Tragedy Strikes, Coping Ensues: Why You Binge-Eat Doritos and Forget Your Vitamins (And It's Okay... Mostly)

When tragedy hits—whether it's a breakup, a death, a scary diagnosis, or your boss sending you a “Can we talk?” email at 4:59 PM on a Friday—your brain goes into full-blown DEFCON 1. The question is: What do you do?

Do you have a plan? A go-bag with granola bars, an emotional support hoodie, and a bottle of water that expired in 2021? Or are you more of the “binge-eat three bags of chips while doom-scrolling in the dark” kind of responder? Maybe you ghost your group chat, forget water is essential for human survival, and haven’t seen the sun in four days. Oh, and don’t even get started on the vitamins. (RIP, the gummy multi-vitamins we swore we’d take every day.)

Whatever your version of “duck and cover” is: SAME.

The Psychology Behind Your Quirky (But Totally Normal) Responses

What you're experiencing are coping mechanisms—psychological and behavioral responses that help us manage stress, pain, or trauma. Some are helpful. Some… well, some are more like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm.

🍕 Binge Eating?

Hello, emotional eating—meet your brain’s reward system. When we’re stressed, our cortisol levels spike, and our brain says, “Wouldn’t it be nice to feel something else right now?” Enter carbs and sugar, which temporarily increase serotonin and dopamine (aka feel-good chemicals). Is it effective in the moment? Absolutely. Long-term solution? Not exactly.

💬 Gossiping?

Don’t lie—you’ve “vented” to your friend who also dislikes that one person. Psychologically, gossip can serve as a bonding tool and even a stress release. But it can also lead to guilt and anxiety afterward—because your brain is trying to balance moral reasoning and emotional regulation. Yeah, brains are fun like that.

😐 Avoidance and Isolation?

Sometimes you just shut down. That’s not laziness—it’s often your brain protecting you from overwhelm. Avoidance is a defense mechanism, and while it can buy you time to process, it also prevents you from working through the feelings, which may fester like that laundry you keep walking past.

☕ Too Much Coffee, Not Enough Water?

Caffeine can feel like your best friend when your body says “rest” and your schedule says “lol, no.” But dehydration + stress = headaches, fatigue, and even more anxiety. Your brain and body are codependent—they gossip about you when you're not looking. And neither one is thrilled when water is replaced by a triple-shot espresso.

So… Why Do We Keep Doing This?

Because you’re human. And because when stress strikes, our prefrontal cortex (the “rational thinking” part of our brain) takes a quick break, while the amygdala (the "OMG PANIC" center) grabs the wheel. This makes it hard to make good choices in the moment, even when we know what we “should” do.

Here’s the Good News: You’re Not Broken

Coping mechanisms aren’t a flaw. They’re a sign that you’re trying. You’re doing your best with what you’ve got. Even the messy stuff—like oversleeping, over-sharing, or over-caffeinating—is part of the story.

But the even better news is: You can gently shift your coping strategies into healthier territory. Not all at once. Not perfectly. But gradually.

Realistic Tips for the Real-World Melt-Down

Start Small: Can’t commit to a 10-step morning routine? Just start with one. Maybe it’s drinking a glass of water before your coffee.

Phone a Friend: Talk to someone who makes you feel safe, not spicy. Venting is healthy, but watch the line between release and regret.

Movement, Not “Exercise”: Don’t want to go to the gym? Cool. Stretch in your kitchen. Dance to Lizzo in your underwear. Walk to your mailbox dramatically like you’re in a movie.

Sunlight & Supplements: Vitamin D deficiency is linked to depression. Just 10 minutes outside and your multivitamin can do wonders. (Yes, even if it’s cloudy. Yes, even if you’re wearing sweatpants.)

Self-Compassion Beats Self-Shaming: Every time. If you forgot to take care of yourself today, congrats—you’re in the club with literally everyone else.

Bottom Line

Life gets hard. Sometimes unbearably so. And when it does, you’ll do what you need to survive. Some of it might be messy. Some of it might be silly. And some of it might look like a pizza-fueled, emotionally dehydrated gremlin moment.

But none of it makes you weak. It makes you human.

So take the nap. Apologize for the gossip. Drink a glass of water. And maybe—just maybe—grab your vitamins while you’re at it.

We’re all just doing our best out here.