Food is my Drug of Choice

[Nurs0706]

This is just a random thought.. I don't smoke, I don't do drugs, I don't take any illegal substances, and I drink maybe about once every two months.. But, when I have a bad day or just need to relax, I always find myself going for food, ESPECIALLY sweets. I see patients all the time with different addictions and try to help them with their cravings.. but it's funny because I kinda have one of my own. My thought through the day is: "What's for dinner, and more importantly, what's for dessert??!?!?"

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

You are not alone in your compulsions with food.

I've had issues with food for as long as I can remember. In times of stress, boredom, turmoil, sadness, or uncertainty, food was the only enjoyable crutch in my life. My past weights have reflected my love-hate relationship with food, because I have constantly bounced from normal body weights to obesity to overweight, then back to normal BMI and so forth.

I admit that much of my time is preoccupied with thinking about what to eat next. And if I am having a stressful day at work, it all goes to hell.

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

My name is Cathy. I'm a food addict.

[webmansx, ASN, RN]

You are not alone in your compulsions with food.

I've had issues with food for as long as I can remember. In times of stress, boredom, turmoil, sadness, or uncertainty, food was the only enjoyable crutch in my life. My past weights have reflected my love-hate relationship with food, because I have constantly bounced from normal body weights to obesity to overweight, then back to normal BMI and so forth.

I admit that much of my time is preoccupied with thinking about what to eat next. And if I am having a stressful day at work, it all goes to hell.

I hear you!

[Katie5]

Alas! (sadly shakes head). Determination is only what gets me through, sometimes not:(

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Absolutely me too. Not sure why you think it's going to make you feel better shoving the sweets in, but it does - for the moment. It's only later when you realize your orifice is expanding that you feel worse again! It's a hard addiction too because you can't avoid food. I'd love to be one of those people who just see food as fuel, with no emotional attachment.

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

try substituting sweets with plenty of fruits.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

try substituting sweets with plenty of fruits.

just doesnt cut it.....

[blueheaven]

Hi, my name is Susan and I'm a compulsive overeater and food addict

One thing I'm doing as part of my program is writing down my food and any emotion I'm feeling at the time or shortly after eating it. I can say (for myself) that I also am perfectionistic and have this "all or nothing" thing so my writing is not always consistant. It's been hard for me to take each day as it comes and that I can start over and not to beat myself for not doing things perfectly

[aura_of_laura]

Food can absolutely be an addictive substance. Studies have shown that, for many people, your pleasure sensors (technical term) light up with a donut the exact same way a junkie's light up with heroin.

I'm definitely a stress eater - since I love food too much to quit (and it's not like you can go cold-turkey on food), I just make sure I get plenty of exercise to compensate!

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

I love my food...boy, do I love it... I love to cook, eat, smell, think about, and look at food. I've been fortunate in that my metabolism was very forgiving until I hit 40, but things have changed. My BMI has tipped into the overweight category, but I can't seem to get motivated to do anything about it. Sigh.....

[llg, PhD, RN]

All of the above.