Stress/binge eating?

hey_llia

For the past few weeks, I've been under a lot of stress and I've noticed I've been eating huge quantities of food. At the end of the day, at work or not, I'll be thinking that the food I want is a treat and it's just this once to make myself happy after the stress.
I've only just begun to realise this is a recurring theme in my life. I had a huge break down about 5 years ago caused by my inability to deal with the stresses in my life at the time, and during that period I was eating takeaway pizzas or chinese food etc every single night for a year. I was 15 stone and then when I finally got help for my mental health and moved back into my parents house I naturally lost 2 stone purely from not eating like I was any more. I didn't recognise what I was doing at the time, but it's happening again, this time the stress is from different sources than before and since I'm more independent (i.e. can drive now) I find myself visiting local fast food places after work and ordering ridiculous amounts of food. Or going to the shop and buying lots of snack food.
I literally just finished eating after having spent most of the day snacking on crisps, biscuits, sushi, sandwiches, energy drinks, pork scratchings and now beer.
So my post is for two reasons. First, I'm sad and disappointed in myself that I do this. I know it's unhealthy and I just feel like I've let myself down. Secondly, how do I stop this? Last time I was stressed I went to therapy. It's so difficult to get into therapy, it took a suicide attempt for me to be admitted and then I had to wait 6 months. I'm wondering if there is a way I can change a lifestyle habit, any thought changes I could ponder on... I don't know... some guidance I suppose? Maybe this is the wrong place for it, but I want to know if anyone else has gone through this and what they did?
I'm so sorry.

ljchess0917

I do the same thing sometimes

concordancia

Now that you realize that you are a stress eater, you need to find other ways to deal with the stress. Meditation, yoga, Tai chi, walking, punching a bag in the face...

ITUSGirl51

This is what I do to stop the over eating....

Acknowledge out loud that I am stressed or upset and that I really want to eat a lot to stop the pain. I usually say out loud what specifically is making me upset or stressed. Just saying things out loud and acknowledging my feelings instead of stuffing them down with food helps me feel a lot better and the need to overeat goes away.

I also think it’s a lot about impulse control and thinking about the consequences of my actions. I really think about the consequences before I binge. After thinking about how much I will regret the binge helps the urge pass too. I’m sick of feeling bad about myself because of overeating. I love the feeling of conquering the urge to overeat. I conquered it a couple of times today and I feel really happy right now.

These methods have worked for me. I haven’t binged since November.

Fflpnari

I have a history of binge eating, to the point I would eat so much I Would make myself vomit. I haven't binged to that degree in 6 years. I still binge occansionally, but nearly like I used to. I tried therapy and antidepressants, neither worked for me. I know stress will make my appetite go crazy, like I never have an end to my stomach. Finals do it to me pretty much everytime. Finding an exercise I love has made all the difference. Being physically strong and help me feel mentally strong. I'm here if you would like to talk.

bbell1985

Don't be sorry!

Why is it so hard to get into therapy? I mean, I've looked into it so I know it's a pain but not impossible. I signed up for a free eating disorder support group (haven't went), could you look into that?

I've done some reading as well...Just finished "Feeding the Hungry Heart" and it helped me realize I'm not alone, and how to look at things that may have happened in my past that trigger my strange relationship with food. Not perfection but a start.

kommodevaran

I use my lazyness to my advantage, so I don't go out buying food on impulse, I also shop according to my meal plan so I don't buy more than small amounts, and not often, of typical snack foods. "In return" for that, I make myself delicious, tasty, balanced and varied meals that I look forward to, actually so much that waiting for it is an incentive to not eat between meals.

I acknowledge that I have excess appetite, and that is good, that there is an aboundance of food, and that is good too, but I'm a small and little and quite sedentary old lady who doesn't need so much food. This makes me feel grateful and grounded. I tell myself that I'm no longer a person who eats all the time, or consistently overeats. This makes me feel empowered and normal.

I also tell myself that life sometimes sucks, and that it's okay to feel my feelings, and that my feelings can't hurt me. I tell myself that food isn't going to take the problem away; it may soothe my anxiety for a short while, but then it will come back, with a vengeance. Abusing food isn't self care, it's actually self-harm; eating to fix stress only adds to the stress.

tirowow12385

Everyone wants some comfort when stressed out and food is comforting, try to find a different outlet to destress and just avoid over indulging. It won't be easy.

zyxst

bbell1985 wrote: »

Don't be sorry!

Why is it so hard to get into therapy? I mean, I've looked into it so I know it's a pain but not impossible.

For me, therapy costs money. Few doctors are taking new patients. I need a GP referral. I agreed to go to a support group for a 3 hour session which I immediately regret doing because it was hard enough to admit what I was doing to my GP and husband, now I get to talk about it in front of a group of strangers. There are many valid reasons getting into therapy is hard.

OP, I don't have any other way of dealing with stress than to eat. Overeating is the only thing I can do do fix the chemical mix-up in my brain.

LoobyJLou

Please don’t beat yourself up about it ! I do it too and the first step in breaking the cycle is to acknowledge its happening ! So your on step 1 . Sometimes I must admit I just stuff and stuff and stuff but other times I CAN control it by thinking of me on a beach in swimwear ! Nothing like a beached whale to snap me out of binging especially when the whale is me ! So perhaps you could think of a senario that makes you want to be slimmer and call that up when you want to over eat . Good luck

LoobyJLou

Forgot to say that I have just had a 6 month wait for councilling which began last week , so hopefully my stresses will be helped a little by therapy ! Get on a waiting list and it will happen soon x

hey_llia

Thank you for this everyone. I was a bit at the end of my tether and I suppose I wanted to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
In the past I've gotten exasperated with meal plans feeling like they hold me back as I rather like allowing for spontaneity in my life, but the suggestion by kommodeveran about almost rewarding myself with great tasty meals is appealing to me. I love cooking but since having my new job I've been too stressed or tired to put in the effort any more. Maybe it's time I just did it.
As for the therapy, I will look into more informal group sessions etc, it seems like a decent way to get some support and guidance and a nice in-between whilst I decide whether more formal therapy is required. Last time I had Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and it helped with my issues at the time, perhaps it may again. It's just that scary hurdle of admitting to someone other than yourself that you're not handling life well at the moment.

Thank you all very much. This is part of the reason I enjoy MPF compared to other places; so much support and information from real people.

I wish everyone so much joy and happiness