The Emotions Of Food

Do you use food or drinks to sooth emotions? I know I do!! Especially drinks of the alcohol variety!!

Having highly sensitive emotions can be overwhelming and a glass of wine (or 2) helps me calm that those feeling. There is just something about the process from opening the bottle to pouring to taking that first sip. But, if I am really honest with myself nothing about that is healthy. It is NOT emotionally, mentally and most definitely not physically healthy in anyway. So why am I bringing this all up? Whole30 is opening my eyes to the behavior that’s why (a post on my overall experience is coming).

Over the last 20 some odd days I have not had one drop of any type of alcohol. I admit the first few days were kind of tough. That pesky habit I had each night while I make dinner or relax with my husband had to be modified and slowly broken. Surprisingly I didn’t miss the actual booze but the process. As the days went on and high stress or other emotions would rise I would sigh wishing for something to ease the feeling but I pressed on.

The reality is that food/drinks and emotions go hand in hand for most everyone. We use it to celebrate, relax or forget the stress of the day. In fact most cultures surround social behaviors around food/drinking so it is quite normal for humans to lean on these things to cope. During Whole30 though you must give that up and this means facing emotions head on.

Feelings of stress and disappointment are very hard for me to face. I want to forget them and with my other coping mechanism gone (running) I’ve been really having a rough go. Writing is helping a lot and so is talking with friends about my feelings. Anything just to get the feelings out! I’m learning these are way better coping skills than the drinking. Once I can run again that will be an additional coping skill.

I’m sure for so many eating or drinking is your go to source when dealing with emotions no matter if they are good or bad. What we should all do though is ask ourselves is what we are doing healthy? I mean in all aspects of health not just the physical kind but emotionally and mentally. When did “you” learn that turning to a food or a drink  was the way to cope? And… is there a better alternative? I won’t lie and say this is easy because it most definitely is NOT! It is going to take me longer than 30 days to change my behavior but I am thankful I have learned this about myself.

Do you have a food or drink go to for coping with emotions? If you do/did I would love to hear your story and what you do now or want to do to cope with emotions?