to eat. I try to focus on my body and see if I can feel whether I am truly hungry or whether it is boredom, angst, depressed feelings etc. that is making me want to eat. If it is not true hunger I try to give myself a task (preferably physical) to get through the moment. If indeed it is hunger then I have to get myself to eat something with protein in it and I try to make a satisfying experience out of it. I sit down, take my time and try to really enjoy it rather than just eating on the fly without even noticing what I am doing. Changing habits is hard! 8(
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Excellent advice !
 
That's great advice herbavore :) I find I overeat when I'm feeling very anxious,and often deliberately eat junk to put myself in a "food coma" to distract myself from and lessen my anxiety,especially when my usual dose of xanax is not enough.

I'm experimenting with increasing the protein in my diet lately,and find it really helps my mood,especially depression.I often crave chocolately things,and have discovered that a chocolate protein shake will often do the job :)
 
I used to use food as an escape and was quite overweight until my early 20's and I dropped down from 130kg to around 80kg which is where I have remained. The weight came off when I was first scripted paroxetine and started whacking methamphetamine. I still notice the same behaviours when it comes to food that I used to have, especially when hanging out. When I use drugs though, I tend not to eat, it feels more comfortable to have an empty stomach. In saying this, I have had an "addiction" to almost everything, whether it has been food, alcohol, gambling, drugs. Since I've gotten through my early twenties, I've calmed down a lot and stopped engaging in reckless and compulsive behaviour. Well, slowed down. :) I hope this makes sense.

Ash.
 
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If your anxiety medication is not doing enough to quell your anxiety, why don't you talk to your doc instead of misusing food to treat your anxiety. I mean does your doctor even know you are doing this? They are supposed to be on your side, I'm quite amazed by the lack of communication between patients who have been put on medication and the doctors prescribing it.
 
Without a doubt.

When I'm sober, and craving a substance (I'm a Poly-Drug user) I eat a lot. I find myself eating random shit too, just stuffing my face to keep myself entertained and busy.
 
i think mindfulness is helpful as herbavore mentioned. You must separate the idea that eating = pleasure. You eat to sustain yourself, not as a form of relaxation, entertainment or comfort. Easier said than done. I don't really have a weight problem but sometimes my belly gets big from eating far too many baked goods (nanaimo bars, so good). My solution is to not have anything unhealthy around so that i don't end up eating it. For me it's like keeping certain drugs around, if they are there, then they will be going up my nose, no questions asked, so better just to not have them at all.

You have to be careful not to replace a drug addiction with eating as it's the same thing. By eating you are releasing dopamine, just the same as when you do most drugs. The trick is to learn proper coping mechanisms so that you don't feel the need to escape in the first place. The first time you fight the compulsion to eat, it will be tough. The second time a bit easier and so and so on. Before you know it, you will no longer have this issue.

i'm not just talking out of my ass either, this is something i've been consciously working on the last two months and i've had great success so far. Also an hour long walk each day doesn't hurt either, for many reasons. Treat junk food like you would a drug habit. Of course you can't go cold turkey on food but you can at least cut out the things that are horrible for you.
 
Libby I've spoken to my psych about the issue,and since he has upped my daily xanax allowance,the overeating "food coma" thing is diminishing.

He also said that my current antidepressant was one that makes you very hungry and he cut down the dosage.But after the dosage was cut,I began to get very deeply depressed,so he put me back on the higher dose.My drug cocktail is constantly being adjusted to get the right balance.

The reality is though,I've had food issues since I started modelling at age 11,and they are not going to go away overnight.But at least I'm working on it :)
 
It did sounds slightly harsh at the time libby,but I was very fragile last night,so meh. I think most women in particular have some sort of food issues....I blame the media :X
 
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