Binge Eating Disorder ( Awareness)
Hey everyone, in this post I would like to raise awareness regarding a very common yet underlooked Eating Disorder known as Binge Eating order (BED).
What is a Binge Eating Disorder?
A Binge-Eating Disorder is a type of Eating Disorder, Binge-eating disorder is a serious eating disorder in which you frequently consume unusually large amounts of food and feel unable to stop eating. Almost everyone overeats on occasion, such as having seconds or thirds of a holiday meal. But for some people, excessive overeating that feels out of control and becomes a regular occurrence crosses the line to binge-eating disorder.When you have binge-eating disorder, you may be embarrassed about overeating and vow to stop. But you feel such a compulsion that you can't resist the urges and continue binge eating.
What are the symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder?
Behavioral symptoms
Inability to stop eating or control what youre eating
Rapidly eating large amounts of food
Eating even when you're full
Hiding or stockpiling food to eat later in secret
Eating normally around others, but gorging when youre alone
Eating continuously throughout the day, with no planned mealtimes
Emotional symptoms
Feeling stress or tension that is only relieved by eating
Embarrassment over how much youre eating
Feeling numb while bingeing—like youre not really there or youre on auto-pilot.
Never feeling satisfied, no matter how much you eat
Feeling guilty, disgusted, or depressed after overeating
Desperation to control weight and eating habits
What factors can influence a Binge Eating Disorder?
Factors that can increase your risk of developing binge-eating disorder include:
- Family history. You're much more likely to have an eating disorder if your parents or siblings have (or had) an eating disorder. This may indicate that inherited genes increase the risk of developing an eating disorder.
-Psychological issues. Most people who have binge-eating disorder feel negative about themselves and their skills and accomplishments. Triggers for bingeing can include stress, poor body self-image, food and boredom.
- Dieting. Many people with binge-eating disorder have a history of dieting — some have dieted to excess dating back to childhood. Dieting or restricting calories during the day may trigger an urge to binge eat, especially if you have low self-esteem and symptoms of depression.
-Your age. Although people of any age can have binge-eating disorder, it often begins in the late teens or early 20s.
Tips for helping a person with Binge Eating Disorder
-Encourage him or her to seek help. The longer an eating disorder remains undiagnosed and untreated, the more difficult it will be to overcome, so urge your loved one to get treatment.
-Be supportive. Try to listen without judgment and make sure the person knows you care. If your loved one slips up on the road to recovery, remind them that it doesnt mean they cant quit binge eating for good.
-Avoid lectures or guilt trips. Binge eaters feel bad enough about themselves and their behaviour already. Lecturing, getting upset, or issuing ultimatums to a binge eater will only increase stress and make the situation worse. Instead, make it clear that you care about the persons health and happiness and youll continue to be there.
-Set a good example by eating healthily, exercising, and managing stress without food. Dont make negative comments about your own body or anyone elses.
Now that I have explained the Eating Disorder, its symptoms and factors that can influence it, let's have a discussion below on it by answering the questions given below:
1)What does your Binge Eating Disorder look like?
2)When did you develop Binge Eating Disorder?
3)What factors might have influenced your Binge Eating Disorder?
4)How does your Binge Eating Disorder affects your mental health?
5)Have you found any coping techniques that might have helped you regarding this?
Thank you all for reading, Please answer the questions given above by replying to the forum post
Some Helpful links:
-Binge eating support groups:
International Eating Disorder Support
1)What does your Binge Eating Disorder look like ?
I'm eating a chocolate muffin for breakfast, as I do most mornings. Also, I will often only have one meal a day (lunch) and just graze on chocolate in the evening. I'll eat chocolate all the time, at any time of day, in any circumstances, even when I'm too sick to stomach regular food. I will also eat food I know will make me sick, and have in the past eaten food knowing it would give me severe gastro intestinal pain within a couple of hours. I generally eat alone in my room and will hide my hoardes of junk food.
2)When did you develop Binge Eating Disorder ?
Soon as I got my first job 12 years ago, and had the money and power to buy whatever food I wanted whenever I wanted.
3)What factors might have influenced your Binge Eating Disorder?
Insecurity, anxiety, depression, the need for instant gratification and comfort and a false sense of 'control', i.e. the power to sate my desire to eat by simply buying what I want and eating it.
4)How does your Binge Eating Disorder affects your mental health?
My weight causes insecurity and makes me unhappy. Which makes me eat. The usual vicious cycle.
5)Have you found any coping techniques that might have helped you regarding this?
Not in 12 years, anyway. Maybe I will eventually.
@ForeverKeepRising
Thank you for sharing your experience and reading the post. From what you shared i am seeing that you have an addiction to chocolate. You eat regardless of the fact that it might hurt you as you mentioned the " gastro intestinal pain." You also hide the proof of your eating after wards like many , you have been struggling for a while. I admire your couarge. Yes BED gives us the illusion of control. Many things ifluenced your BED. I couldn't agree more... it is indeed a "vicious cycle." I hope you are able to find coping techniques soon. I suggest making a hot cocoa drink. Take 1 tablespoon of coco powder and put it in 1 cup of hot water. This will satisfy your craving of chocolate and it will supress your appeitie
Is there an anorexia Awareness?
@Heavenleeangel
i checked , to my knowledge i can't seem to find any , if i ever make such a post i will tag you 
@EssenceOfHope
Okay, thank you(:
@Heavenleeangel
You can read the post on Anorexia awareness here
@EssenceOfHope
Please tag me, too! I tend to swing back and forth between these two mostly. I love that I can talk about this here without feeling like a freak. Thank you! <3
@MistyMountainHope
i sure will , i am seeing a demand for it , i will be working on this post soon
1)What does your Binge Eating Disorder look like ?
- I used to be bulimic
- sometimes I feel unable to control what I'm eating; I feel afraid that if I DO control what I'm eating, then it means that I have an eating disorder
- I eat even when I'm full, to cope with emotions I guess
- I eat at least relatively normally around others. I definitely think I gorge alone, and not with others...although I haven't really thought about it in those terms in the past. I don't intentionally not-gorge around other people. It's just that when I do end up gorging... it's alone. I guess if I'm at a party or something, I do hide the fact that I'm eating sometimes.
- I usually eat continuously throughout the day, with no planned mealtimes... it's difficult to have planned mealtimes, my life is very unstructured/unpredictable
- I feel embarrassed over how much I eat
- I feel on auto-pilot while binging
- I never feel satisfied, no matter how much I eat
- I feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating
- I feel desperation to control my weight and eating habits
2)When did you develop Binge Eating Disorder ?
- I don't know and I haven't been diagnosed with it
3)What factors might have influenced your Binge Eating Disorder?
- My mother being on a diet/overweight when I was growing up most of the time, and then she would go off of it ("cheat") and comfort eat
- I have high stress lately, often poor body image, and I get bored easily.
4)How does your Binge Eating Disorder affects your mental health?
- The reasons above are some ways
5)Have you found any coping techniques that might have helped you regarding this?
- Nope. The advice on the matter is really conflicting and confusing as far as I am concerned. I'm a small person and friends and lovers and men and family are chronically telling me I'm too thin and I need to gain weight. And I'm binging, and I'm miserable. I gain enough weight and people stop telling me I'm too thin... but I'm unhappy because I feel sick with the amount and the way that I've eaten. And out of control. I don't even know what in the world normal eating looks like for me. Everyone seems so different.
@singercrystalspirit
Thank you for taking the time to read the post and answer the questions . What i am seeing from what you shared is that you eat to cope with stress as many , as eating gives one the illusion of having control on at least something in life. Unstructured and unpredictable life can surely add up to the stress . The feelings of embarrassment and guilt are common in people suffering from binge eating disorder . A parent's life style can certainly influence a child . I can see that you are having a very rough time i hope it gets better for you and so far coping strategies are concerned i have noticed not many out there are reasonable option , i will be making a post on that too soon
@EssenceOfHope
Woo hoo! Looks amazing! You did an amazing job sharing links and good factual details!! This is a wonderful article, I encourage EVERYONE to check it out!
Wishing you the best in the last few weeks of your internship! 
@PassionatePeyton
Thanks a lot for taking the time to read . Your words means a lot
@EssenceOfHope
This is really amazing, Ess ! I am glad you did it ...opened up a space for many people who needed it !
Keep up the great work
@gigantWillow93
Thank you for your kind words
1)What does your Binge Eating Disorder look like ?
Having difficulty to eat
2)When did you develop Binge Eating Disorder ?
Around 10 years ( maybe more)
3)What factors might have influenced your Binge Eating Disorder?
Depressions
4)How does your Binge Eating Disorder affects your mental health?
Makes me sad that I cant really eat
5)Have you found any coping techniques that might have helped you regarding this?
Close people keep me in check ensuring I eat at least one meal a day
@AmInACoffin
You have been dealing with it for a while , yet still going strong . I admire your efforts . You provide some great support in the Healthy Living Room . I am sorry you are going through this . I am glad your family keeps you in check
1)What does your Binge Eating Disorder look like ?
I eat normally in front of others, but once I'm home I eat my entire house. Sometimes in public I'll eat an entire entree and an appetizer (you know, chips or bread).
2)When did you develop Binge Eating Disorder ?
I think it started during puberty. When I was 9 I started eating a lot of pasta, and my family would joke about me being a bottomless pit. I've had the habit for about 9 years, and I'm just now seeking help.
3)What factors might have influenced your Binge Eating Disorder?
No one stopping me, like I said above. Around that time (and ever since) my family has struggled with money and housing, and I think it may have stressed me out. My mother says she had anorexia as a teenager, and she only started to gain again when she became pregnant.
4)How does your Binge Eating Disorder affects your mental health?
It makes me worry about my finances, since I spend quite a bit on food every month. I also worry because it's led to problems with my digestive system, which I found out about recently. My mind seems to always be on food.
5)Have you found any coping techniques that might have helped you regarding this?
Kind of. I'm planning on leaving my debit card at home when I go out, but I'm always worried I'll need it.
@raccoonangel
Thank You , for taking the time to share . I am seeing that you are struggling a lot with over eating . You have been dealing with this for a while it seems as you stated . I am glad that you are seeking help now , better late than never . No one stopping can be a issue if you struggle with continious over eating . It is having a negative affect on your mental health as well . I am glad that you are somewhat coping with it . You can check my post on BED coping strategies here if you please .
1. I buy a lot of junk food/eat junk food at home. Mostly sweet/sugary. Eating past point of fullness to numb emotions. Immediately feeling sick with upset stomach.
2. I developed it a year ago when I started with my first job. But I remember clearly that my first actual binge started after a period of major diet. I ate half of a whole cake in 1 sitting when I was home from a party.
3. The factors for me are stress (sudden life changes), feelings of inadequacy, poor body image, insecurity.
4. It affected with how I deal with people (my old friends). I felt ashamed for who I was. I've been avoiding them for almost a year now because i fear their judgement and that they might be the reason for my recovery to fail.
5. I am practicing Intuitive Eating so I could eat normally again by changing my mindset. I'm keeping in mind to always be self-compassionate. I keep in touch with my body by listening to its cues because I respect it. Not because I want to look a certain way for others to accept me. And also, I've come to love exrrcising/working out because it felt great. Not because I need to lose enough weight so i could go back to the thinner unhealthy version of me.
@dreamycafelover
Thank You , for taking the time to read and share . You seem to be struggling with over eating and the food you consume is not healthy . Your disorder seems to be developed from major change and diet restrictions . I can see , how it can make one feel guilty . I am glad that you have found coping strategies
hi thanks for the community!! :)
i shall answer them to the best i can
1)What kind of ENDOS do you have?
- Exercise bulimia which is characterized by binge-eating. At first I thought it is binge-eating disorder but I realised that I actually tried to "purge" out the extra calories eaten, characterized by bulimia but not exactly bulimia because I never vomit out my food but I over exercised. I was confused. From online, I actually found that it is known as "exercise bulimia".
2) When did you develop ENDOS?
- 3 years back. I remember how I was laughed at for my stomach, i think at that point in time, i was also binging (unknowingly) when i was stressed out. then i rmb i had time during the holidays and i practically jogged everyday.. and then i ended up losing TOO much weight to the point of losing too much hair and reduced immunity hence i contracted shingles and HFMD. after that, people commented that i looked too skinny and i was really annoyed so one day, on my 17th birthday i ate up 2 slices of cakes by myself at night and then the "proving others wrong" spiralled out of control since then.
3) What factors may have influenced your ENDOS?
- psychological: depending on food as comfort, as smth which offers me solace instead of it being merely a source of fuel
- pressure from ppl around me
- low self-esteem
4) What effect does your ENDOS have on your mental health?
- caused me to feel even lower self esteem as
1. i started to begin on a -binge-exercise/diet-guilt-compensate-binge- cycle and became so used to it that i wasted too much time, put my results, relationships all as last priority
2. begin to cut away socially and avoid social interaction as much as i could and this is NOT helping because the moment i was alone, the binge started. once i start, i cannot end. especially if it is unhealthy food like sweet treats, choc, cakes.
3. guilt and feeling powerless i front of food; eg. eating 20 pineapple tarts after bfast / eating 2 breads and drinking 2 canned drinks after dinner.
4. i really hated myself a lot and lost hope in life.
5. caused me to lose interest in things/causes which i would live for! (eg. giving excuses to not go out with friends, stop volunteering, stop focusing on studies)
lastly, due to over exercising, physically i suffered because i am facing some sort of heart contraction whenever i run, so i had to stop running for now..
5) Have you found any coping skills regarding it?
- i tried to do it myself and read self-help books but i realised whenever it happens, i just lose control and i am lost in senseless eating.
- i tried to avoid the unhealthy food/ go cold turkey but in the end end up binging because of deprivation
- i tried to tell my parents about it but they did not believe because i was of acceptable weight but the waste of time and the guilt were ruining my life
- after 2 years plus, i decided to seek professional help to prove to my parents that i indeed have an issue. then the psychiatrist forced me to take anti-depressants but i did not want. she directed me to medical social worker and placed a lot of pressure on me such that i feel that i am a patient who cannot be cured. then i had to see a dietician but i assumed that it would be a waste of money as all the info can be found online. hence i am back to square 1.
- then i manage to follow a normal plan of 3 proper meals a day for a few weeks but once i left alone with snacks, i could eat beyond my bloatedness. and once 1 mistake was made, the subsequent days had mistakes too as i deemed myself as hopeless. and the whole cycle starts again.
- hence i tried not to even start eating the unhealthy stuffs but i end up binging again
- currently, i am trying out "healthy eating" by focusing on making better food choices instead of worrying about the "disorder" and it seems to be working quite fine! i actually downloaded an app "way of life" to keep track
5. ohyes i also tried to do a food journal. for me it didnt work as i wrote down honestly the list of items i binged and it was so depressing that i gave up
i also tired to give myself 1 minutes countdown to rid the urge/craving of smth unecessary. but i was always giving in to cravings and it failed after a few times.
but its fine! im fine (by focusing on good choices as well as challenging myself away from this lifestyle (of BED)
1)What does your Binge Eating Disorder look like?
It looks like "just one more", "an extra large this... but maybe a medium drink", an "I don't care anymore" and an "I'll do better next time".
2)When did you develop Binge Eating Disorder?
I have had binge eating disorder since I was a teenager around the age of fourteen - fifteen. Perhaps younger, but I don't exactly remember those times.
3)What factors might have influenced your Binge Eating Disorder?
Psychological problems such as my depression and environmental problems such as bullying.
4)How does your Binge Eating Disorder affects your mental health?
It has really taken a toll on my self esteem, depression and anxiety. It's very hard to stay motivated every time I look at the scale.
5)Have you found any coping techniques that might have helped you regarding this?
Not yet. I hope to develop some soon though.
@CookieBears
Didn't mean for the text to be so big!