Therapy food

I would not eat or drink while at the appointment. The first woman had coffee for herself but never offered it to me. The second offered tea or water and finally stopped because I always said no. Eating or drinking with a therapist would have made it seem too familiar. Also, the first one would have probably thought it meant we were bonding or something awful like that.

If I had still been smoking - I would have smoked at an appointment. That would have been very useful.

T and I have coffee together, sometimes she makes other times I bring. Once she was eating some crackers in session and offered me some. I took them so as not to offend her but the were dry and really disgusting, plus I was having major food issues at the time.

Current T is always drinking coffee. He has tea available in his waiting room, which I've had a couple times (not the best selection--I once asked if he had anything caffeinated, and he found some in the back). Usually I just bring in some fizzy water (like Perrier or similar) to drink.

I'd be bothered if my T ate during session. None of mine ever have. I have no issue with them drinking something (current T, coffee; ex-MC, coffee, soda, water, juice; ex-T, water sometimes). But eating seems like a different thing that would bother me.

Last session I was really hungry, and wanted to stop at McDonald's to get some apple slices, but then i decided chomping on apples during session would be disruptive. I'm not sure which would have been more disruptive - my growling stomach or the apple slices.

i hate chewing noises...so the apple slices would be way more disruptive for me

i would also never eat in session, nor has my T. she did have to get a water the other day bc she was coughing and offered me some, but i refused.

We both have earl grey (I know -very British except hes Dutch !)
Also water and oatcakes(he’s diabetic so sometimes weetabix so I join him!)

Doesn’t affect talking and actually stops my stomach being so loud from nerves and decreases feeling I’m going to fart very loudly if I move!

I love the Keurig in the waiting room which has coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Something about having a warm cup of free liquid makes me indescribably happy at the beginning of session. T often waits a minute while I fix it.

Neither of us have eaten in session, but when he was recovering for some kind of stomach surgery he drank these health food store smoothies designed to build up his fat reserves

I wondered who ate egg bagels.

Me too

If it was a particularly tough session, I tend to grab something I like. Usually either something sweet (with lots of chocolate), a coffee (my T smells like coffee a lot and it reminds me of him) or if I'm not doing well a beer, which is probably never a good idea.

I've been thinking about behavioral reactions to emotional events and wondering how far the concept of self harm stretches. We tend to think of it as specific and deliberate pain/injuries caused to the body, but I also think emotional eating or drinking can be self harm if it is overused for putting a lid on uncomfortable feelings. Sometimes this is necessary and useful and helpful "containment," where there is a difference between a temporary boxing up and a permanent ignoring of difficult feelings and thoughts. Sometimes it is comforting, and certainly a cup of coffee won't ruin a lifetime of good sleeping, nor will a box of cookies give you diabetes , nor will a beer ruin your good health. I also think things that do not directly impact the body can also be self harm, like drunk texting your ex and leaving a VM that you want them back, or reaching out to a friend who freaks out when you are struggling, and you always end up feeling worse afterwards. For me, I can't imagine living a life where every minute is spent doing things that are only good for me and my body, mind, spirit. I sometimes enjoy things that are harmful to me, and I sometimes think the key is to avoid having a big sense of guilt about it, and just accept it.

Hey! They got extra protein!

next we'll hear you drink egg nog too!

I take an elastic view of self harm. It's less the action - which can be all the things you mentioned and exercise, working excessively etc, if its done to hide, bury, ignore difficult feelings and thoughts. Obvs it is a continuum as sometimes a bit of distraction is good but there is a sphere when it becomes self harm I think.

Loathe that stuff.

Like 1 g, whose nutritional value may or may not be outweighed by the increase in fat (~1 g) and cholesterol (from 0 to 25 mg ).