Anyone successfully stopped binge eating.

[Crazykefir]

Hi hive mind. I'm 47. I've binge eaten my whole life (acted out in secret). I'm about 3 stone overweight. Tried everything, slimming world; wierd consultant was some guru like figure. Weigh watchers; lovely consultant lost half a stone in a few weeks then prompty put all the weight back on in 1 week and was too ashamed to go back! Gym; lost a ton of weight, worked out obsessively, got an injury and never went back. My latest attempt was overeaters annoymous; imo they are fundamentalists.
Tried counselling one kept on saying don't beat myself up, the others were significantly overweight and wouldn't go there at all.
Do you have any experience or success to share around binge eating. I'd love to hear it. Thx

I am current trying Clear Minds Hypnotherapy for binge eating. You buy the prerecorded sessions and listen to them in bed. I fell asleep on every occasion.

It's definitely not made me think about binging and would be worth a try.

@Crazykefir

I used to struggle with binge eating, being diagnosed and starting treatment for adhd stopped this. I have now managed to lose just under 3st and counting.

Whilst you might not have ADHD, I would speak to your GP as there are medical treatments for binge eating.

I just wish I’d done it sooner.

x

Thanks both. I'll look into the hypnotherapy.
You know my niece is diagnosed with adhd and my siblings and i all share traits. Tirednortherner do you know what drugs the gp may prescribe for binge eating and adhd?

Another vote for the clear minds hypnotherapy. I was sceptical but desperate enough to try anything. After the free 7 day trial I’ve subscribed to the app. I’ve fallen asleep listening to it most nights for a couple of weeks but haven’t felt the need to binge since day 1.

Wow great Daisycatliveshere how much is the app.

It’s 12.99 a month but that gives you access to all the different hypnotherapy sessions, not just the binge eating. You could also pay a one off to download individual sessions but I didn’t see that option before I subscribed. I honestly didn’t expect anything much from it and I’m shocked at how I’m suddenly not so interested in the foods that would normally trigger a binge. I’m an emotional eater and now I feel like I’m back in control after gaining so much weight through lockdowns and work stress.

Trying to fill an emotional hunger with food is never going to work. I have been through periods in my life where I have eaten to excess but still felt empty emotionally. Now, I go to Slimming World where you can eat plenty so long as you keep it low fat/low sugar with loads of fruit and vegetables. These days my cravings are less but when they appear, I ask myself what it is that drives me to eat. When I think about it and see what emotions I am feeling and why, the need to binge evaporates. I won't always do it perfectly but feel much better able to cope now by properly dealing with my emotions instead of pushing them aside. Best of luck

Yes, i managed it after a decade of binge eating, Triggered by dieting and a traumatic event as a teenager. Began process of wanting to sort as i was soon to be a step mum and wanted to sort myself out before i became part of their lives. CBT then humanist counselling along with reflexology which helped me deal wjth difficult emotions and memories rather than stuffing the pain down with food. Took a long while but after a while i realised i didn't binge (but even occasionally now, almost 15 years later i will overeat but never binge). Good luck OP, it definitely can be done.

I’m tackling it with CBT at the moment. It seems to be working so far.

Ok so I stumbled across this thread and aw the comments about the app. I just wondered how does it work?
Is it something which you're supposed to listen to whilst asleep? Do you keep it on all night?

You don't need to pay for the month subscription. I just payed for the therapy session that I can download and keep.

I just play it in bed when I am ready to sleep. Every time it has knocked me out!

Well you’ve tried everything except the actual fix for this problem which is specific psychotherapy with someone experienced in eating disorders.

I had integrative psychotherapy for BED for a year, it worked. I don’t binge anymore and I have a whole load of insight into what I was doing and why.

GP can’t prescribe for ADHD (unless you’re already formally diagnosed and fully titrated onto the smallest effective dose and they are happy to have a shared care agreement with psychiatry).

ADHD is a consultant psychiatrist diagnosis and meds can only be initiated by them. ADHD is Co-morbid with BED however. I have both.

Brain Over Binge by Kathryn Hansen - book, podcast etc.

I have insight. I have a history off addiction and have had successful therapy in other areas.
Thanks everyone for their replies.
I think I'm unlikely to get an adhd diagnosis at my age off the nhs as a relatively functioning adult but may get a cbt referral from the gp?
I've had really positive experiences of nhs therapy less so privately, the last one told me im clavoyant! That cost me £60 quid!

Have you had a Google to see if there are any ED services in your local area commissioned to provide treatment for BED (not all of them are - some will only see Anorexia and Bulemia). But it’s worth a try. That’s how I got my treatment and I am so grateful every day!

ZealAndArdour is your support bus funded?

Nhs soz

I have ADHD and a binge-eating problem. I agree that for me it was less about going on a diet and more about building self-awareness about why I binge eat and when I binge eat.

For example, I had some bad news today and I just started really panicking and craving food, so I managed to calm myself down and avoid the food. I also have a bad habit of boredom eating, so things like going for a walk in the evening or writing myself a message on the fridge helps. Also, banning myself from the kitchen after dinner!

So, maybe start with thinking about why you binge eat and when and then try some different ideas how to deal with it and try and find some solutions that work for you? Also, avoid buying trigger foods that you can't help but binge on. There are certain biscuits that I buy, that if I have one, I have the whole pack, so I try not to buy them anymore.

I got my binge eating disorder therapy on the NHS, but I think commissioning is patchy and I got very lucky. I didn’t know I had ADHD then or I’d have been excluded from the commissioning for that service.

WRT ADHD, I sought a diagnosis privately, and now have shared care set up with my GP for prescribing.

So interesting the link between binge eating and adhd.
I eat my feelings and self medicste with food. I think I need to concentrate on a behavioural approach-rewiring my brain.

Hello

ADHD diagnosis is a bit of an ordeal - GP has to refer to ADHD services.

The medication I’m on is an extended release methylphenidate. The other common type is lisdexamfetamine.

My friend got prescribed Phentermine for binge eating after being referred from her GP to ED services.

x

I too had to get a private diagnosis first. GP refused shared care so I now have to have a ‘review’ by nhs services to then allow GP to prescribe. I currently am on a private prescription

This is all useful info. Thanks so much. Both xx

I've managed 2 months stopped so far using Saxenda on private prescription

I'm hoping after another couple of months not doing it , the habit like any addiction might be curbed. The longer I don't do it the more likely I won't do it type thing.

I've also lost 1.5 stone.