Withinmygroupoffriends,whenoneofusisstrugglingwitharecentbreakupafteralong-termrelationship,thecastawaywillbesadanddepressed.Theresponsetosadnesstakesoneoftwocourses—eitherappetitefailstotally,orweeatexcessivelytoquellouryearningsoverlostloves.Ifoneofthegirlsinmydormwantstoindulgeherappetiteforfoodafterabreakup,wealljoinin.Wealleatterriblefoodinterriblequantities.Forinstance,icecream,cakes,cookiesandpotatochipsallbecomecomfortfoodsthatweconsumeinexcess.
Ithinkthishappensforavarietyofreasons.Tobeginwith,atmyage—nineteen—weareallveryconcernedwithourphysicalappearance.Wewanttobeattractive,tohavethekindofbodyimageoursocietyvalues.Tothatend,wemoderatewhatkindsoffoodsweeat,howmuch,andhowoften;22.andweoftenoverexertourselvesatthegymtryingtoburnoffextracalories.Wemaintaingoodhabitstokeepupgoodappearanceandtherebymaintainagoodrelationship.However,whenanyoneexperiencessomethingasstressfulandemotionallydrainingasabrokenheart,heorshetendstodisregardhealthyhabitsandtakessomepleasureinconsumingthoseformerlyforbiddenfoods.Ofcourse,itisallaviciouscircle.Weloseourboyfriends,webecomedepressed,weeat,wegainweight(which,inturn,depressesus),westruggletoregainourself-respect,weenterintoanotherrelationship,andthecyclegoeson.
Foodisnottheonlyrecourseforasadlover.Onefriendofminesoothesherbrokenheartbygoingshopping—buyingnewclothesandnewshoes,maybeapieceofjewelry—tomakeherselffeelbetter.Whetherit’sfoodorshopping,self-indulgenceisoftengoodmedicinefortheblues,ifitisnotcarriedtoexcess.Theworstresponseisturningtoalcoholordrugs.
