Binge Eating
Binge Eating seems to have a lot of shame around it. People sometimes think that binge eating can just be controlled by stopping eating so much. If this were true, there wouldn't be a need for treatment for it.
Common symptoms of Binge Eating disorder per NEDA are:
- Engages in episodes of binge eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, often in secret (eating in a discrete period of time an amount of food that is much larger than most individuals would eat under similar circumstances)
- Feels lack of control over ability to stop eating
- Experiences shame, guilt and despair after binge-eating episodes
- Steals or hoards food in strange places
- Creates lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge sessions
- Disruption in normal eating behaviors, including eating throughout the day with no planned mealtimes; skipping meals or taking small portions of food at regular meals; engaging in sporadic fasting or repetitive dieting
Here is a screening tool to see if you may have an eating disorder.
There are treatment programs that do focus on Binge Eating Disorder, though most treatment programs put all eating disorders together because most eating disorders have various symptoms but the underlying issues are similar, and treatment is similar when dealing with underlying issues.
There are some types of treatment that are used for Binge Eating.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), which focuses on our thoughts and beliefs, which help to address what we are telling ourselves and what we believe about ourselves.
DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) which focuses on helping us to cope in 4 areas - mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and Interpersonal effectiveness. Using the tools found in these four areas can really help to manage emotions and stabilization of emotions and even healthy relationships that may be difficult due to the eating disorder or other reasons.
Binge episodes may be triggered by stress, dieting, negative feelings relating to body weight or body shape, the availability of food, or boredom, symptoms of PTSD or other symptoms.
There are many reasons that individuals develop Binge Eating, but there is a high correlation between Trauma and Binge Eating, PTSD, Substance Abuse, Depression, Anxiety, and Borderline Personality Disorder. Not everyone develops these, but many individuals cope in many ways and show co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses with their binge eating.
Some books available that you would want to determine if they are appropriate for you:
Overcoming Binge Eating by Dr Christopher G. Fairburn