You know the saying, “Misery loves company?” Well, misery loves food, too. I was hurt, rejected, miserable, but unaware of it. I knew that I wanted love, but when I reached out, food was always there instead. When “quality time” with my parents wasn’t there, food was never too busy. When hugs, kisses, affection, and compliments weren’t there, food was close by. Candy, chocolate, cookies, and ice cream were there to sweeten my lonely tears. Pot pies, mashed potatoes, hamburgers and fries were there to nurture and warm me whenever I felt a cold, distant rejection. Pretzels, potato chips, and anything salty or crunchy provided welcome relief from frustration. I could just crunch it away. I had a food for every reason and a reason for every food. Comfort food—that’s what it was all about. Who needed a mother, father, other people, or God? They only disappoint and hurt you. I had food. And so, I ate.
“In a study by Laliberte, Boland, and Leichner (1999), these three factors represented the hypothesized family climate for eating disorders: perceptions of the family’s concern for weight and shape, perceptions of the families concern for social appearances, and perceptions of the family’s emphasis on achievement. The combination of appearance and achievement variables identified in this research describes the perfect family—a family that places great emphasis on appearance, family reputation, family identity, and achievement.”
—Suzie Csorna, Familial Relationships and Bulimia
Question: Does food make you feel happy and calm?
