binge eating disorder treatment
 

I was wondering if anyone had ever sought treatment for binge eating disorder.....I am about to enter treatment with a psychologist who has specialized in this field for over 15 years. I had my first session with her a few weeks ago, and I can't tell you how wonderful it is for someone to recognize this problem I have fought for most of my life ( I thought I was the only one in the world who thinks about food like I do) and to clarify it as a disorder, and that she says she will be able to help me. I don't know if I believe her, but it is worth a shot. I CANNOT live the rest of my life like this, eating in secret and gaining more and more every day....

I have social anxiety so going to talkwith someone is not very easy for me. I just realized thatI had a problem about 2 weeks ago but I am trying to help myself first, along with my husband.

Right now I'm trying things on my own. If I find that I can't do this on my own then I guess that therapy would be an option. I think I would be afraid of doing that for a few reasons....first this would also mean admitting this to my DH because I dont think he know that I have this problem and the second reason is I dont know if our insurance would cover something like this.

I do however think that your going to WONDERFUL....please keep posting with us and let us know how everything is going.

Blessings to you, Chrissy

Trying Therapy Too.
 

I have recently started therapy in conjunction with my new food plan/exercise plan. So far it's helped me.

I didn't actually go specifically for my food obsession, I went for depression and anxiety. In one of my sessions, I brought up my binge eating and obsessing about food. I am already on Paxil for anxiety, but the depression is what makes me eat I think. (That and habit) I'm going to start on medication for depression soon in hopes that it will help me curb my bingeing.

Stick with the therapy! It may not be 'the cure' but may help you figure out WHY you eat and pin point some triggers that spur you to eat. And take some comfort in knowing that you are not alone in your struggle against food. We all need to fight it together!!

JohnnieAnn

:queen:

JohnnieAnn did your therapist give you any pointers on the compulsive eating? Hy hubby said that he would help me in any way that he could but I have no idea what to tell him to do. I don't have the funding to go to a therapist right now so I am looking for any help anywhere I can find it.

Therapy Pointers
 

My therapist gave me some very useful pointers that I'll be happy to share here.

First of all she said I need to find out WHY I eat and to help me with that I need to talk/write what I feel when I want to binge eat. When I have a craving, I have to say/write "I really want some chocolate right now" and then I have to talk/write about WHY I want it. Am I bored? Am I lonely? Am I worried about something? If so, what? Am I mad? What about? The activity of writing or talking gets to the root of why I want to put something in my mouth and gets me out of the kitchen and away from the food. My best friend and hubby know that I they pick up the phone or get an IM saying "I want cheesepuffs" they have to literally 'talk me down' from my craving.

Second, she said I need to write down all of my trigger foods - the things that I tend to binge on. If I can specify certain foods then I can get them out of the house! I also have to be weary when I'm out of the house. If I know I can't control myself (like with ice cream) I must avoid stopping at places like Fosters Freeze or Wendy's where I can get a quick fix. I try not to even drive past those places because my car just kinda steers itself that way! :o

Third, I actually have to talk to myself! She said I should make my own mantra or chant that I can tell myself when I feel a craving coming on and to get myself to exercise. My mantra for exercise is "I can do it. I am WORTH the effort!" I tell myself that over and over again while I'm on the treadmill and hating every second of it. When I feel a craving coming on, or I feel myself reaching for something I don't need, I tell myself "You are stronger than the food. You don't need it. You are in control." It actually helps if I say it outloud so I can hear my voice and make myself believe it!

I hope these tips help. Keep up the good fight! :flow2:

That's great advice. Thanks for sharing. :D

Hi. I have been considering starting therapy too. I don't have any idea how to go about finding a therapist, much less on that specializes in binge eating or obesity.

I have been trying for 4 years now to lose this weight and all I do is go up and down the same 10 pounds. I've tried it all. I must have some issue I need to resolve before I can be rid of this weight.

Thanks for your help.

Finding Help
 

Debbie, if you have insurance, go to your doctor and tell them what you need to do. They will help you get on a health plan that is right for you and help you find the kind of counseling best suited for your disorder.

I've been going to counseling for about a month or so and am on day 6 of not binging. BIG accomplishment for me!! I've gotta do it a day at a time and just stay focused.

Good luck in your quest for better health!! :wave:

JohnnieAnn:queen:

I am crying so hard right now....I didn't know that what I did was binge eating....I didn't know this. A friend directed me here. I guess she knew and, didn't want to tell me. Most nights after my husband goes to bed I start eating, and eating and eating...don't say what everyone else does...."go to bed with him" he goes to bed so early that I'll just lay there and, I am miserable. My bio clock just won't do it. I hate when people say that to me. Like DUH...I have never thought of that. Just can't do it. His hours are so different. Maybe I can get some help from ya'll. Funny, I manage pretty good during the day.

Night Eating
 

After my hubby went to bed was my "primetime" for bingeing too. I'd turn up the TV a little to make sure he couldn't hear the rustle of cheese puffs bags, or the pantry door opening and closing again and again. Nightime was perfect because there was noone to see me sitting with the tub of ice cream and a spoon or sitting with the cake plate and a fork. I was like a criminal waiting for the cover of darkness to burgal food! :devil:

My husband works normal hours, but he travels a lot and that means I'm left home alone at night with nothing but my cravings. The best advice I can give for night time bingeing is to clean the house of ALL your binge foods and then try and find something to keep your mind off of food in general. (I read and do creative writing) You might try to get involved in a hobby like knitting or scrap booking, or cross stitch. Anything that will keep you busy until it's time for bed. If your hands and mind are busy, it is easier to get passed the cravings and obsession.

When I DO get a craving, I pick up my book and then I reach for iced tea, diet cola, or coffee. If you don't get the gitters from caffeine :hyper: they are good craving controlers. For me, slowly enjoying the flavor and smell get me passed the urge to eat, without any extra calories and fat. Crystal light and herb/fruit teas are good too!

I hope you keep coming back to this website for encouragement and support. We can all get to our goals if we work hard and reach out for help! :grouphug:

Thank you so much for answering me so soon. I appreciate you so much......when ever you eat a meal do you feel like you could just keep on eating and never feel up??? Or, soon after a whole meal could you eat again....alot? I think something is so wrong with me. I am really a disgusting person. I need to lose 50 lbs yesterday. I just hate me.

Stay Strong!
 

Listen, you are NOT disgusting. You have a problem with food and it's a disease. Would you feel the same way if you had cancer or MS? Those are 'okay' disease to have and noble if you fight them, but somehow we think we're pathetic and weak if our struggle is against food! You are a valuable person - over weight or not. Keep a focus on that!

Absolutely I can eat a meal and just keep eating. Sometimes I'll eat until I'm full, then keep going until I'm stuffed, and then keep going until I almost feel sick. And here's the reason why - it's not the food I crave! I thought it was, and, yes, I still fight my cravings, (every day, several times a day) but I know that it's something else that I really crave. It's attention, affection, encouragement, friendship and peace. Believe it or not, food is not what YOU crave either. There is something inside that needs to be filled and food is the easiest thing to fill it with.

You feel depressed because you're 50 pounds over weight - honey, I'm 100 pounds over weight! Just imagine how I feel some mornings! :cry: But then my husband hugs or or my little girl says she loves me and I know that I AM worthy of love and a special person and I deserve to regain my power over food. Keep strong and know that you are loved and appreciated and that you can win this fight over food!

JohnnieAnn

FT and Debbie you are not alone. I am been dealing with this for awhile but I just realized it a couple of weeks ago. I have found that since my hubby knows (that was a really difficult conversation) I have been more consiouse of what I am doing. My hubby is out of town alot at night too. I will sit watching tv and eat a whole bag of chips and then eat a half of a bag of cookies. I have found that if I record what I am eating and be truly honest with myself it helps me be more in control. The reason I eat is becase Iam lonely. I really don't have any friends to call and talk to so I kind of have to do this on my own.

I have been doing better over the past week. I have been doing what JohnnieAnn said about question why you are eating. It really did work a few nights ago. Hubby was not home and all I wanted to do was raid the fridge. I was strong and didn't do it. I know that all of us can get through this we just need to learn to lean on each other.

Sometimes I hope that my hubby does go to bed early so I can eat. I plan my binges so I'll go to the store and sort of stock up on the things that I know I can eat in one night. Ice cream, cookies, any sort of junk

Getting rid of the junk is such a good idea. As I go along I am learning alot more about my eating habits. I thought for sure that I would be O.K. with a cup of hot chocolate....guess what...it threw my into a horrible tail spin and I've been fighting the urge to binge for the past three days. I have been keeping things under control but not as controlled as I think I can. I have been eating hard pretzels here and there. They are not something that I would binge on they are just something that I'll pick up when I'm feeling stressed. I need to stop that one. Tomorrow I'm going to keep a list of the foods that I'm eating and see how that goes. I have to make a real effort to eat three meals a day. I have a problem with the breakfast and lunch...no problem with dinner. It seems that my prime time to binge is anytime after 2 in the afternoon. I think that's because I'm usually done with all my things that I need to do with the boys and the housework is usually done then too. It's like I'm relaxed and I plop down on the sofa. Then I think I need to eat something. This is where I can get into trouble.

Blessings , Chrissy

I am so glad I found you guys.....I really need you. No bingeing last night and today I got up early and went to yoga class. Had a resonable lunch and dinner. Hope I can make it through the rest of the night. Bet I can. I just hate my big stomach but, I am trying not to dwell on how I look. Thanks for being there guys.:^:

Good for you FT. You have to take everything really slow. Just like Chrissy said anything can send you into a tail spin. Last nigh I was actually good. I didn't stop thinking about eating but I didn't give in. I knew that the only reason I wanted to eat was because I was alone. I had just made a good dinner so I knew that I was full. I managed to stay away from the peanut brittle and all of the chocolate that we still have in the house. It is really hard for me but I have to reme,]mber how I feel after I eat all of that stuff. I hate myself after I do it. If I don't take the first bite I am closer to breaking the terrible cycle.

Good luck to all of you today and I'll be back later to check in with you guys.

I did well last night....I was a very good girl...I was a good girl at luch and dinner too....now, just to make it through another night. good luck everyone...night time is the hardest time for me.

I'm glad that all of you are doing so well. I on the other hand had a run in with some peanut butter sandwich cookies. I ate 9 of them. There is a bright side to the story...I wanted more but didn't do it. I even gave it thought before I went out to the pantry and dug into them. But, I guess I really wanted them. I think I'm secretly wired to the sofa and the TV in that when I sit down I want to eat. I know for a fact that if I would just have a nice lunch I would get rid of that munchy feeling that I have. Today I will have a decent lunch...that's my promise to myself.

Something else that I think sort of set me off yesterday was the fact that I was writting down everything that I ate. When I would look at the list I was thinking...wow, I wonder how many fat grams is in that and ooohh, how many calories. So for right now writting down anything is off limits. I'll have to keep a mental note of it and not dwell too much. Sounds off the wall doesn't it. I would have never in a million years thought that I would have worried like I did over that silly menu. It brought back days of checking off boxes and dealing myself food cards.......AAAAHHHH!! :dizzy:

Blessings to all, ChrissyB

Chrissy sorry your had a lapse. I have been really working to stop mine. I make sure that I log even when I cheat because then I can really see how bad I was. I never realized how bad I used to eat. I must have been consuming 3000 cals a day and goodness knows how many fat grams.

FT how did you do last night?

I am glad that you guys have come here so that we can all work through this together.

Chrissy, sorry you had a little slip....just pin your ears back honey and, go at it again...I have faith in you......I did pretty well yesterday. I do have some issues to deal with but, I will have to tell ya'll about those later.(pressed for time now) proud of you guys.

Hi everyone, I just wanted to thank you all for your support, it is so empowering to read all of these messages and know that i am not alone anymore. I have now started treatment for my binge eating disorder. Mostly we talked about the reasons I started binging in the first place and trying to find the main factor. Also, she has me working on a food journal, writing down everything that i eat and how i feel both before and after i eat and binge. It has really brought to light my TERRIBLE eating habits. I am hoping every day that i can beat this and once again look at food normally and not let it take over my life at my weakest moments...

So glad for you Mall girl.....I, on the other hand failed last night....doesn't matter..I can't seem to lose an ounce even when I am starving!!!:( Not having a good day at all today, but I know I have you guys to help me through it. Ever have days when you look like a blob in everything? When you are just damn tired of being the fattest girl on the block?:?: that me today!!!! PLEASE, don't let me get you down!!! Tomorrow I may be the one that lifts you up...Ya never know.:dizzy:

MG so gald to hear that you are starting treatment. I am sure that the journaling will help just like you said.

FT have you tried to journal? Are you married or do you live alone? I am just trying to see if I can make some suggestions to help you today. Don't give up. Remember that toay is another day. You can't do anything about yesterday but you can control today!

I am married....I have tried the journal thing but, I have no talent and, that just makes it so complicated for me.

Does your hubby know that you have an eating problem?

I know the other night DH and I were talking about a show that we had watched on TV and there was this man that weighed over 600 pounds. DH told me that he thought that there was more then just an eating problem with this man that he also thought that this poor guy had some emotional problems and was using food to sooth himself. This sort of opened up a door for me to talk about this with him. I didn't come right our and tell him about how I eat or how much I eat but I did tell him that I also think I have an eating disorder. No fooling I am worried that I will ge that big someday. That is why I know I have to do something now. And that's why I am really trying to get intune with myself.

It's hard...I know. Keeping a journal on food is good for some people and not a good idea for others. For someone like myself who will obsess over it it's not good. What I've been doing is just talking to myself and sort of reasoning things out. It helps.

I'm glad that you are here with us. Keep posting and we'll get this figured out.

Blessings to you, ChirssyB

FT you don't have to be talented to keep a journal. I get onto fitday.com and keep track of my food that way. It only takes a few seconds and I really think it has helped me.

I think Chrissy is right your hubby should know what is going on. I told mine and he is really helping me. I think now that he knows he is less likely to bring the junk food into the house that i will binge on.

I will do better not journaling, not food diarying, that is part of my obbsession....I need not to think about food so much. (this I have disscussed with a doctor before although, I am not currently under treatment for this) My husband is a good guy but darn it, he isn't much of a man of words...strong silent type.haha He thinks he has to fix everything and gets upset when he can't. I have tried to tell him that I just need him to listen but he still wants to fix it for me. Sweet guy...some times we have to think of others and just shut up about it. haha He know that it is a constant struggle for me though and he does what he can. I consider myself a lucky girl though. he is always there for me in other ways.

Help From Hubby
 

Telling my husband about my eating was sooo hard. It was admitting how weak I am, and I did not like that! Other than with food, I'm a very controlling and assertive person, so imagine what it was like to talk about my bingeing disorder! :headache:

It was hard for him to hear too because he knew that his work and traveling was part of my problem. (When I got lonely, I ate) He's made a real effort to stay close to home and encourage me every step of the way. And when he does have to travel, he calls me several times a day to make sure I'm feeling good and tell me how proud he is of me sticking to my plan.

Letting go of the food has been hard, but I am finding that, after only a week, it's getting eaiser. I still think about food all the time, but I can talk my self out of it easier. I actually sat in a donut shop this morning with some friends and stuck to my protein bar and bottled water! Normally I would have had atleast three donuts, and probably taken some home with me! I felt so good when I walked out empty handed! :cloud9:

I hope you are all getting the support you need- both here and at home!

JohnnieAnn :queen:

how proud you must have been of yourself not to eat those donuts!!!!!!! I have often said I would walk a mile for one donut!!!!!haha I have to really use my willpower when I play cards with my group on tuesdays.....and lately I have been doing real well. I am 'down' because I have not lost an ounce lately and I and I know that it is lack of excersize. I go to yoga classes twice a week but, it is mostly stretching at this point and, I need to sweat. I have to wait on that cause of back problems but that will be addressed on Feb 12. Till then, I have to be VERY carefull (even at yoga) (instructor is aware of this) and no...I am probably not getting the support I need at home but we all have our crosses to bare and, I just have to deal with it.

Flabbytheighs....I hate calling you that. Better if I knew your real name. I feel like I'm namecalling....LOL

I know what you mean when you say that your hubby is a man of few words and wants to fix everything. Mine is the same. In the past when I need to tell him something that's especially hard for me to say I write him a letter. I know that might sound silly but it really does help me. I dont have the worry about sitting there trying to talk to him and crying and wondering if he's understanding me. I've done this a few times and asked him to please read it while he's alone. Later we will talk about it ....only when he brings it up. I dont like to bring it up I wait until he's had time to really think about things.


I think doing this sort of takes pressure off of me and him. He doesn't have to worry about sitting there and saying words of wisdom to me...trying to fix everything and I dont have to face him while admitting something to him.


Johnnie....your so GOOD!!! I dont know what I would have done with the donuts. That's one of my weaknesses. Good Work!!!!

:D

I've done that before with my hubby (write him letters)....and he knows about my weight issue's. I just don't want to burden him right now with anymore problems. He has more than he can handle right now. Maybe after this first quarter year is over we can have a good long discourse....right now I just want things to run like butter for him at home. haha

How was everyones weekend? I am just checking in with you to make sure that we all have to support we need.

I did not binge but, I did terrible on my diet. but not bingeing is a plus for me. I wonder how Mall girl is doing with her therapy?? Wish she would post to us about it. I hope I do better this week....I am such an emotional eater and I have had alot of ups and downs lately. Hope everyone else did well. Love, flabby :)

FT way to go. You have amade a small step but it really is a big one for you. It is ok that you didn't do to well on your diet. You didn't binge and that is great. Just think of how many cals you didn't eat. I am sure you did good with the fat intake too. Don't try to takel this thing all at once that is when you will fall off again. I didn't do good this weekend either but that is ok. I know that I can pull myself together and start over again. Hubby is going out of town again so I will be very tempted to eat. I am going to be strong and remind myself that I am only binging b/c he isn't home and I am lonely.

I just keep thinking that if we keep telling outselves that it is ok when we don't do what we are suppose to do........ then when do we start holding ourselves accountable for what we do and saying something like " OK, Fat ***...enough is enough!!! What is it about thin and healthy that we don't like?? blah, blah blah"???? Do I make any sence????

I wasn't saying that you shouldn't be accountable for what you are doing. I am just saying that you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You are a great person and should talk positivly about yourself. I am sure that you have lots of good qualities. I know it took me awhile to really see that I was a good person and that I was worthy of whatever I wanted to do with my life. I knew that binging was not good for me emoptionally or physically and I just had to make the decision that I am worth all of this effort. Let me tell you, I am still havning a rough time. This is in no way easy. I really look forward to coming to this site and getting the support I need. I just hope that you will do the same. Don't give up on us b/c I am not going to give up on you.

Oh Nooooo!
 

I just got a call from my therapists office. She went in for emergency hip surgery and will be out for weeks! :fr: Now I guess I have to wait for her to recover to get back into counseling. And just when I felt like we were starting to get somewhere!

I'll keep you posted, but keep me in your thoughts that I stay on plan and sane! :dizzy:

Johnnie:queen:

Oh No!!!!!!! Keep posting with us Johnnie!!!! (by the way.... Love your scarey dude) Maybe you can help me get my self esteem up) I need a good dose of it ......I think!!!! Maybe we can keep you sane or make you crazier....either way you won't be the same!!!! lol I just love you guys and so glad I found ya'll. Keep posting Johnnie we are here for you!!!

Happy Tuesday everyone. How did everyone do last night?

Joe grilled steak for us, I had a filet. I also had a potato but it was a sweet potato so much better for me. I didn't binge at all last night. One of Joe's friends came in b/c they were leaving today to go goose hunting so the house was busy. I am thankful for that b/c I probably could have put a hurting on some peanut brittle. I really need to throw that stuff out. I am all geared up for today. I think it will be a good one. Now if I can just keep this feeling all day until I get home. I might even do a workout tape. (I say that now)