Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.
I understand now that the incessant snacking I did as a kid was just my way of coping with the pain of the abuse. It lead me to be obese before the word was commonly used. Then in high school I starved myself because I could no longer take the ridicule of classmates and sometimes teachers. I went from size 16 to size 9 in about 2 years. I have never been able to keep all the weight off. After I got married, the weigh came back. Now I wear a size 22 and struggle each day to not eat when the anxiety gets bad. I am so sick of being the fat woman. I try to avoid food but when the nightmares are bad, the gnawing hunger comes back. I hate it. I am angry at myself for letting me be this way. I just want to be normal.
Crunchy foods help me to relax the most so I snack on carrots, cucumber sticks, croutons, banana chips, rice cakes....stuff like that. If it's ice cream I want, I usually go for the frozen yogurt instead because you get that same comfort but it's not as bad for you. Yogurt is a wonderful snack also. I even found a diet chocolate cream pie flavored soda pop that is quite yummy! It helps with my chocolate addiction.
Sure, it's not a balanced diet munching all the time but it's helpful for me.
Try not to beat yourself up about it, many people cope by eating. If that's what makes you feel better then do it, but try to pick the healthier snacks. I find I feel less guilty that way.
Hugs
Sometimes your physical journey needs to be the focus and at other points it will be your mental or emotional one. However, that does not make any one of your battles any less important, difficult or real. I love comfort foods- though I can't eat any of mine anymore. Instead, I have adopted new ones- and some of them are worse than the ones I loved before. But my doctor watches my weight like a hawk, so I have learned bad foods in small doses. (I was underweight for awhile due to health reasons- nothing like having to be weighed every week by a nurse to horrify you!)
Hollie is correct- if it makes you feel better do it. No guilt. Just try to keep it healthy and try to stick to small doses of the bad, when you do need to indulge. Some days it is easier than others- but every day, you begin anew. Always remember too, you are beautiful, no matter what pant size you are wearing. No mirror can tell you that. Many well wishes and know you are never alone.
I am trying to eat more healthy. As a kid I hit the Tasty Kakes and microwave pizza hard. Along with chips and Doritos. Now I avoid those things mostly. I just overeat "good" foods. If I am nervous I grab thinks like cheese, olives, Wasa bread (lower calories and very crunchy) and grapes. But the hunger does not go away. I have been checked for diabetes- definitely don't have it. So the hunger is driven by the PTSD.
Hollie- I am going to try your method. It may work for me. Also try Wasa bread- the light rye is 60 cal. for 2 slices- good for a sandwich, good source of fiber. They have a lot of flavors- check the imported food isle at the supermarket.