Many people deal with binge eating episodes, and it's useful to know what they are, why they happen, and how binge eating disorder treatment can help. If you are struggling with binge eating, you might feel like something is wrong with you and why you can't seem to get a handle on it. Binge eating is much more complex than that, and going into more depth can help you make more sense of it
A binge episode is when a person eats excessive food in a short time. During this episode, it feels out of control and happens quickly. This can happen to those who have been restricting or dieting for a long period of time or it can happen with mental and emotional restriction. A binge eating episode is often associated with eating disorders, especially binge eating disorder (BED).
Symptoms of a binge eating episode:
Excessive Food Intake: The person consumes a larger quantity of food in a short period of time.
Rapid Eating: Binge episodes often involve eating quickly and without a normal pace, making this type of behavior different than eating other meals.
Lack of Control: During a binge episode, people often feel a sense of losing control over their eating. They may find it difficult to stop eating, even if they want to.
Emotional Distress: Binge eating is often accompanied by distress, guilt, shame, or regret during or after the episode.
It's important to know that binge eating, where a person eats a lot in a short time, can be a sign of different eating disorders like BED or bulimia nervosa. How often and how bad these episodes are can vary between people and may cause serious physical and mental issues. If you keep struggling with binge episodes, it's a good idea to get help from an eating disorder therapist. This behavior might show there's a deeper issue impacting your mental health.
Understanding more about binge eating disorder
There are some differences between a single binge eating episode, (which is also different than overeating) and binge eating disorder. Having an occasional episode of binge eating doesn’t mean someone has an eating disorder but it might mean therapy could be helpful. Here are some things to consider
Triggers and Feelings:
Sometimes, our eating habits can be influenced by emotions, the environment, or situations.
Stress, boredom, sadness, or even happy events can lead to moments where we eat more.
Our emotions play a big part in how we eat. Some people might use food to cope with feelings or to take a break from unpleasant emotions.
How Often and How Long:
If someone is dealing with a situation where they keep having binge eating episodes, it might be called binge eating disorder (BED).
For BED, these moments need to happen at least once a week for three months to get a diagnosis.
How often and how long this happens can be different for each person.
Understanding a Binge Eating Disorder Diagnosis:
Eating disorder professionals use certain rules, like those in the DSM-5, to figure out if someone has a binge eating disorder.
These rules include regularly binging, feeling out of control, and feeling upset about it.
Getting Help
Helping with BED usually involves different ways of support.
Talking to someone, like a binge eating disorder therapist, can help understand feelings and thoughts about eating.
Learning about how our body naturally tells us when to eat can be part of recovering
Binge Eating Disorder Treatment:
You can get can get better with the right help and support.
An eating disorder therapist and dietitian along with friends and family, can be part of eating disorder recovery.
If you or someone you know is struggling with binge eating, talking to an eating disorder professional can be a good idea. They can understand the situation and make a plan to help your unique needs
Binge eating disorder treatment in Utah can help
You might feel embarrassed or ashamed to reach out for your struggles with binging. I know it's hard and it's scary to be open about what you're struggling with. I get it and as an eating disorder therapist, I want to help you find a way to get better. I know how important it is to improve your relationship with food and stop the cycle of binge eating. If you've been struggling with binge eating for a while, you might feel hopeless but I promise you can feel better. Working through painful emotions and binge eating is no joke but I know it's worth it. Reaching out to begin binge eating disorder treatment in Utah can change everything for the better.
Start working with an eating disorder therapist in Utah today
You don’t have to keep feeling this way. You don’t have to keep hating yourself and feeling miserable after a binge. You can find relief from all of it. Binge eating disorder treatment can help. This Utah Eating Disorder Clinic has an eating disorder therapist who specializes in treating binge eating disorders. To begin therapy follow the steps below:
Meet with a binge eating disorder therapist
Begin recovering from binge eating
About the Author
Ashlee Hunt, LCSW, is the dedicated owner of Maple Canyon Therapy in Utah. Holding dual bachelor's degrees in psychology and family life and human development from Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, Ashlee has a comprehensive understanding of both individual and family dynamics. She furthered her education with a master's degree in social work from Utah State University in Logan, Utah, enhancing her expertise in providing compassionate and effective therapeutic support. With a wealth of experience, Ashlee has worked across all levels of care for eating disorders