Help! Losing My Job and Emotionally Eating!

[sukik 59]

Well I just found out I'm losing my job. I just bought a house and everything went into the house. I'm frantically job hunting but nothing so far. For the last two days I've been emotionally eating and gained two pounds. Help! I'm very stressed out. Am 8 lb away from a normal BMI.

[KristenVSG2014 1,871]

Wow. I'm so sorry about this. My husband lost his job almost 5 months ago and it has been very stressful so I can relate. There have only been a few times I've given in to stress eating and I always felt so terrible afterward. Everyone has a different way of handling stress so I can't really offer advice to what might work for you. But I prefer to talk with my husband, parents and pray. I CAN try to give you some good info on your situation though because 1) I'm going through it myself and 2) I also happen to be a banker so I give this advice to people monthly.

There are many steps you will want to take immediately. Here is an article that lists most of them:

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/keep-house-after-losing-job-13915.html

One thing this article doesn't mention is calling all of your service providers (TV, Internet, Cell phone provider, Insurance, etc.) to explain your situation and see if they can lower your bill temporarily. Dish Network agreed to lower our bill to $50 a month for a year. Internet provider is giving us a $20/mo discount for a year. Verizon dropped our bill $60/mo. Also, you need to cancel any unnecessary luxuries like gym membership, satellite radio, Netflix (unless you cancel your tv provider), etc.

Here is an article with a phone number to call and see if you qualify for any help with your mortgage:

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/282/i-lost-my-job-and-cant-make-my-mortgage-loan-payments-what-can-i-do.html

I really hope you find a new job soon! But hopefully these tips will help you to get through the time it takes you to find a new one.

Edited February 13, 2015 by krisrpaz

[finediva 979]

Let that normal BMI and better health be your motivation to stop the emotional eating right now. Without good health to carry us through, little will eventually matter. Unfortunately we cannot always control what life brings us, but we have to try our best to use coping skills that will get us over the rough Patches. The new house and the potential loss of income. ...I'm so very sorry that this is happening to you. I hope that the entire situation will be resolved positively very soon. Continue to take the very best care of yourself. Best.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

You've identified the trigger. Now list the things you can do instead of eating. Write them down if you need to. I sometimes exercise when I feel that emotional eating feeling coming on.

Take a deep breath then start writing out what you need to do. Job hunt, of course, also consider temp work and UE. Think about what things you can cut back on. This time of year if you haven;t filed your income tax do so ASAP.

So sorry to hear about your. Hopefully they are giving you a severance package.

[JerseyCityGal 231]

If eating would conjure up a job, I would say go for it ... but it won't. It will just make things worse. Funnel your energy into practical efforts. You're going to have to white knuckle through the eating urge, but you CAN do it.

File for unemployment right away.

Be ruthless in cutting expenses starting right now. Just because you are used to having something doesn't mean you need it, and that includes your kids. I mean things your kids are used to having, not get rid of your kids to cut costs, lol.

Call your lender to find out what, if any, assistance would be available for you. They may have a program. The options mentioned in the above post were HAMP, and for various reasons that does not apply to you. You just closed, you are not underwater, etc. Some states also offer assistance for unemployed homeowners.

When you file for unemployment, usually there is some sort of orientation that will cover other programs available to you.