Binge Eating Disorder (BED) Help!!

Cathy_Daydreams

Okay,
I'm going to have to be really short about this because I have a tendency to ramble.
I haven't been officially diagnosed but I am certain I have BED and since a lot of my family and friends don't believe it's actually real ( a lot of them think it's an excuse to be lazy or just means I have a lack of self control) it makes getting help and support quite hard. I want to go and see my dr to sort out once and for all if I have the disorder and get some professional help because I don't think I can so this alone at all, I have tried so many times to combat it alone, with no lasting results.
My one problem is I'm nervous around dr's anyway, the ones at my local surgery seem to just want to stuff drugs down my throat and the idea of telling one of them that I use food as an emotional crutch and then have him come back to me and tell me that I just lack self control is the scariest thing in the world.
I just burst into tears thinking about it last night.
I don't know what to do, how to sort this out or how to get through this, is it possible that I don't have BED, every checklist I've been on says I have but so many ppl are saying it's not real and even if it is how do I get help when I'm so scared of the dr's as it is ?

datikihut21

No clue if it's real or not, but I do struggle with binging often. When it happens, I try to use it as motivation to workout a lot more the next day. Sunday night I ate a whole bag of nachos. After eating some froyo. I used that as motivation everyday this week, and I'm pretty sure I burned off more than that bag of nachos.

I hope you get it sorted out. Maybe you can try switching doctors? Sounds like the ones you have right now are terrible.

lynnprice

Wow, I feel for ya sweetie.

I would try to get a friend that's supportive of you to go with you. There's strength in numbers! They can also help to make sure you get all of your concerns out to the Dr.

Best of luck to you.

bump.

Cathy_Daydreams

No clue if it's real or not, but I do struggle with binging often. When it happens, I try to use it as motivation to workout a lot more the next day. Sunday night I ate a whole bag of nachos. After eating some froyo. I used that as motivation everyday this week, and I'm pretty sure I burned off more than that bag of nachos.

I hope you get it sorted out. Maybe you can try switching doctors? Sounds like the ones you have right now are terrible.

Thanks so much for replying, it's great to know that I'm not the only one who's confused about all this.
I know what you mean about motivation and in the past I have tried but I always decide to tackle my weight days before something emotionally horrible happens. Like the last few months I have binged every day during exam season because I was stressed about it all and I also had a REALLY big fall out with a close friend, who I don't intend to go back to at all, but she and another of her friends have made my life hell on earth, which has made pushing through VERY HARD.
And I have managed to remedy the problem a little by dancing in my room and the like but it's the gut feeling inside that's the worst.
And there's no point me changing dr's really since I am going to Uni. in a year and won't have to deal with them for very long anyway.
But yeah I know I sound negative but I'm not, thank you so much for the advice, if anything it's nice to know I'm not on my own

fishgutzy

I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV.
However, I did spend over a decade as actively bulimic. Being a guy and not a wrestler, there was really nothing in the so-called "professional" field for me.
I have to admit I laughed when a dental hygienist assumed the enamel wear on my teeth was from Acid reflux.
For me, it was also a case of "changing seats on the Titanic." I replaced binge drinking with binge eating but then purging to avoid the consequences of eating the way I was.
Turns out I am carb sensitive. You may find that when you get into a binge that there are a lot of carb heavy foods involved.
I finally started getting a handle on thing last year after gaining 130 pounds over a 22 year period. It was rather shocking to realize I weighed more than my wife and I did combined when we first met.
It took about 3 weeks to get over carb cravings. But now I don't miss them.
I started using a scale to weigh out food portions too. That helps keeps my eyes or stomach from overriding my brain.
Shrinks love to blame everything on a chemical imbalance. But that is not the case for everyone. Food allergies can cause problem that go away once that food is eliminated.
Check out OA too. That may help you find people nearby with the same issues as well.

Cathy_Daydreams

Wow, I feel for ya sweetie.

I would try to get a friend that's supportive of you to go with you. There's strength in numbers! They can also help to make sure you get all of your concerns out to the Dr.

Best of luck to you.

bump.

Thank you soooo much ,
and the one problem is that one of my triggers is a fall out I had at school with one of my closest friends and one of the reasons I eat so much is because of the anxiety of finding new friends, the true friends I do have try to be supportive, but they don't understand, as much as they try bless them , I feel a little alone in the situation.
Apart from here thou' you're all so lovely and supportive
but I might get a friend, who might not understand but can make me relax about it so I can tell the dr anyway, cos' she agrees I should see him if I have doubts anyway so ... thank you I'll defo's do that now.

mainelymama

I see a therapist for this. Only psychiatrists are trained to prescribe medicine so if you go to someone who can't, they won't be medicine pushers.

peachyxoxoxo

BED is definitely real... I was diagnosed with it last year. I think the term "binge" is often misused though. Some people will say "oh, I ate 5 cookies tonight, I binged." For me, a binge would be like, eating an entire bag of tortilla chips with a whole jar of salsa, or eating an entire half gallon of ice cream in one sitting, or finishing off a large pizza by myself, or going through an entire box of cereal in one night. I'd just keep eating until the food runs out. Or until I snapped out of it and felt ashamed and sick. I was doing this on a very regular basis for years. Earlier this year I literally had to start rotating what stores I shopped at because I kept running into the same cashiers and didn't want them wondering why this girl was in the store buying huge bags of chips and candy every day. I don't know what the extent of your problems are, but if it's this serious, get help. I went to therapy and also read numerous self-help books. It it's NOT this bad yet... still get help and figure out how to resolve things before it gets worse. For me it got worse and I started purging too if you're this concerned about it and if you find yourself thinking about it often, it's probably an issue. If you need to talk... I'm here.

Momjogger

I binge eat sometimes. I do not keep trigger foods in the house. Sometimes I still binge on food that I am not typically triggered by. I tend to want to binge when I let myself go too long without eating and get really hungry. Aside from not having trigger foods at home, I also have made a pact with myself not to eat after dinner because I tend to binge then. I eat oatmeal with dried fruit and ground flax seed for breakfast or eggs with veggies and cheese, and I snack on cottage cheese, fruit, greek yogurt. I typically only have trigger food out of the house in controlled settings (a small bag of chips at lunch at work, a small dessert with dinner out with my hubby, etc.) and I let myself have a "bad" lunch or dinner every once in a while now. It is a process to figure out how to structure my day and my food so I am more successful. I say you need maybe a nutritionist and a therapist. You may want to try OA, they have helped some of my friends who feel they are addicted to suger and simple carbs such as refined wheat flour. Good luck!

mainelymama

For me, a binge would be like, eating an entire bag of tortilla chips with a whole jar of salsa, or eating an entire half gallon of ice cream in one sitting, or finishing off a large pizza by myself, or going through an entire box of cereal in one night.

exactly! Mine would be ate a full sized dinner of meat, potatoes, veggies, still felt ravenous. Ordered a 10'' pizza, chips, soda and dessert from Dominos. --- by that point id be sick! And upset that I couldnt keep eating!!

richesandwonders

I'm going to say that as a bulimic, I completely believe that BED is real. I experience the intense need to just devour everything in sight. It's a miserable feeling to feel out of control of your own body.

The doctors you visit might prescribe you medication or therapy. Some doctors might be really terrible and judgmental, but if you can find someone who specializes in EDs they might be best able to help you.

I also second another commenter's suggestion of looking up Over-eaters Anonymous. Finding support is going to be very important in your recovery.

*hugs*

Cathy_Daydreams

I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV.
However, I did spend over a decade as actively bulimic. Being a guy and not a wrestler, there was really nothing in the so-called "professional" field for me.
I have to admit I laughed when a dental hygienist assumed the enamel wear on my teeth was from Acid reflux.
For me, it was also a case of "changing seats on the Titanic." I replaced binge drinking with binge eating but then purging to avoid the consequences of eating the way I was.
Turns out I am carb sensitive. You may find that when you get into a binge that there are a lot of carb heavy foods involved.
I finally started getting a handle on thing last year after gaining 130 pounds over a 22 year period. It was rather shocking to realize I weighed more than my wife and I did combined when we first met.
It took about 3 weeks to get over carb cravings. But now I don't miss them.
I started using a scale to weigh out food portions too. That helps keeps my eyes or stomach from overriding my brain.
Shrinks love to blame everything on a chemical imbalance. But that is not the case for everyone. Food allergies can cause problem that go away once that food is eliminated.
Check out OA too. That may help you find people nearby with the same issues as well.

Hullo,
It's interesting you mention acid reflux because I have been having problems with this for many years (which is one of the reasons I have such problems trusting the dr's at my GP they didn't know (and still don't really know) what's wrong with me and just give me pills as a stab in the dark method) but i'm on medication now and the dr I have now seems really nice (I've just developed a nervous disposition around them which makes telling things harder)
I'm glad you're better and I have heard about OA and I think it's something, that now a number of ppl have mentioned it, I will have to get sorted. I've also never heard this theory before, so I'll have to look it up, although I'm not sure I fully understand it, if I'm honest.
When I binge I tend to binge on anything I can get my hands on and I dunno if they're carb related or not, but I will start observing more . Thank you and on another note I'm guessing the mention to you not playing one on TV means you're an actor?
Cos' I love acting and want to be an actress in future if so it would be nice to chat

bathsheba_c

I see a therapist for this. Only psychiatrists are trained to prescribe medicine so if you go to someone who can't, they won't be medicine pushers.

This is what I was going to recommend. If the costs aren't covered for you, there are lots of places that offer services on a sliding scale.

susiebear29

hi hun, i really feel for you and think you are very brave sharing your story with all of us!! I have had similar problems with food since I was a child and still struggle with it now, although not as often since joining MFP a couple of months ago, but when I am stressed I still sometimes get the urge to just eat anything I can get my hands on!! please please be brave and go to your doctor, hopefully he/she will refer you to a therapist that specialises in food issues, you can get through this and learn to manage it, be strong and feel free to add me im on here every day and always ready and willing to offer support, take care of yourself and keep smiling!!

Cathy_Daydreams

I see a therapist for this. Only psychiatrists are trained to prescribe medicine so if you go to someone who can't, they won't be medicine pushers.

Thank you for the advice and my fear is not of getting help, it's more the fact that I can only really get this help through a dr and because of previous medical problems I have a lot of trust issues with dr's and gp's.

Cathy_Daydreams

BED is definitely real... I was diagnosed with it last year. I think the term "binge" is often misused though. Some people will say "oh, I ate 5 cookies tonight, I binged." For me, a binge would be like, eating an entire bag of tortilla chips with a whole jar of salsa, or eating an entire half gallon of ice cream in one sitting, or finishing off a large pizza by myself, or going through an entire box of cereal in one night. I'd just keep eating until the food runs out. Or until I snapped out of it and felt ashamed and sick. I was doing this on a very regular basis for years. Earlier this year I literally had to start rotating what stores I shopped at because I kept running into the same cashiers and didn't want them wondering why this girl was in the store buying huge bags of chips and candy every day. I don't know what the extent of your problems are, but if it's this serious, get help. I went to therapy and also read numerous self-help books. It it's NOT this bad yet... still get help and figure out how to resolve things before it gets worse. For me it got worse and I started purging too if you're this concerned about it and if you find yourself thinking about it often, it's probably an issue. If you need to talk... I'm here.

Thanks for replying and confirming my suspicions
I'm glad to know you're on the road to recovery and that hopefully, things are getting better for you.
I think a binge is different for everyone to be honest, although I may be wrong. For me a binge is eating until I'm uncomfortably full, feeling almost sick or when I feel out of control of my own body and what I'm putting into my mouth. This happened yesterday with a lot more power than it ever has before, I literally didn't remember a thing until my dad snapped me out of it by telling me to stop eating.
I completely empathise with the eating till the food runs out, I do that a lot and it's a miracle that my mum and dad don't yell at me for not leaving any food after a binge.
I am not sure how you would class BAD but my emotions are rock bottom and when I was about thirteen / fourteen I eneded up in a really bad place because of bullying and started considering doing things that I am thankful I was talked out of by childline because things could have been made so much worse if I had followed through.
Because of the emotions linked to binge eating and a lot of the emotional trauma I have been through (a dramatic friend fall out and a lot of exam stress and SO MUCH insecurity because of the friend fall out and the like) those toxic thoughts are in my head again and I promised myself I would never go back to where I was at 13 / 14 but I fear I'm getting there, slowly but surely. I guess this is serious from anyone's point of view, but I haven't started purging or anything, although the thoughts coming into my head more often than it used to ... anyway I dunno weather it's serious or not but I will try and get some help for it, thank you for the advice and the support.

Cathy_Daydreams

I binge eat sometimes. I do not keep trigger foods in the house. Sometimes I still binge on food that I am not typically triggered by. I tend to want to binge when I let myself go too long without eating and get really hungry. Aside from not having trigger foods at home, I also have made a pact with myself not to eat after dinner because I tend to binge then. I eat oatmeal with dried fruit and ground flax seed for breakfast or eggs with veggies and cheese, and I snack on cottage cheese, fruit, greek yogurt. I typically only have trigger food out of the house in controlled settings (a small bag of chips at lunch at work, a small dessert with dinner out with my hubby, etc.) and I let myself have a "bad" lunch or dinner every once in a while now. It is a process to figure out how to structure my day and my food so I am more successful. I say you need maybe a nutritionist and a therapist. You may want to try OA, they have helped some of my friends who feel they are addicted to suger and simple carbs such as refined wheat flour. Good luck!

Thank you,
it's interesting you mention addiction because I know I am addicted to caffeine and I'm glad that you have more or less conquered the Binge Eating, gives me hope I can one day do the same. A lot of people have mentioned OA so I'm checking them out as soon as I can and I can see what you mean by trigger foods.
Is it normal for people with BED to have trigger foods?
because that's one thing I don't have, if I feel that way I will eat anything, I try and get rid of unhealthy foods but I live with my mum and dad and sentencing them to a life of dieting, just because I cannot have any of the food they like in the house is not fair on them at all.
That being said though, I am moving to university next year and with a little help I may be able to identify these trigger foods and eliminate them from the dorm rooms at university at least .
Thanks for the adivce.

Drop_it_Like_Its_Hawt

BED is very real, no matter what your family/friends might think. Therapy is a good idea, but also I'd recommend OA (Overeaters Anonymous). If you go to www.oa.org, they can get you in touch with a number of local groups in your area. It's free, and they deal with all kinds of eating disorders there (not just compulsive overeating/binging). Anorexics and bulemics also attend in many groups. It's a good place to confidentially talk to people going through the same thing, and learn coping techniques for controlling the binge urges, over time. Plus they don't try to sell you on any diet plan or charge any fees for attending (though they do pass a basket around for donations at meetings).

hippietofugirl

I have BED and I've found the best thing to do is to just avoid buying large amounts of the foods you binge on. Also, make sure you're eating enough calories and getting all your macronutrients in to avoid actual hunger.

I also read a book recently on binge eating, and it was pretty helpful. It talked about the underlying causes of emotional binging.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-binge-eating-and-compulsive-overeating-workbook-carolyn-coker-ross/1029198311?ean=9781608820931

Cathy_Daydreams

I'm going to say that as a bulimic, I completely believe that BED is real. I experience the intense need to just devour everything in sight. It's a miserable feeling to feel out of control of your own body.

The doctors you visit might prescribe you medication or therapy. Some doctors might be really terrible and judgmental, but if you can find someone who specializes in EDs they might be best able to help you.

I also second another commenter's suggestion of looking up Over-eaters Anonymous. Finding support is going to be very important in your recovery.

*hugs*

Thank you for the advice,
and I hope you are successful with combating bulimia and I wish all the best, I'm always here for morale support, even if I have problems myself and I don't know if any of the doctor's at my local surgery are ED specialist, there is a teen ward but I think it's more for contraception and I would rather see a doctor I have seen before than a stranger, given my nervous disposition. But I am already seeing a nice dr about something else so I might casually bring it up next time i'm with him.
and I think that's been my problem, I think my only worry about OA is having to tell my dad where I am when I go, because my dad's never good with things like that at all and he's one of the ppl who don't believe it exists at all.
But I'm going to give it a try, I've been brave enough to admit I need help, I'm not about to sink back down to what I used to be.

laus_8882

I'd be wary of throwing around words like addiction, particularly with regard to caffeine. It's not that difficult to stop with cola and coffee and using such heavy language could be colouring your own view of your mental health. Personally I'd just visit my gp and ask to be referred to a therapist because of, say... anxiety. The therapist is going to understand *why* you weren't able to open up to your gp and if they're not especially skilled in treating EDs, will be able to refer you on to someone better able to offer treatment.