Bingeing pls help- Christopher Fairborn approach - my issues

onmyown70

Hi all,

I'm really trying to tackle my binge eating, by reading, self monitoring and finding practical solutions. I have to confess food has taken over my life, I rarely look forward to anything other than my next meal and I have managed to "hide" any negative emotion by turning to food. It's been a disaster.

I didn't want to pass myself off as having an addiction although, however the analogy is useful as then I think "just don't touch the stuff" and that makes it easier, but every professional I have met has said it's not an addiction. I do have very low self esteem, mildly depressed (some days I feel I don't know how to get through the day), poor impulse control (especially now tired a lot - blame the children, my own and my husband's), turn to food as soon as I get anxious, stressed and if I'm honest, during the day I turn to food. Whilst I'm eating I'm on a high. I didn't want to delude myself, I know I can lie to myself, i.e. just this one, or I ought not to avoid food then eat a whole loaf of bread etc (bingers will understand, non bingers please don't bother reading, I would probably judge too in your position).

So I am reading the Fairburn book but two thinks I am struggling with... he says food we binge on, we are, on some level, avoiding and therefore binge. Well I think porridge, oatcakes, cereals and seeded bread are healthy - yet I binge on them, I buy a packet for the week and if in binge mode, I eat the lot. So seeded bread (yes I get stomach ache) - porridge - yes even when made with water - I devour the lot... I am thinking there must be some serotonin link but I am trying to not analyse it too much.

The second thing is it says that bingeing can be caused by dieting, that's true for me but the problem is often when I am in a major binge period, it has nothing to do with dieting or trying to eat healthily, in fact when I do do the latter I binge much less. So I'm stuck, my G couldn't help me but I have a couple of major issues with this book.

My husband is at his wits end with me and the more I do it there more I feel awful... yet I keep doing it. I joke about it but's a real issue and I've tried to get help but the GP recommended this book and a psychologist said I need to overcome my black and white thinking. So, I don't know were to turn. I want to know the truth about myself, why I do it, I don't want to let myself off the hook (I know I lie to myself, i.e. go one have some cereal it has iron in it, or porridge is good for you, then I eat and eat until it's all gone). I feel at a loss. I know I sound frantic and rather pathetic, but in other areas of my life I function quite well, except when really low.

I amanita sure if I have come to the right place for answers but I wish you all the best x

LKArgh

Time to talk to a therapist?

Alluminati

aggelikik wrote: »

Time to talk to a therapist?

I think she already does.

onmyown70

HI, yes I have already seen the therapists (I know I'm mad!) but I'm just stuck with the two issues in the Fairburn book which make me think it doesn't apply to me, I have probably posted on the wrong boards, so apologies if this is all alien to you all.