My sister called my comfort shows 'emotional junk food' and now I can't stop thinking about it

She said I watch the same 3 series on repeat instead of trying anything new, and honestly she might have a point because I rewatched The Office for the 8th time last month lol, has anyone else had a family member call them out like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

milaw1418d ago

Oh wow, that's a rough thing to hear from your sister... but honestly, I get why it stuck with you. Here's my question though: did she say it in a mean way, like judging you, or was she trying to look out for you? Because sometimes people who love us just want us to branch out, even if they don't get why we need the comfort. But also, like, who cares if it's emotional junk food, it's not hurting anyone, right?

the_nathan17d ago

Wait, do you really think it's that harmless though? @milaw14 I gotta play devil's advocate here because I've seen this play out with my own sister. Emotional junk food isn't as harmless as people make it sound. Getting stuck in the same shows, music, or comfort routines can actually keep you from growing as a person, even if it feels safe in the moment. My sister used to binge the same three movies on repeat and it took her forever to realize she was avoiding dealing with real life stuff by hiding in her little bubble of comfort. Sometimes the people who call you out on that stuff are actually the ones who care enough to push you forward, not judge you for where you're at.

clark.alex18d ago

And even if she was trying to help, that kind of comment can still sting because it implies there's something wrong with finding comfort in the familiar. At the end of the day, nobody gets to decide what "counts" as a real hobby or interest except you.