Jazz has become one of the few things that can interrupt the noise before I start bingeing. I’ll put on a slower record, usually something with piano or brushed drums, and try to stay with the sound instead of arguing with every craving in my head. It doesn’t magically make the urge disappear, but it gives me a little space between feeling bad and reaching for food.
I remember one night sitting on the kitchen floor with a Coltrane album playing, waiting for the intensity to pass. I still ate more than I wanted, but it wasn’t the same mindless spiral. I noticed what was happening, which felt like a small win.
Does anyone else use music as a way to create that pause?
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That distinction between eating and being caught in a mindless spiral seems really meaningful. Noticing what was happening, even when the urge didn’t fully pass, sounds like a genuine change in the moment.
I’ve used quiet piano in a similar way, especially late at night when my thoughts start circling. I focus on one repeating phrase and make tea before deciding what to do next. It doesn’t always prevent overeating, but it has helped me feel less swept along by it.
@Billy_Chapman, the part about noticing what was happening really struck me. That small bit of awareness can change the feeling afterward, even if the eating itself doesn’t go exactly as hoped.
I’ve used old blues records when I feel wound up around food. One evening I sat at the table and listened to the same guitar line until I could tell whether I was hungry or just upset. I still had something to eat, but I made the choice more slowly.