Buffering to Ignore Emotions

Chocolate covered almonds. My weapon of choice.

Had a disagreement with my husband – chocolate covered almonds.

Worried about how much I have likely screwed up my kids – chocolate covered almonds.

Procrastinated on a project I know I really should be tackling – Netflix and a big bag of chocolate covered almonds.

It’s called BUFFERING to ignore emotions and now looking back, I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. It wasn’t always chocolate covered almonds but it’s always been food. 35+ years ago, I had taught myself how to NOT feel the crappy feelings by buffering with food.

But here is what happens when we buffer, whether it’s food, alcohol, drugs,online shopping, binge watching anything – it’s only a temporary fix. You get that instant gratification but the second it wears off, boom, you are right back to that feeling that you were trying to avoid.

Not only are you back to that original feeling, let’s add SHAME and GUILT on top of it. Shame and guilt from whatever you just used as your buffer. It is a never ending cycle and it can suck the life out of you.

Here’s the great news – you can STOP BUFFERING right now. Listen, that craving for chocolate covered almonds is still there, but I don’t reach for them anymore. Instead I pause and let myself feel that emotion I am trying to avoid. It’s uncomfortable, but eventually it eases off. Do you know what else is uncomfortable? Feeling the shame and guilt on top of the first emotion after buffering!

YOU GET TO PICK YOUR UNCOMFORTABLE.

Yes, feeling my feelings is uncomfortable but if it gets me to the other side faster, I’m all for it!

Want to learn more about feeling your emotions? Be sure to check out my article Be Willing to Feel Your Emotions here.