Binge eating - how to stop?

[DoubleBuggyDriver]

Not sure if this is the most accurate place to post so apologies if it’s not.

I’m sure I have a binge eating disorder and it’s currently getting out of control. I have no self control and constantly think about food 24/7. I feel so disgusted in myself everytime I’ve binged something but I really struggle to stop. I’ve joined the gym and I manage to go three times a week despite having 2 kids under 18 months. However I just can’t seem to decrease the amount I’m binging.

It’s getting to the point where I’m considering going to the GP but can they actually help? I wondered if anyone else has been through similar and has somehow managed to stop binging? How did you manage it and do you have any tips at all? Thank you

Anyone…😬

I'd at least try the GP - What do you have yo lose? Worst case they'll just be useless but you're no worse off.

Maybe look into counselling to get to the root of the issue if you can? As in, why you feel the need to binge.

Probably not good long-term, but Corsadil mouthwash makes everything inedibly disgusting tasting after you've had it. If your binging is worse for example at night, you could give your mouth a good swill after you've had a sensible tea.

Yeah you’re right, there’s no harm in trying honestly. Haha thank you for that tip, I’ll keep it in mind

The book Brain Over Binge by Kathryn Hansen changed my life.... I can't recommend highly enough.

There is an organisation called Beat which comes well recommended. The only thing that worked for me was to have my food in a certain place and buy only what I was going to eat. It's not that easy around young children, I know, but if you can perhaps allow yourself unlimited amounts of a fat free food which you enjoy but don't crave, that may well work to begin with, but better brains than mine have started an organisation to help people like us. Good luck to you, I know well the awful feelings it brings.

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/types/binge-eating-disorder/treatment/&ved=2ahUKEwiZ3aj09IP7AhUSQ8AKHd-2AGIQFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1UlF2HHJOHMiVOfXG270bj

The answer for me was in looking at the feelings that were leading me to binge. Mainly feelings of abandonment, loneliness, feeling empty inside.

Also think about when you first started binge eating - what were you going through at the time and what were you feeling?

When you find yourself reaching for food, try to stop for a minute and ask yourself what you were thinking about and feeling in the seconds leading up to reaching for it, even if you go on to eat it anyway at first. Ask yourself - what are you stopping yourself from feeling? Gradually you can stop yourself and pause earlier until it becomes second nature to feel your feelings instead of reaching for a distraction from your feelings.

Psychotherapy helped me, but if you can’t afford it look up Teal Swan’s videos on binge eating, relationship with food etc - she talks about the kinds of things you’d explore in therapy.