Binge eating disorder (BED) is one of the many silent killers in the country. According to a national survey, BED is the most common eating disorder in the United States.
As problems like eating disorders and obesity become a huge problem at present, Transcend Recovery Community is here to shed light and guide those who may be suffering from this serious condition. Continue reading to get more information about a food binge disorder and what you can do to get better.
What is Binge Eating Disorder?
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a form of process addiction in which people overeat an excessive amount of food in one sitting. In short, the individual loses self-control with their eating habits and feels shame and guilt after a bingeing episode.
For someone to be considered to have a binge eating disorder, they must possess a combination of the following warning signs and symptoms:
- Regularly consuming food more than an average person in one sitting.
- Experiencing binge eating episodes at least once a week for three months longer.
- Losing self-control when eating.
- Eating fast in large amounts beyond the point of feeling full.
- Feeling shame or remorse after a BED episode.
- Low self-esteem due to their eating problem.
People who suffer from these kinds of food-related disorders not only eat excessively but also eat low-quality and unhealthy foods. The usual kinds of food they eat include "comfort foods" that are either full of saturated fat, sodium, and carbs, like junk food.
If an individual cannot stop binge eating effectively, they may face long-term health risks along the way. These may include the following:
- Coronary disease
- Hypertension
- High blood cholesterol levels
- Diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Osteoarthritis
- Obesity
If you think you tick the boxes with any of these symptoms, it's best to get professional advice diagnosis, or treatment from a mental health expert to help you identify your emotional and/or food triggers related to this disorder.
How Do I Stop the Urge to Binge Eat?
Temptation is indeed a powerful thing. It's never easy to resist the urge to overeat. However, there are ways to overcome it. And many people who have long suffered this and have recovered can attest to this.
You can be one step ahead and stop a binge episode before it happens. It may entail having long-term strategies and safety nets when an urge suddenly strikes you from behind unknowingly. Here are some of the things you can do.
Use a meal plan - most people are creatures of habit. When they follow a routine or a schedule, they become more disciplined longer-term. It also applies to eating better too. A healthy and regular eating pattern trains you and your body to be more reasonable with your eating schedules.
Understand your triggers - You must learn what feelings, moods, or ticks that drive you to overeat. Once you're able to do this, you'll gain more control over how you decide when to eat.
Remove distractions and temptation - The best way to avoid having a future problem altogether is to remove anything that may trigger you from a bad BED episode bound to happen. Your favorite junk food or comfort food should remind you of a binge, so it's best not to have them near you.
Why Do I Binge Every Time I Eat?
There are many reasons for a person to resort to a food binge. Some may be purely genetic, while others are behavioral by nature. Let's look at the common reasons as listed below:
Genetics - A person's genes play a huge role in how they shape up, especially when they get older. If your parents or grandparents have suffered from binge eating, there are higher chances that you would too.
Environment - We often pick up habits from the people around us. If we have a family member who binge eats, chances are you'll also be influenced to do the same.
Depression/mental health disorder - If you're suffering from a depressive state, your likelihood to binge is higher than ever. This comes too if you engage in substance abuse that may increase your appetite long-term.
Stress - Some people resort to bingeing as their way of coping with their stress, instead of finding healthier alternatives to manage the stress in their lives.
Does Binge Eating Go Away?
Just like codeine addiction, the path for you to overcome binge eating doesn't happen all at once. It would take more than willpower to pull you through your binge eating disorder.
Someone should understand that recovery is a slow and steady process that must not be rushed. That way, you avoid relapsing from binge eating and ensure that—although slow—you are seeing incremental progress that would eventually direct you to long-term relief and recovery.
Treatment helps you to overcome your binge eating disorder. It teaches you to take control of your emotions and have a more positive outlook on your meal habits.
Here are a few things you can do to help you be on top of your binge eating:
Build a support system - It may come in the form of a sober companion who is there to guide you in those crucial times of your rehabilitation. Your family and friends must also be involved in knowing what they can do to help you get better.
Identify triggers - compulsive overeating may stem from an emotional trigger or mental trauma driving you to engage in binge eating episodes. You must be aware of those right away.
Practice mindfulness - your mind must be in harmony with your body to manage your binge eating disorder. You can do this by practicing yoga, meditation, and guided breathing exercises to relax your mind and body.
How Can I Recover from Binge Eating disorder?
Recovering from a severe food binge might be a tough journey for most people. But here are some of the tips and solutions to help you with your food addiction recovery:
Engage in a behavioral therapy program. There are many types of therapies to help improve your behavior and relationship when it comes to your food binge problem. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy help address how you feel about your addiction. Interpersonal psychotherapy is also involved in this process.
Join a support group. The presence of people who have gone through your struggles not only is comforting but also allows you to learn from their mistakes and draw insight on your own.
Enroll in an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation program. Some cases that no longer respond to talk therapy or group sessions may recover better when they undergo an intensive program specifically catered to their needs.
Consider a sober living type of residence during recovery. Many people have shown great promise when staying in recovery homes as they are surrounded by a strong support system comprising of recovery specialists and fellow residents who contribute positively to their growth and long-term recovery or sobriety.
What are Other Eating Disorders?
Apart from a food binge disorder, there are many food-related disorders affecting millions of American adults today. These are the following:
- Anorexia nervosa - a condition when someone sees themselves as "obese" when they are in reality underweight. They go to great lengths just to monitor their weight or even lose some by engaging in extreme diets or exercise.
- Bulimia nervosa - refers to a purge that happens after an extreme food binge, where an individual engages in laxatives, diuretics, enemas, vomiting, or fasting to get rid of the shame due to the calories they consumed
- Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) - People suffering from this disorder cannot eat properly due to disturbed food intake caused by a distaste for certain smells, tastes, textures, colors, or temperature of their food.
Can Transcend Recovery Community Help?
There are many ways in which Transcend Recovery Community helps people suffering from a food binge disorder find their way and continue getting better.
Apart from a wide array of amenities and programs conveniently available for people to enroll in, transitional housing is just some of its main features that help people recover through time.
Gender-based residences allow for safer spaces and a secure community for people to freely express themselves and recover with peace at the top of their minds. We have segregated living arrangements, such as our women's sober living accommodations just for this reason.
Connecting to a food-related disorder specialist is also easier as we have locations spread across the country, with a particular focus on large cities such as Houston, Los Angeles, and New York.
Do something before it's too late. Let us help you overcome your eating disorders. Contact us and together, we can work on helping you become better right away.
