How about you? Are you an eater or an abstainer?
First, I want to point out that eating disorders are an entirely different situation and discussion from what I want to raise today. I am not referring to when behavior has become over-the-top and dangerous, like with anorexia or obesity. Also, I realize that for some people, it's just not possible to walk the middle way with food. And I want to honor that dealing with food disorders is a serious, life-long practice that takes a lot of steadfastness and courage.
For many of us, it's fine to go 'off your feed' a little in times of distress or reach for a popsicle when things get a bit overwhelming. As long as you are aware of your behavior ("OK, I just going to step back and chill a little with this popsicle") and that you aren't replacing dealing with the issues with your food response.
Me, I'm usually an eater. I relate to Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson in The Closer or Audrey Hepburn in the film Charade who, when confronted with a difficult moment, grab for the nearest food substance and start nibbling away. Unfortunately I don't seem to be able to keep the weight off like these skinny ladies, so I have to watch it. The trick is to pay attention to fullness and stop well before then. I try to keep heathy nibbles around like almonds or raisins. Little bits of things that I can pop into my mouth without too much consequence. (Chocolate-covered almonds are another story, of course.)
Sometimes, though, I go in the opposite direction and 'forget' to eat all day. This only happens when I'm away from my home and office and running around. It's curious, though, and a little alarming, that I can override my body's hunger signals.
What I appreciated about my doctors statement is that it encouraged self-knowledge while not demonizing my natural response. Be aware of who you are and how you respond to your life and let that be a guide for your behavior, she said. It's proven to be enormously helpful advice.
Tell us your stories about eating or abstaining in times of distress or even times of joy.
What Drink Do You Order at a Bad Bar? 25 Food Writers Share Their Safety Drinks
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Red-and-Pink-Stripe...
Must-See Small Cool Homes: Week Two
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
I am both an eater and an abstainer when it comes to stress. I eat for low levels but when it gets high, I stop.
I appreciate your drawing the distinction between stress eating and eating disorders, I also appreciate that you bring awareness into it. For me the problem is I often have to rely on friends to point it out to me. I am still building on the awareness part.
HUGS
I don't know about eating, but this clip makes me want to order Charade immediately!!!
I'm an eater and an abstainer. It really depends on what type of stress it is, and how prolonged the stress is.
I love being so busy or enthralled in a project that I forget to eat (I am a writer), but then I get so hungry that I stuff my mouth with the first thing at hand. If I were a better writer, I could have a housekeeper who would bring me food at regular intervals.
Eater, oh yes, for sure an eater.
I'm an abstainer when stressed. Food just doesn't sound appealing at all. Luckily, that never lasts for long.
I am a faster - sometimes the only way I can tell my stress levels have gotten out of control is that I have completely lost my appetite. Oh, and like Charlotte above, I will definitely be watching Charade soon!
I, too, thank you for making the clear distinction between your topic and serious eating disorders.
I'm not a stress eater -- I've never been a person who turned to food as a source of relief, an occasional beer, perhaps. I can count on losing five pounds whenever I move, just due to the stress of packing, etc. I've found that if I eat when stressed, I only end up more stressed.
That being said, when work just gets to be far too much, I will treat myself to an indulgent lunch.
I have general anxiety disorder and although I love food immensely, stress keeps me from eating and also keeps me rather thin, much to my dismay. On days I am extremely stressed, I have been known to eat as little as 300 calories over 24 hours.
a little bit of both...i'm like the first commenter: low level stress i'm an eater, high level stress, i'm not. it came in very conveniently when i got married--i dropped 5 pounds the week leading up to the ceremony. hooray, i guess.
I'm a bit of both. If I'm stressed, I either don't eat at all or I eat a lot of junk food. It kinda depends on how stressed I feel. Stress that is probably giving me an ulcer and definitely upsets my stomach? Yeah, no food. Back-of-my-mind stress? Bring on the fats and sugars and salts!
Luckily, the source of my stress these days, a new and very hectic job, keeps me running around enough that despite all the junk, I seem to have lost a little weight.
I find that I eat less over the course of a day when I'm stressed, though I may binge once on something like ruffled potato chips and ranch dip during the course of the day. Mostly because I'm too busy running around doing stuff for my job!
I think food is incredibly comforting and that's why we eat it when stressed. Creamy things like ice cream or macaroni and cheese, crunchy things, snacky things - these are what we want to eat when stressed. Just like when we're stressed we want to relax and get massages or take hot baths and sleep in.
WONDERFUL movie! Must have seen it hundreds of times when I was a kid. Maybe that's why I eat when I'm stressed - I'm unconsciously emulating Audrey Hepburn? Now if my metabolism would only follow suit...
I end up eating, but that's mainly because I cook or bake to relieve stress (or to procrastinate). Nothing quite cheers me up like having some freshly baked turnovers or cookies lying around my apartment.
Also, I agree that Charade is an excellent movie (aside from the hilarious dubbing job for Jean-Louis).
I am an eater. Like an omigod-I'm-so-stressed-why-is-this-empty-can-of-Pringles-in-my-lap eater. But recently I've made a lot of progress in curbing that behavior, mostly through two books: "The Beck Diet Solution" and "French Women Don't Get Fat" (I can't believe I'm admitting to reading either of these... but I always reach for a pile of books when I need to solve a problem, and I needed to lose a few). Dr. Beck points out that you will still have all the same problems you had before after munching mindlessly, and (if you're trying to lose weight), you'll be mad at yourself, too. She also said that deciding NOT to snack can be just as relaxing as deciding to snack, and I have found that to be true.
The other book has helped me be more appreciative of my everyday food. I don't want to just throw it down the hatch because I'm stressed. I want to savor it. I'd rather have "because it is tasty, and I love it chocolate" than "emergency chocolate." So conscious eating has been a good thing for me.
I'm an eater. In times of distress or pressure, I absolutely reach for the nearest fat, sugar, salt, whatever. When I'm stressed at home, though, I often delay the gratification of eating something in an attempt to get rid of the stressor, like cleaning the kitchen or packing three boxes before a move. Sometimes this is great: it relieves the stress before I try to compensate with unhealthy food, but other times it just makes me hungrier for junk.
Not having easily "snackable" food around helps enormously, because it makes snacking a real effort. At that point, I may as well make something healthy.
P.S. @matchbookhymnal: I have both of the 'French Women Don't Get Fat' books, and really appreciate them! Don't be embarrassed! The general idea of them is really smart -- we should love food, and true food love can't really go hand-in-hand with trying to control food or letting it control us. Simplicity and indulgence, however, are perfect partners.
I find myself both an eater and an abstainer. When I'm under high stress I eat less, skipping meals and such. But the meals I do eat are much more decadent than I would otherwise indulge in with lots of bacon, butter and brown sugar.
I am definitely an abstainer.
When I have stuff going on, the last thing on my mind is food.
Abstainer. When I'm stressed, my stomach hurts, so eating is the last thing I want to do. Instead, I'm a stress cleaner.
Like clockwork, I crave sweets and carbs when I'm stressed. It's a good thing that I don't work in one of those offices where people have desk drawers full of snacks or I'd be doomed! I try to stick to healthy carbs and avoid sweets as much as I can.
Stress and anxiety always wreck havoc on my stomach and make me lose my appetite.
I abstain, and do a lot of housework.