Myself, I was tettering on the 400 lb mark.  I have tried every
diet/non-diet known to me, without success (at that point).  It didn't
matter what I did or how much I ate, I wanted/needed more.  Food (in my
memory of childhood) was the one thing I had control over.  Whether sad
or happy, I controlled how much went in my mouth.  I had no idea how
much I ate, until recently, and let me tell you three people could have
been quite satisfied.  I had no recollection of what satisfied, full,
hungry, etc meant.  At many time, in my twenties and thirties, I would
go to several fast food places, order regular size meals at each and
consume them all when I got home.  There were times, during these
"binges" I would be in tears, still unable to stop myself.

Food seems to be a medication to me, in that, there was a hurt of some
sort and food to soothe the pain, numb the feelings, fill the
void...yadda, yadda.
Problem being, it never did any of these things, but boy did I keep
trying.
It didn't really matter which emotion was envolved (sad, happy,
depressed, joy....) it had long been associated with food.

Now, to address the current problem.  I still want to eat, when I'm
under stress or very sad.  Currently, I am under an enormous amount of
stress, mostly personal (TG not marriage related).  I find myself being
quite satisfied, that nice slightly full comfortable feeling, and still
wanting to shove something in my mouth.  There are times when it just
consumes me.  Usually, I try to go to bed at these times.  A lot of
times, I have either gotten too tired, too hungry, too stressed, too
stretched, too something and old habits start to call and nudge me with
"just this once, it would be so easy to make yourself feel better".
THERE, is where I am learning to say, no it won't make it better, it
will only make it worse.  I will betray myself to a "demon" that has
stalked me all my life.  Thankfully, I can talk to my husband about it,
but he will even say He doesn't understand.

Yes, there is emotional eating.  Sometimes, we don't know it.
Sometimes, we don't know what emotion.  Sometimes, it is unrelated.
Redirecting is the best thing I have found out so far.  Finding
something else to do, another activity or location to be in,... or just
go to bed and sign off to oblivion.

Sorry, this was late and long.  Hope I made some sense.

Donna K.
398.8/281.6/275 (current short term goal)