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I don't know how to stop it (nightly eating)

User Profile: TheMadHatterWasHere
TheMadHatterWasHere September 30th, 2023

I don't know how to stop this, bc I don't know how I got into this. I have been Atypical anorexic as a teen, and until 1.5 years ago I still was. I still watch my calories, but I gained a lot of weight from "recovery" even if I wasn't exactly underweight to begin with.

I was very underweight as a teen, but as I got meds for depression and schizophrenia I gained some kgs, and wasn't considered underweight anymore.

And somewhere along the last... 2.5-3 years I began eating at night. If I restricted I ate at night. And now that I eat two meals a day I still eat at night. I don't know how to stop it again, bc I don't know why I keep doing it, even if I am getting enough calories.

For now I am keeping clear of having anything sweet in my apartment, but I will "binge" on carrots, ryebread and so on at night still. It happens like this:

I wake up in a state of panic, and the only thing that can sooth me back to sleep is eating something. Not that I am eating crazy amounts or anything, but I can still eat around 4 pieces of ryebread in minutes. Which maybe actually is a lot. I don't feel any fullness from doing it. I just feel somehow soothed, and I can go back to sleep again. Often I don't remember that I have eaten at night, but I can see I have done it, when I look in the fridge.

The state I am in when I do it is a state of panic, and I'm kinda half asleep, and it feels like I can't stop myself. What do I do? I am thinking about getting a therapist, but it depends on whether or not my parents can pay for it, as I don't have enough money for paying for one :(

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User Profile: SolarGenerator
SolarGenerator September 30th, 2023

@TheMadHatterWasHere Sounds like eating is maybe an act of self soothing.

I had a roommate that in a state of almost panic, would somewhat binge at night. I don't think he could stop himself. It may have been related to his medication.

I also have a friend who ONLY can eat at night, as that is how her body digests best is after dark. Never during the day.

I'm open to talking more if desired.