One of the hardest parts of dealing with binge eating is talking about the problem. Embarrassment often prevents people from discussing their binge eating with anyone - including their doctor. However if you suffer from binge eating, the first step to getting help is to tell the people who are able to assist you about your problem.
Mild to moderate depression is often the root cause of binge eating. The feelings of depression initiate the binge eating, and the binge eating in turn causes even more depression and guilt. This leads to a cycle that feeds on itself and never seems to end. The only way to break this cycle of behavior is to talk about it and get the help you need.
Begin your recovery by seeing your physician. Be open and honest and discuss your uncontrollable urge to overeat. Your doctor can come up with an accurate diagnosis and discuss various treatment options - ranging from medications to counseling - with you.
There are a number of alternative or natural treatments that include adding various vitamins, minerals and herbs to your diet. When taken in specific combinations, these natural supplements increase the levels of chemicals in your brain that lift your mood, eliminate cravings and decrease your appetite. This can help to remove the trigger that causes you to have binge eating episodes.
Even if you opt for an alternative remedy, it is still vital to consult a doctor or professional trained in natural medicine. The combinations and dosages of the natural supplements must be done correctly in order to have the desired effect.
So, what steps can you take to make it easier to manage your binge eating? Keep a journal of any activities, events, or stresses that seem to trigger a binge eating episode. For instance, when you find yourself binging, make a note of what things you were focused on leading up to the episode. Then on a regular basis keep track of what seems to trigger this behavior.
Once a diet, supplements, counseling, or other course of treatment has been prescribed for you, keep another journal in which you describe the results. Have the symptoms or urges improved? Are they worse?
If you are taking medication, keep a record of what you take and when. Is it helping with the urges? Are there any side effects? Keep track of when side effects occur and how severe they are. Having this information handy will help your doctor prescribe the treatment that best addresses your overall health.
Setting up journals like the ones described here is easy to do. You can use a paper worksheet, a computer word processing program, or even a spreadsheet program like Excel.
You owe it to yourself to take an active role in managing your own health. Binge eating has the potential to be terribly damaging to your health. However with proper management, it can be controlled and eliminated. You need to use every tool at your disposal to make sure you get the best health care possible.
Binge eating disorder is probably the most common eating disorder. Binge eating also occurs in another eating disorder called bulimia nervosa. People with binge eating disorder frequently eat large amounts of food while feeling a loss of control over their eating. This disorder is different from binge-purge syndrome (bulimia nervosa) because people with binge eating disorder usually do not purge afterward by vomiting or using laxatives. Binge eating disorder is a little more common in women than in men; three women for every two men have it. The disorder affects blacks as often as whites. About 2 percent of all adults in the United States (as many as 4 million Americans) have binge eating disorder. About 10 to 15 percent of people who are mildly obese. People with binge eating disorder often eat an unusually large amount of food and feel out of control during the binges. Binge eating involves more than just eating a lot.
Binge eating, Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are all considered eating disorders because they involve unhealthy patterns of eating. People with bulimia nervosa (sometimes called binge-purge syndrome) binge on food and then vomit or use laxatives to avoid gaining weight. They may also fast (stop eating for a while) or compulsively exercise after an eating binge. All three of these eating disorders involve unhealthy eating patterns that begin gradually and build to the point where a person feels unable to control them. All eating disorders can lead to serious health consequences, and all involve emotional distress. Bulimia nervosa (sometimes called binge-purge syndrome) is different from binge eating disorder because people with bulimia vomit or use laxatives to try to keep themselves from gaining weight after eating.
Causes of Binge Eating Disorder
1.Depression
2.Anger.
3.Sadness.
4.Boredom.
5.Anxiety.
6.Certain other emotional problems.
Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder
1. Eating much more food during a binge episode than during a normal meal or snack
2. Frequent dieting without weight loss.
3. Hoarding food.
4. Hiding empty food containers.
5. Feeling depressed, disgusted or upset over the amount eaten.
Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder
Several methods are being used to treat binge eating disorder. Drug therapy, such as antidepressants, may be helpful for some people. Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients techniques to monitor and change their eating habits as well as to change the way they respond to difficult situations. Interpersonal psychotherapy helps people examine their relationships with friends and family and to make changes in problem areas. Self-help groups also may be a source of support. Researchers are still trying to determine which method or combination of methods is the most effective in controlling binge eating disorder.
Both Jason Jantzi & Juliet Cohen are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jason Jantzi has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Internet Business, Search Engine Marketing and Disease & illness. Jason Jantzi writes for www.Health-Kit.com and is a specialist in researching treatments for pain and discomfort. Download a free Binge Eating Health Kit from. Jason Jantzi's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
Juliet Cohen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Skin Cream, Alternative Medicine and Abdominal. Juliet Cohen writes articles for . She also writes articles for. Juliet Cohen's top article generates over 3350000 views. to your Favourites.