Binge eating in plain terms is compulsive eating. People use food as a means of coping or dealing with emotions that are unhealthy.
Many times, people would have had times when they ate too much, like a wedding weekend or a special occasion. Binge eating is different. Here the individual can’t stop even if they are full, they still keep on eating, even if the individual is full. Eating quickly to finish the food is also another feature.
This can be treated however it is not an easy task, one’s family and their full commitment and cooperation is required. This is to be added with the desire to change and work with this from the individual.
Understanding binge eating is necessary for the type of help that is to be offered to the individual.
Come of the common causes of binge eating are:
1. Usually, this type of over eating happens where there is some kind of hurt that has happened in the past or in the present. A comment made about the body type or a remark made about the appearance of the individual can make its way for years and the individual’s entire self – concept can be based on this comment.
2. Ill treatment and abuse in the past can also be reasons for this sort of behaviour as well. Food is often used as a way to reward themselves as in a form of comfort or reward.
This journey involves a hand in hand journey with emotions not being expressed. This can lead to depression and here, there is a hand in hand journey with depression as well.
This disorder and condition may run in the family so looking into the manner in which the family runs its affairs is crucial to understand why the individual resorts to this behaviour.
Let’s look at some symptoms:
When individuals find themselves eating more food than other people, then they need to give this more thought. If an individual can’t control what they are eating then to this needs to be addressed. After being upset, one may eat out of control, this can also be a reason for binge eating being a habit.
Treatment:
Looking at some treatments that are available for binge eating:
1. CBT is recommended for this treatment. In CBT, thoughts are being gauged and evidence is looked at if these thoughts are valid.
2. Creating awareness and understanding how to overcome it is the trick and need of the hour.
Depression, anxiety, panic attacks are all other features that need to be looked into as well.
Taking care of myself:
1. Identify trigger points and take it into therapy. Understand for yourself what are the trigger points.
2. Exercise and give yourself the opportunity to vent some of the pent-up emotions.
3. Adding self – care to your routine for the day is crucial when dealing with binge eating.
4. Address blame, guilt, shame. Often one of the characteristics of this condition is the blame game. Identifying where this blame is coming from is important.
Often, Binge eating is not given importance compared to other eating disorders. It is not to be taken lightly. If not given care, then, it can lead to more severe issues with eating disorders.
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