therapist - binge eating
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ractayjon
Posts: 365
This is a long post and maybe I should put it into a blog -- thank you for listening....
Binge eating. I just made an appointment to see a therapist for a few different reasons. 1. my self image and 2. binge eating.
I have a terrible self image. I do not see myself as I am I see something different. In posting my feelings and sharing my thoughts with some trusted friends - it was suggested that I seek help to overcome this inproper image of myself. The 2nd thing that I need to address is binge eating. I am a binge eater. I have had pretty good control over this since starting on MFP however the last few nights I have fallen off the wagon and the binge eating has taken over once again. My binge eating occurs at night most of the time (after I have gone to bed for the night I will wake up and hit the kitchen sometimes eating 500-1500 calories in a 15 minute period...then going back to bed) - I have bouts of binge eating during the day too but they are rare. I will just start eating things and wont stop...it doens even matter what I eat either - I can eat whatever is around - from chocloate syrup to chicken, from cookies to salad dressing, from chips to cheese - whatever I can get my hands on.
Im going for my first appointment with a specialist on friday to see if I can overcome these issues.
Ive succeeded in losing weight - Im 5'7", 144 pounds and in a size 4 or 6 bottom, medium top...Im not fat anymore -but I cant see that and I cant stop the binges.
Are there any other binge eaters out here? The below script explains binge eating in an easy to understand way. Again, thanks for listening.
Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States affecting 3.5% of females and 2% of males and is prevalent in up to 30% of those seeking weight loss treatment. Although it is not yet classified as a separate disorder, it was first described in 1959 by psychiatrist and researcher Albert Stunkard as "Night Eating Syndrome" (NES), and the term "Binge Eating Disorder" was coined to describe the same binging-type eating behavior without the nocturnal component. BED usually leads to obesity although it can occur in normal weight individuals.
Signs
Periodically does not exercise control over consumption of food.
Eats an unusually large amount of food at one time—more than a normal person would eat in the same amount of time.
Eats much more quickly during binge episodes than during normal eating episodes.
Eats until physically uncomfortable and physically feels like they're on the verge of throwing up due to the amount of food just consumed.
Eats when depressed, sad, or bored.
Eats large amounts of food even when not really hungry.
Usually eats alone during binge eating episodes, in order to avoid discovery of the disorder.
Often eats alone during periods of normal eating, owing to feelings of embarrassment about food.
Feels disgusted, depressed, or guilty after binge eating.
Rapid weight gain, and/or sudden onset of obesity.
Relationship to other eating disorders
Binge eating symptoms are also present in bulimia nervosa. The formal diagnosis criteria are similar in that subjects must binge at least twice per week for a minimum period of three months.[5] Unlike in bulimia, those with BED do not purge, fast or engage in strenuous exercise after binge eating. Additionally, bulimics are typically of normal weight, are underweight but have been overweight before, or are slightly overweight. Because there is no purging to prevent weight gain, those with binge eating disorder are more likely to be overweight or obese.
Most people with this problem are either overweight or obese , but people of normal weight can also have the disorder.
About 2 percent of all adults in the United States (as many as 4 million Americans) have binge eating disorder. About 10 to 15 percent of people who are mildly obese and who try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight-loss programs have binge eating disorder. The disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese.
No one knows for sure what causes binge eating disorder. The trigger point can be emotion such as happiness, anger, sadness or boredom. Impulsive behavior and certain other emotional problems can be more common in people with binge eating disorder. However, many people also claim that bingeing occurs regardless of their mood. It is also unclear whether dieting and binge eating are related. Some studies show that about half of all people with binge eating disorder had binge episodes before they started to diet.
Most people with binge eating disorder have tried to control it on their own, but have not been able to control it for very long. Some people miss work, school, or social activities to binge eat. Obese people with binge eating disorder often feel bad about themselves and may avoid social gatherings. Those who binge eat, whether obese or not, feel ashamed, are well aware of their disordered eating patterns, and try to hide their problems. Often they become so good at hiding it that even close friends and family members don't know they binge eat.
Some of the most common symptoms are:
Eating large amounts of food, even when not physically hungry. Eating more rapidly than usual.
Eating until uncomfortably full.
Eating alone out of embarrassment at the quantity of food being eaten.
Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after eating.
Binge eating. I just made an appointment to see a therapist for a few different reasons. 1. my self image and 2. binge eating.
I have a terrible self image. I do not see myself as I am I see something different. In posting my feelings and sharing my thoughts with some trusted friends - it was suggested that I seek help to overcome this inproper image of myself. The 2nd thing that I need to address is binge eating. I am a binge eater. I have had pretty good control over this since starting on MFP however the last few nights I have fallen off the wagon and the binge eating has taken over once again. My binge eating occurs at night most of the time (after I have gone to bed for the night I will wake up and hit the kitchen sometimes eating 500-1500 calories in a 15 minute period...then going back to bed) - I have bouts of binge eating during the day too but they are rare. I will just start eating things and wont stop...it doens even matter what I eat either - I can eat whatever is around - from chocloate syrup to chicken, from cookies to salad dressing, from chips to cheese - whatever I can get my hands on.
Im going for my first appointment with a specialist on friday to see if I can overcome these issues.
Ive succeeded in losing weight - Im 5'7", 144 pounds and in a size 4 or 6 bottom, medium top...Im not fat anymore -but I cant see that and I cant stop the binges.
Are there any other binge eaters out here? The below script explains binge eating in an easy to understand way. Again, thanks for listening.
Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States affecting 3.5% of females and 2% of males and is prevalent in up to 30% of those seeking weight loss treatment. Although it is not yet classified as a separate disorder, it was first described in 1959 by psychiatrist and researcher Albert Stunkard as "Night Eating Syndrome" (NES), and the term "Binge Eating Disorder" was coined to describe the same binging-type eating behavior without the nocturnal component. BED usually leads to obesity although it can occur in normal weight individuals.
Signs
Periodically does not exercise control over consumption of food.
Eats an unusually large amount of food at one time—more than a normal person would eat in the same amount of time.
Eats much more quickly during binge episodes than during normal eating episodes.
Eats until physically uncomfortable and physically feels like they're on the verge of throwing up due to the amount of food just consumed.
Eats when depressed, sad, or bored.
Eats large amounts of food even when not really hungry.
Usually eats alone during binge eating episodes, in order to avoid discovery of the disorder.
Often eats alone during periods of normal eating, owing to feelings of embarrassment about food.
Feels disgusted, depressed, or guilty after binge eating.
Rapid weight gain, and/or sudden onset of obesity.
Relationship to other eating disorders
Binge eating symptoms are also present in bulimia nervosa. The formal diagnosis criteria are similar in that subjects must binge at least twice per week for a minimum period of three months.[5] Unlike in bulimia, those with BED do not purge, fast or engage in strenuous exercise after binge eating. Additionally, bulimics are typically of normal weight, are underweight but have been overweight before, or are slightly overweight. Because there is no purging to prevent weight gain, those with binge eating disorder are more likely to be overweight or obese.
Most people with this problem are either overweight or obese , but people of normal weight can also have the disorder.
About 2 percent of all adults in the United States (as many as 4 million Americans) have binge eating disorder. About 10 to 15 percent of people who are mildly obese and who try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight-loss programs have binge eating disorder. The disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese.
No one knows for sure what causes binge eating disorder. The trigger point can be emotion such as happiness, anger, sadness or boredom. Impulsive behavior and certain other emotional problems can be more common in people with binge eating disorder. However, many people also claim that bingeing occurs regardless of their mood. It is also unclear whether dieting and binge eating are related. Some studies show that about half of all people with binge eating disorder had binge episodes before they started to diet.
Most people with binge eating disorder have tried to control it on their own, but have not been able to control it for very long. Some people miss work, school, or social activities to binge eat. Obese people with binge eating disorder often feel bad about themselves and may avoid social gatherings. Those who binge eat, whether obese or not, feel ashamed, are well aware of their disordered eating patterns, and try to hide their problems. Often they become so good at hiding it that even close friends and family members don't know they binge eat.
Some of the most common symptoms are:
Eating large amounts of food, even when not physically hungry. Eating more rapidly than usual.
Eating until uncomfortably full.
Eating alone out of embarrassment at the quantity of food being eaten.
Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after eating.
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Replies
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You are very brave to be seeking help! I wish you the very best!0
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I eat alone a lot. And "snack" a lot. I eat faster than I used to. I never thought of it as being binge eating....
Maybe it is? I guess I'll have to look into it a bit more.
Thanks for sharing!0 -
I am glad you are here, and I am glad you have made an appointment with a therapist. You are not alone, as you know by the stats you posted.
I also hate the feeling the nearly frenzied need to eat. I'll ask myself what is really hungry - my stomach,my mouth, my head or my heart? Usually it's more my mouth or heart. While just identifying the source curbs it quite a bit, I still cave. Hypnotism and traditional talk therapy has been a great help.
Whatever the reason behind your personal struggle, keep your head up and give yourself credit for every step you make on this journey. Give yourself a human break if you falter. Prayers and wishes your way.0 -
Yes, I have been binge eating since I was a very young child. I remember eating entire BOXES of Little Debbie cakes in one sitting at 7 or 8 years old (my grandmother bought them for me and I hid them from my mom).
The more depressed/anxious/out of control I get, the more horrifying my binges get. It's so out of control, but it's almost like it's my way of at least being able to *control* that one thing about my life. Almost a reverse anorexia. I've had better control over it for the last 6 months than I ever have before. But, then again, I've felt more mentally stable over the last 6 months than I ever have before.
I've also always had a horrible self image and problems with anxiety. All the issues I have/had are completely intertwined with each other and for the first time lately I feel a little less like a crazy person than I ever have before. But even still I catch myself wanting to binge on the dumbest stuff ever. For instance more than once in the past month I've caught myself standing in the kitchen waiting for dinner to cook and I'll grab a jar of peanut butter... and start eating it... with my fingers.... But I can catch myself now and stop it and be okay, whereas before, it would have been quite possible I'd eat an entire jar of peanut butter just standing in the kitchen. Or an entire pint of ice cream standing in front of the freezer. Or... and entire cake (or as much as I could eat until I felt sick). I would hide food from my parents when I was a kid, from past roommates in college, from friends, and even from my boyfriend of 4 years. Stop and get fast food, eat it in the car where no one can see me, get rid of the evidence, and then go home and eat something for dinner just so he would have no idea I had previously eaten. Yes, I'm aware this is completely repulsive to anyone without (or with) the same problem, sorry.
It's completely embarassing for me to talk about it because it's something that, to me in my life, represents a complete lack of control over myself and the rest of my life.
I've never been to therapy for any reason but I think it's awesome that you're going.
I guess the irony here is I have a degree in psychology.
Anyway, I'm here if you ever need to talk or need support. :flowerforyou:0 -
My husband hides a lot of his eating, like an alcoholic hides a flask. He hunches over his food, or eats standing up facing the corner/wall. It is concerning and I feel bad for him. He is improving with his "public" portion sizes, but there is still a lot of hidden (sneaking) food eaten.0
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hmm I think I was a binge eater, in fact my very first blog post was on something similar - Emotional Eating. It's when I would eat a lot especially if triggered by happiness, sadness, anger, depression, etc. this really sounds like how I used to be:
Some of the most common symptoms are:
Eating large amounts of food, even when not physically hungry. Eating more rapidly than usual.
Eating until uncomfortably full.
Eating alone out of embarrassment at the quantity of food being eaten.
Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after eating.
now I try to think before I eat. So I have a set time which I try to eat all my meals and try not to eat after a certain time. Right now my cut off time is 8pm, I cannot put anything into my mouth after that time except water.
My best advice is to determine your feelings before eating, set a cut off time and stick to it (ideally within an hour or so after ur workouts and definately an hour or 2 before bedtime) if u find that u get bored or anxious find something to keep ur mind occupied, read, blog, call a friend to chat, catch up on chores at home, etc.
I think it's really just a psychological thing and you can control it if you try working on it. I'm glad u sought help.
Good luck 0 -
This is a long post and maybe I should put it into a blog -- thank you for listening....
Binge eating. I just made an appointment to see a therapist for a few different reasons. 1. my self image and 2. binge eating.
I have a terrible self image. I do not see myself as I am I see something different. In posting my feelings and sharing my thoughts with some trusted friends - it was suggested that I seek help to overcome this inproper image of myself. The 2nd thing that I need to address is binge eating. I am a binge eater. I have had pretty good control over this since starting on MFP however the last few nights I have fallen off the wagon and the binge eating has taken over once again. My binge eating occurs at night most of the time (after I have gone to bed for the night I will wake up and hit the kitchen sometimes eating 500-1500 calories in a 15 minute period...then going back to bed) - I have bouts of binge eating during the day too but they are rare. I will just start eating things and wont stop...it doens even matter what I eat either - I can eat whatever is around - from chocloate syrup to chicken, from cookies to salad dressing, from chips to cheese - whatever I can get my hands on.
Im going for my first appointment with a specialist on friday to see if I can overcome these issues.
Ive succeeded in losing weight - Im 5'7", 144 pounds and in a size 4 or 6 bottom, medium top...Im not fat anymore -but I cant see that and I cant stop the binges.
Are there any other binge eaters out here? The below script explains binge eating in an easy to understand way. Again, thanks for listening.
Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States affecting 3.5% of females and 2% of males and is prevalent in up to 30% of those seeking weight loss treatment. Although it is not yet classified as a separate disorder, it was first described in 1959 by psychiatrist and researcher Albert Stunkard as "Night Eating Syndrome" (NES), and the term "Binge Eating Disorder" was coined to describe the same binging-type eating behavior without the nocturnal component. BED usually leads to obesity although it can occur in normal weight individuals.
Signs
Periodically does not exercise control over consumption of food.
Eats an unusually large amount of food at one time—more than a normal person would eat in the same amount of time.
Eats much more quickly during binge episodes than during normal eating episodes.
Eats until physically uncomfortable and physically feels like they're on the verge of throwing up due to the amount of food just consumed.
Eats when depressed, sad, or bored.
Eats large amounts of food even when not really hungry.
Usually eats alone during binge eating episodes, in order to avoid discovery of the disorder.
Often eats alone during periods of normal eating, owing to feelings of embarrassment about food.
Feels disgusted, depressed, or guilty after binge eating.
Rapid weight gain, and/or sudden onset of obesity.
Relationship to other eating disorders
Binge eating symptoms are also present in bulimia nervosa. The formal diagnosis criteria are similar in that subjects must binge at least twice per week for a minimum period of three months.[5] Unlike in bulimia, those with BED do not purge, fast or engage in strenuous exercise after binge eating. Additionally, bulimics are typically of normal weight, are underweight but have been overweight before, or are slightly overweight. Because there is no purging to prevent weight gain, those with binge eating disorder are more likely to be overweight or obese.
Most people with this problem are either overweight or obese , but people of normal weight can also have the disorder.
About 2 percent of all adults in the United States (as many as 4 million Americans) have binge eating disorder. About 10 to 15 percent of people who are mildly obese and who try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight-loss programs have binge eating disorder. The disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese.
No one knows for sure what causes binge eating disorder. The trigger point can be emotion such as happiness, anger, sadness or boredom. Impulsive behavior and certain other emotional problems can be more common in people with binge eating disorder. However, many people also claim that bingeing occurs regardless of their mood. It is also unclear whether dieting and binge eating are related. Some studies show that about half of all people with binge eating disorder had binge episodes before they started to diet.
Most people with binge eating disorder have tried to control it on their own, but have not been able to control it for very long. Some people miss work, school, or social activities to binge eat. Obese people with binge eating disorder often feel bad about themselves and may avoid social gatherings. Those who binge eat, whether obese or not, feel ashamed, are well aware of their disordered eating patterns, and try to hide their problems. Often they become so good at hiding it that even close friends and family members don't know they binge eat.
Some of the most common symptoms are:
Eating large amounts of food, even when not physically hungry. Eating more rapidly than usual.
Eating until uncomfortably full.
Eating alone out of embarrassment at the quantity of food being eaten.
Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after eating.
First off I think you are simply awesome for taking time to post what's going on with you. This post will benefit so many others on this site, because they will no longer feel alone!
I'm so very proud of you making the appt., to find the underlying cause of the binge eating is what helps us overcome it and move forward. It's not easy to sort through our feelings and figure it out but it IS do-able!:flowerforyou:
By all means do think of begining a blog as I think you will be helped by expressing your feelings openly and it will help others as well. Plus you write beautifully and powerfully! I think it's great that you posted here first and that you shared the meaning of 'binge eating' I for one appreciate it.
I too lost a fair amount of weight and do not see myself as smaller, it's a horrible feeling to have worked so hard, done things to get healthy and then not see clearly where my body is now. I don't know what the full solution is. But I do know there is tons on the web that might help as well as your therapist. I've seen some counselers take a large sheet of paper and have the client lay down on it, or hang it on a door and then they draw around the person to give them an idea of how their body REALLY looks now! The clients were always amazed and it seemed to help to have a visual of what they looked like now since the mirror vision wasn't clear to them.
I wish you nothing but the best, I know you'll succeed, look back at your success and be proud, you'll get back on the right trail and the binges will diminh again. I lthink you're doing the right thing to go talk to someone, it's helped me enormously!
:drinker: 0 -
I've been a binge eater since childhood and went to therapy in my early 20's. I was diagnosed with BED & I still struggle. It's something I have to work at still....the past few weekends I have lost the battle but I just pick myself up and try again.
jlb123 - your stories could be right out of my journal
Best of luck:flowerforyou:0 -
I'm a binge eater.
I finally brought it up to my therapist last night.
It's hard to overcome. I liken it to alcoholism.
You can be in remission but never fully cured.
I've gone into remission before but am back to binging.
Trying to gain control of mine now.0 -
My husband hides a lot of his eating, like an alcoholic hides a flask. He hunches over his food, or eats standing up facing the corner/wall. It is concerning and I feel bad for him. He is improving with his "public" portion sizes, but there is still a lot of hidden (sneaking) food eaten.
shame can be so damaging to our self esteem, I say that from experience..0 -
Hello, my name is Crystal, and I'm a binge eater. I've always binged and I still do. I wait until my hubby is out of the room for a while and then I think "I'll just have a bite". Once I start, I can't stop. I berate myself while I'm eating, but it doesn't help. I don't stop even if he come back. I just keep eating. Last night I went to bed with a stomach ache from all the ice cream and potato chips I ate 1/2 an hour before.
jlb123, I agree with you about having a handle on it when I first started. I did so well. I could make it days and days without binging. In December, I started losing some control over it. I keep trying, but it is really hard. I'm having a terrible time this week. I've binged everyday since Friday. I keep trying to figure out why I do this to myself.
Phoenix, I think alcoholics have one slight advantage. I'm not saying that it is easy, but at least alcohol isn't required for basic survival. No matter how much will power you have, you have to eat everyday. If it only takes one bite to start a binge, how to you completely prevent it when you have to eat to survive?0 -
I think it is great you put this out there and commend you on seeking professional help. I would say I have felt borderline myself, as in the past have tended to go most of the day without needing to eat but then once home and alone would eat anything and everything! Since reaching the point of committing to lose weight back in January, I have had myself under control, but feel like it is never far away. Good luck and share any great tips you may receive in the process!!!!0
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Interesting.
Many of you state that this started in childhood - does anyone recall a particular traumatic event or circumstance that occurred around the same time? Not that this is the forum in which it should be shared - so it's more a question for you all to ponder privately - but it does sound very much like a habituated behavior that would be associated with trauma, perhaps even masked. So, whenever any resembling image, trigger, memory or occurrence happens, the response has long been trained. Almost like a modified fight or flight reaction.
I suspect that binge eating is a learned behavior associated with *something* and therefore, to try to treat the behavior on the front end may just be a bandaid and what really needs to be addressed is the underlying circumstance. Of course, I am TOTALLY guessing and for those of you seeking professional help (which is fantastic, btw!!!), see if you can come up with something from around the same time frame that could have started this for you. ** IF** there is something, perhaps by coming to terms with that, it will be easier for you to modify the behavior that you have now. I am not suggesting that ANY of this will be easy... just that it might be easIER - huge difference.
We all have our burdens to bear and for each of you experiencing this one - I wish all of you the very best and perhaps you should start a support group here - of your own? No one else is going to understand where you're coming from better than you will and that's a powerful thing.0 -
Do/did any of you actually forget that you had eaten? Not total amnesia, but I used to come home and think "I need to have supper now" having totally put out of my mind that an hour ago I had stopped at McDonalds and had a whole meal.
Since I have been using MFP, that is one of the most significant changes that I was able to make - logging my food really helped to reduce those "lost' meals and snacks.
Good for you for seeking support. I really feel that all the calorie counting the world isn't sustainable until you can address those core issues. It's a struggle, but it's doable. All the best.0 -
yes I am a binge eater. I have often thought about this. I try so hard to not do this. I have been trying to think about wether or not I am hungry. Sometimes I do ok, but I have many days where I come home and I eat for about two hours. I am sick after, and I don't want my family to know how much I have eaten. I want to get control of this so bad. While I am eating I know that I shouldn't be doing this. I don't even like everything that I eat.0
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:flowerforyou: I have felt everything and doen everythign you wrote....wish I had a "cure" or the "answers" but I don't...just wanted to let you know your not alone :flowerforyou:yes I am a binge eater. I have often thought about this. I try so hard to not do this. I have been trying to think about wether or not I am hungry. Sometimes I do ok, but I have many days where I come home and I eat for about two hours. I am sick after, and I don't want my family to know how much I have eaten. I want to get control of this so bad. While I am eating I know that I shouldn't be doing this. I don't even like everything that I eat.0 -
I used to be bulimic. I conquered it myself at 5-6 years. Everyday. It will help you going to get help. It's deff. not good for you. There is something behind it that you need to get worked out with you. Good Luck when someone develops an eating disorder its not because of they feel fat its usually that they feel control over it and in real life they really don't have control over the situation.0
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