When thinking about eating disorders, a lot of people might immediately think of anorexia or bulimia, as they appear to be the conditions that are most often discussed when it comes to this topic. While these are two very serious eating disorders that need to be recognized, it’s also important to think about other eating disorders that might not be commonly discussed. Binge eating disorder is just a serious, but perhaps not as widely discussed. It’s where a person overeats to the point of feeling sick or uncomfortable, but unlike bulimia, where a person usually makes themselves sick after meals or a food binge, someone with a binge eating disorder does not. It is a compulsion to eat even when you’re not hungry, and this can lead to significant weight gain and other health issues. If you have noticed that you’re overeating and are worried you might have a binge eating disorder, read on to find out a bit more about the other symptoms of these conditions.
Feelings of Guilt
When you’re bingeing on food, it might initially feel good, particularly if you are using food as a form of comfort or stress relief. However, these initial feelings of satisfaction are quickly replaced with feelings of shame and guilt over what you have eaten, which could indicate that you have an eating disorder. It’s not uncommon for people to occasionally feel a little bit bad if they have overindulged, but it shouldn’t be happening frequently.
You Are Using Food as an Emotional Crutch
Another indication of binge eating disorder is how you feel about your weight and appearance generally. You might feel unhappy with your current weight and have the desire to lose some and get fitter, but when you do feel low about this, rather than taking the steps to achieve these goals, you rely on food to make you feel better as a quick fix to boost your mood. You will need to learn better coping mechanisms to help boost your self-esteem and speaking to a specialist counselor can help you do this. Find out more information about binge eating therapy at edentreatment.com.
You Can’t Stop Even if You Feel Full
Binge eating is a compulsion, so often people who have this disorder continue to eat even though they already feel full. They might eat to the point of physical discomfort, perhaps even vomiting because they overeaten, rather than making themselves purge after a binge.
You Hide Your Eating Habits
A person with a binge eating disorder might also try to hide their eating habits from others, and this is quite common with eating disorders across the board. You might try to show some restraint if dining with other people around you, only to return home or to your private bedroom, where you will then continue to eat to the point of discomfort. Hiding foods around the house to avoid people knowing that you are eating in private is another tell-tale sign, too.
Weight Gain
Weight gain can happen for many reasons, but if you have noticed that you have gained a lot of weight in a short period, especially if you have been doing any of the above during this time, this is a more obvious sign of binge eating disorder. It’s important to note that not all individuals with binge eating disorder gain weight, but more often than not, this is the case due to the nature of the condition.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar to you, whether these are patterns you engage in or have noticed a loved one doing, it could be a binge eating disorder. Don’t let this take over your life, you must get the right support from free ebooks so you can treat this condition properly and safely.