This might sound cheesy but if there is anything I do to relieve pain/stress to combat negative feelings it is simply to be around my BF. I know that probably sounds corny and some people might not believe it, but when you love someone as much as we love each other, their mere presence is very uplifting. There’s even been studies done to show that just physical contact with your loved one can reduce stress and lower heart rate and blood pressure.

So I don’t think that’s a negative vice. I do not indulge in destructive behaviors to combat pain or stress. The worst I can be said to do is blow things off, procrastinate, play video games and ignore the world when I get stressed, just so that I don’t have to think about it.

I’m really sorry about your pain. The last two weeks I had insane pain from TMJ and then an abscessed tooth, for which I had to have a root canal. And it still took a week for the pain and swelling to go away after that. And I know it wasn’t chronic pain, but for two weeks it was a constant ache in the right side of my face, and you really can’t think of anything else when it’s like that. I think it being in the head makes it worse… if it were pain in a foot or leg maybe you could ignore it a bit better. But jeez. I only realized how bad the pain had gotten after it was finally gone. So I sort of understand what you mean when you talk about it consuming your life.

I hope you are better now.

Other vices of mine are pointlessly surfing the web for long hours, watching too much tv, and shopping. I also eat when I’m feeling anxious, but it only makes me feel good when I can find something delicious to eat.

My vice is definitely food, even after losing 80lbs (Still not at my goal weight, but I’m MUCH thinner and fitter than I was).

I think my husband doesn’t have any vices of that sort though (or none that I can see). Which doesn’t mean he’s perfect of course (he lets dirty dishes just PILE in the sink til I tell him to clean them. Ugh.) But he’s very well-adjusted.

When I was a kid I used to keep a scab collection on the top of our bathroom medicine cabinet. When my sister found it she almost threw up.

I sometimes wonder if this may be a form of self-mutilation, like cutting. I’ve quit for more than a year at a time but I can’t seem to rid myself of this disgusting and embarrassing vice for good. Maybe admitting it publicly, in this post, will make me stop.

Oh shit. I just found my fingers in my scalp.

Warm brownies topped with Breyers vanilla ice cream. Brownies with coffee. Brownies with coffee ice cream. Brownies with a glass of milk (or eggnog). Christmas baking is my enemy!!!!

By the way, the annual eating season begins Oct. 31 and ends Feb. 14th. Or 15th – whenever all the Valentine’s chocolate is gone.