: I have been working the program all
: summer after lapsing for several
: months in the spring. I was doing
: really well -- solid with eating,
: sleep, exercise -- and then I
: binged on chocolate on Friday.

: Back story: I'm across the country
: from my husband and my dog and my
: home for two months researching,
: and I have a sinus infection, and
: I'm scared about finishing my
: dissertation in the next two
: months... all of that started to
: feel SO overwhelming that I
: reached for the old bad way of
: coping Friday afternoon (several
: chocolate bars from a vending
: machine). Of course after I felt
: "better" for about an
: hour, and then I felt much much
: worse, so back on the program I
: went.

: Here it is day four (Monday), and I
: feel like I'm going to explode or
: collapse. I'm in the library but I
: can't focus and somehow I've
: frittered away 90 minutes of
: precious time already today. I
: want to go cry in the bathroom but
: I feel chained to my computer, and
: yet nothing good is happening
: here. I want to stick my head in a
: bowl of ice cream, but luckily
: there is none around -- it's just
: the creepycrawly feeling of sugar
: cravings. I'm supposed to be
: writing but when I think about my
: dissertation I want to crawl into
: a hole.

: This is normal right? And it will be
: better tomorrow? Help! I need hugs
: from people who have been here,
: please.

Here are some ideas...simply plan for tomorrow's breakfast.
Get some bananas. Have one with lunch and dinner.

See if you can work on step 3....and just get steady.

Slow your food down some, and let's talk about what
will help you get focused on your dissertation. Tell me
what you are writing about?

Kathleen