Those who struggle with binge eating often find themselves caught in the cycle of nighttime binge eating. If you struggle with binge eating at night you might know why this behavior continues to plague your life. This is a common concern that comes up in binge eating disorder treatment. You are not alone. Nighttime binge eating is a common concern for many of the women I work with who are struggling with disordered eating, and it can be a complex issue to untangle. Let’s explore some of the underlying factors that contribute to nighttime binging from a Health at Every Size (HAES) and Intuitive Eating perspective.
Nighttime binge eating is more than just a habit; it often stems from a combination of physical, emotional, and environmental factors. As a binge eating disorder therapist, my goal is to help you work through this with compassion and understanding, rather than judgment or restriction.
Reasons for Binge Eating at Night
1. Emotional Triggers:
Many people find themselves binge eating at night as a way to cope with stress, anxiety, loneliness, or other painful emotions. Food can provide temporary comfort and distraction from these feelings. It’s common for people to be dealing with heavy emotions to use food to self-soothe or numb out after a long day.
2. Restrictive Dieting:
When you follow restrictive diets or have strict rules around your food intake, it's common for your body to respond by craving the restricted foods, especially during times of the day when you are less distracted, such as nighttime. Embracing Intuitive Eating means giving yourself unconditional permission to eat, which can help reduce the allure of forbidden foods and decrease the likelihood of nighttime binges.
3. Hunger and Satiety Signals:
One of the principles of Intuitive Eating is learning to trust your body's hunger and fullness cues. If you have been ignoring your body's signals during the day due to restrictive eating or dieting, you may experience intense hunger in the evening, which can lead to overeating or binging. Reconnecting with your body's cues and nourishing yourself regularly throughout the day can help prevent this.
4. Boredom and Habit:
Binge eating at night can also become a habitual behavior, especially if it has been going on for a while. If you find yourself eating out of boredom, try to engage in activities that genuinely fulfill you, both mentally and emotionally. Pursuing your passions, hobbies, or self-care practices can help reduce the urge to eat mindlessly.
5. Punishment or self-care
Binge eating can be both or either a form of self-punishment or a form of self-care, depending on your underlying emotions and motivations. Sometimes people use binging as a way to punish themselves for guilt or feelings of failure. Others might use binging as their form of taking care of themselves because they are stressed in other parts of their life.
Binge Eating Disorder Treatment in Utah can help you stop binging at night
Binge eating disorder treatment can help you stop nighttime binging by helping you understand yourself better. Eating disorder therapy can help you gain insight into your emotions and triggers and find different ways of coping. By addressing the underlying causes of nighttime binging, such as emotional distress or stress, you can learn to improve your relationship through therapy. With the help of a binge eating disorder therapist, those struggling with binge eating disorder can have a better relationship with their bodies. You can learn to stop binging by offering yourself compassion.
Start working with a binge eating disorder therapist in Utah
It's time to take charge of your relationship with food and your emotional well-being. If you're struggling with nighttime binge eating or any form of disordered eating, don't suffer in silence. Binge Eating Disorder Treatment can help. This Utah Counseling Center has a binge eating disorder therapist specializing in treating binge eating disorder. To start counseling follow the steps below:
Meet with an eating disorder therapist
Begin recovering from binging at night
Online Eating Disorder Therapy in Utah
Online therapy in Utah is just as effective as in-person therapy, and here's why. When you connect with an eating disorder therapist through video, you're still getting that personal connection and support. You can see and talk to your therapist face-to-face, just like in an office. Plus, it's super convenient because you can have your sessions from home or anywhere with an internet connection. Research shows that online therapy can be just as helpful for a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and binge eating disorder. So, don't worry about missing out on the benefits of in-person therapy – online video therapy can be just as effective in helping you on your journey to recovery.
Online counseling also means I work with clients all throughout the state of Utah. I work with women in Heber City, Provo, Logan, Salt Lake City, St. George, Cedar City, and more.
About the Author
Ashlee Hunt, LCSW, is the founder of Maple Canyon Therapy in Utah originally located off of Spanish Fork Main Street by Glade’s Drive Inn but now offering online therapy all throughout Utah. With her extensive experience in the field of mental health, Ashlee has established herself as a trusted expert in treating eating disorders and a wide range of psychological concerns. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and another in Family Life and Human Development, both earned from Southern Utah University. Her commitment to empowering individuals on their healing journey led her to pursue a Master's degree in Social Work from Utah State University. Ashlee's dedication to helping others, combined with her academic background and clinical expertise, makes her a valuable resource for those seeking guidance and support in their path towards improved mental and emotional well-being.