i think you have a good deal of insight into your behaviors. it's true, that a child who is not allowed to experience unpleasant feelings will learn to avoid them, and food is often used as a distraction, so it is only natural that this pattern would develop. the point is, not what's wrong, but how to fix it ~! i learned that there is a simple formula to changing:

1) DECIDE to change
2) Decide WHAT to change
3) CHANGE as much and as often as you can
4) PRAISE yourself for every little change

the inner child in most of us didn't get enough praise. in your case, no praise for enduring unpleasant feelings. so it's important that you use that to reinforce the new behaviors. even telling us today what you see yourself doing is a BIG STEP~!

Congratulations~! WELL DONE~!