Binge Eating Disorder (no puking, no starving afterwards)

After several years of dealing with the same issue, I decided to talk to my doc about it too. He referred me to a GREAT psychiatrist. I'm on Cymbalta. It's really helped a lot but more than the meds, what's really helped is talking about the WHY. Why do I binge eat and why do I sabotage myself.

Best of luck to you

This is something I've struggled with off and on for years. I go through good periods and not so good periods.

I have never sought professionaol help, though. I have always just gotten myself through the worst of times when they happen and hope they don't come back. What's really helped me is to learn to be honest with myself about what's happening. I spent a lot of my life in denial; denial that it was happening, denial that it was a problem.

I have sought treatment for depression and was on meds for about 7 months at one point while I went through cognitive therapy as well. I had some yucky side effects so I let my perscription run out and have been doing alright ever since.

Good luck to you. Sounds like you're on the right path.

Hi I have a binge disorder (emotional sugar eater) and with my therapy I realized that I am an addict. Yes you can be addicted to certain foods so I struggle every day. I have changed some foods (like white flour to whole wheat or grain) for my pastas and rice. That has helped with the cravings and non-stop eating.

The one thing that I know for certain is that if I give up sugar (which is an awful withdrawal process) I can manage the binging. I'm in the mist of a slip so I'm struggling to get back off the sugar and it needs to be a lifetime decision.

Good luck to you. If you are an emotional eater this will be a struggle but one worth taking.

Your doctor is a good start but he/she will likely refer you to a psychiatrist (for medicinal maintenance) and a psychologist or therapist (for some sort of cognitive behavioral therapy). Usually a combination of these two is the most effective.

You might also find some benefit in mindfulness meditation or ACT therapy.

Best of luck!

Hello,
I'm at school at the moment so I haven't had time to look through the whole thread, but I want you to know that I know how you feel because I'm at that position and two months into counciling for it. First of all, well done for agreeing to get help, I know that can sometimes be the worst thing.
I can't really say what your doctor's appointment will be like, it depends on your doctor really, but when I went to my doctor I was so scared of being judged though I needent have been, he was lovely and gave me the number of the councilor I'm now with, obviously it will depend on your doctor and the services available in your area.
At the moment I am just doing counciling sessions once a week, and although it is working and it is good to get events off my chest things that had happened in the week that had really upset me. My only problem is that I feel amazing for about an hour afterwards but after that my emotions are free to do as they wish and I personally could do with having someone or something on hand all the time, if that makes sense ?
I am considering going to my doctor to see if there's anything I can do to help stop my BED apart from just going to councilling.
I am so happy that you are getting help, there are a lot of people who think that BED is just a load of lazy people who eat loads of food. I can assure you that Binge Eating Disorder is real and if you don't get help it will only get worse.
I have self harmed because I haven't been able to get food,
Screamed and cried for entier nights
Had to borrow money off my parents because I've been 'binging' earlier in the month
Treated people very badly because I needed food and once or twice sunk into depression.
If you don't get help things will only get worse and I'm here for you anytime you need me. I hope this helps

I am not sure what your appointment be like either, seeing that I've never consulted a doctor about my eating issues. However, you are NOT alone in your binge eating behaviors. I have been like this for a while now. It used to not be so bad, but recently (within the past few years) it has gotten worse. In the last year, it has gotten awful.

I do many of the same things others have said. Not eating in front of people, graduating from small packs of cookies to the larger bags and eating them in the car. Throwing away half-eaten bags so I don't bring them home and people wonder why half the cookies are already gone when they were just purchased. Most of my binging occurs in the car, as well.

I am not sure exactly WHY I do it. The only thing that has changed between now and a few years ago is my stress level. Five years ago, I had no children. Today, I have three and a husband. One of the children is his daughter from another relationship and she started living with us 2 years ago (I actually think this is when it started to get escalate). The other two kids are my boys, 4 and 1. I constantly feel overwhelmed.

It's great to get help for something that has run your life. This is not a fun way to live. Good luck!

Please feel free to add me. I am friends with some really great resources in the eating disorder community, and have a wide breadth of education on the subject as well.

What should I expect from my doctor’s appointment? Depending on your doctor's education and expertise, they will either advise you seek counseling with a qualified provider, or will be able to address it with you then and there. One of the things that I suggest asking for is a baseline CBC and vitamin profile to determine where you might need to work, what deficiencies you might have, etc.

What type of treatment options are there? Most of the time, treatment will include psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, and sometimes medication. Not all doctors will do medications though, because some can influence your ability to control binges (that is, they can alter your ability to keep yourself in check, and could cause things to get worse). Before starting any medication, PLEASE research it to understand the possible side effects. ASK how it might impact your diet, metabolism, and mental processes. Find a good eating disorder counselor.

What has worked for you? Honestly? The thing that has helped the most is taking ownership of my problem with EDs and mentally refusing myself temptations. I don't allow myself to stop at places where I know I'll be tempted to buy heaps of junk. If I have to go into a store, I don't go into those aisles. You have to understand that this is not just a random issue in your body... It is a mental disorder, and you have the power to overcome the issue. Any treatment you seek out is only a tool to help you develop the ability to choose against the urge to binge.

Are you/were you on antidepressants at the time of treatment? (I used to take them but haven’ in 3 years) Right now, I'm taking a couple medications, but I have never been put on anything specifically for eating disorders. However, my psych meds are chosen with the ED issues in mind. That is, we discuss and review medications, and select options that are least indicated to cause problems with the struggles I have.

Good luck!