Has anyone ever tried progressive muscle relaxation (PMR)? It's supposed to be an effective way to help manage stress and reduce emotional eating. Are there PMR classes or is this something you learn to do on your own?

Haven't tried PMR but if you want to destress and relax maybe you could find a Tai Chi class near you. Classes aren't hard to find, you don't really need any equipment except comfortable clothes and a little space, and the movements are slow, easy, and relaxing. You could even get a good DVD and do it in the privacy of your living room. Also, after 15 or 20 years of practice, you could kick the $%& out of someone who's bugging you, and that will help you destress too. (Just kidding)

I think it probably would help you to destress.
I think it would be a worthwhile thing to try.

As for me I prefer massage.
Due to lack of financial resources I haven't had one since November.

Last Thursday was really difficult.
Several unpleasant things happened at work.
I cried a lot after work and was very very depressed.
I found the money to have a massage and I'm having it this afternoon.

I have decided that I will continue to find the money to have a massage twice a month because this upcoming work year has the potential to be extremely stressful.

For me it's massage.
For Captain Zoom it Tai Chi.
For someone else it might be relaxing music or a DVD.
For others it may well be PMR.

As for the emotional eating part of this post you have given me a new idea to try.
That seems to be becoming a big problem for me.
If I can remember to do that it should give me time to refocus on something else.