Binge eating

[Justkeepswimming88]

Basics .. I’ve lost a lot of weight, nearly 8 stone. I have several chronic health conditions including type 2 diabetes,nerve pain and an anxiety disorder.
I find my normal diet is very average and ok but I have these days, maybe 2 a week where I eat and eat and eat. Secretly eat and stuff food down my face even when I’m not hungry. It’s 12.05pm as I write this and I have eaten 6 packets of crisps, jacket potato with a packet pasta on top of it and oven fries and gravy. I’ve made myself feel ill, I wasn’t hungry but I can’t stop and I don’t understand why 😔 My sugar levels are through the roof and I feel so unwell but I know I’ll keep doing it. It’s always crisps and carbs, but it’s the way I force it into me even when I feel sick, I don’t get it at all. Has anyone else been through it or still do it?

It's not about hunger, it's an emotional response. Sometimes we do it because we're bored, stressed, anxious, sad, angry.

Fat is a Feminist Issue is good on this.

Can you catch yourself starting to spiral into a binge? Can you stop, take yourself out of the situation for 60 seconds? Do a body scan - what am I feeling, what am I trying to compensate for/what do I actually need right now? Is it stimulation, comfort, etc? Could you instead go for a walk, wash your hair, talk to a friend, listen to some music, read a book, get fresh air?

Also really important to know that it's OK to stop mid-binge. You don't have to finish the binge to punish yourself for starting it. You can say "this far, but no further".

Thanks so much for your reply. It starts with “oh I fancy a packet of crisps” and before I know it I’m post binge. So yes I probably could stop myself if I really thought about it, it almost feels like a form of self harm. I’m very miserable right now, I’m in horrendous pain and it makes me feel really lonely. I find I shut myself away when I feel unwell and then the anxiety creeps in, maybe it’s just a form of escape. I really don’t know, I’ll check out what you mentioned and have a read

Well done on your weight loss - that's a great achievement. If you haven't had a history of disordered eating before now, your current occasional binging must be very difficult for you to understand, let alone stop. Is it possible that you've actually lost too much weight? If so, maybe your body is subconsciously craving high energy foods to make up any "shortfall".

There are sometimes threads over on the Eating Disorders forum, offering support for binge eaters. It may also be worth looking at the website of Beat, the UK's main eating disorders charity.

I hope you get some relief from this situation soon. I'm generally okay nowadays (now in my mid-50s) but was anorexic in my teens before moving on to years of binge eating. If you have a history of disordered eating I think the tendency to "act out" feelings and stresses through messed-up eating will always be there, but it is definitely possible to break the cycle so that those urges don't turn into actual behaviour.

If necessary, do consider contacting your GP, who may be able to refer you to sources of support.

Good luck!

There can also be sensory seeking going on, it’s quite a strange thing where I’m enjoying the taste but then even though my enjoyment level is going down I keep going exactly as you describe until it’s punishment. Sensory seeking/poor sensory regulation (not having a good off switch) is certainly some of the story for me.

I'm not sure I’ve found one root cause you sort of have to see which factors are in play for you. I can’t have crisps in the house it’s a binge that will happen if I do.

Similar position, I just can't stop myself binge eating. I'm so fat it's repulsive. I'm so depressed.

If you find away to stop pls share!