A Nutella Sandwich

Will I eat it?

It would be an understatement to say I have a sweet tooth. If eating sugar is unhealthy for others, it’s hazardous for me. My parents have been diabetic since their mid-30s, and I have a long history of complex dental infections.

I am going through a stressful life phase and tend to eat junk to handle anxiety. My genetics help me to keep my weight in check, but comfort eating has started impacting my cholesterol levels.

To keep an eye on my comfort eating, I have decided to write down my experiences during each trigger for comfort eating.

A strategy that helped me conquer my 18-year-long smoking addiction was an increased awareness around each urge, and I intend to do something similar here.

Currently, I am seeing an irresistible urge to eat a Nutella sandwich. I have already prepared one, and it’s staring at me with lusty eyes. I promise not to touch the sandwich until I publish this article. Let’s see how it goes.

Trigger

I was writing an application to the Indian government to help myself fight fake accusations laid against me five years back. I have written multiple applications over the past five years, but very few have been effective.

The sense of disappointment makes it a very arduous task. Every time I document a new application, it reminds me of all my failed attempts.

It reminds me of all the negative discussions with government officials refusing to provide information that could help me prove my innocence. Hence, every time I sit to document a new application, I have to be proactive to think about all negative scenarios.

It’s not enjoyable to constantly think about possible adverse outcomes, and it burdens my brain. Comfort eating helps me to cope with stress. What’s better than eating a Nutella sandwich to comfort me?

What to do?

The self-help industry is flooded with solutions to combat addictions like comfort eating, as was the case when I was trying to quit smoking. Do all of them work?

No. I had to invent my methods, and most of them were unconventional. The reason for this article is the same. It does not provide any solution, but a magnifying lens on the trigger in the hope that I can handle these urges healthily.

I prepared the sandwich before starting this article but promised to finish writing the trigger points before eating it. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel like eating it anymore and threw it in the bin with enthusiasm to go and focus on my application with positivity.

Until I face my next trigger, Good Bye.

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