What is a Binge Eating Disorder?
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a complex and serious eating disorder. For people who suffer from BED, it can be a really frightening and shameful experience. With binge eating people have episodes of feeling completely out of control around food and consuming very large quantities of food, often to the point of physical discomfort. BED sufferers often report that they feel as if they are in a trance-like state when eating and may even spend a large portion of their day planning the binge. Unlike bulimia, there are no compensatory behaviours involved in BED.
Once the eating episode has finished this often triggers feelings of intense shame, guilt, and self-disgust but despite this are not able to stop themselves from repeating the behaviour and so a vicious cycle ensues.
For people who don’t have experience with BED, it can be hard to distinguish it from episodes of occasional overeating or comfort eating which is a part of normal eating. The key difference is that sufferers of BED feel very chaotic around food and have a total lack of control over their urges to eat. Read on to discover more about binge eating disorder and how eating disorder recovery coaching in the United Kingdom can help you.
Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder
There is no one way to have BED but there are some common behaviour patterns:
- Eating large amounts of food in a short time for example within a two-hour window combined with feeling out of control
- Eating very fast, almost with a sense of urgency to consume as much as possible without being aware of what is being eaten
- Eating when not hungry or after just having eaten a meal, and continuing after they feel full
- Eating in secret and avoiding social settings around food
- Eating past the point of fullness to the point of discomfort and even pain
- Hoarding or hiding food so that they can binge later or to hide binge food from loved ones
- Weight changes as they oscillate through periods of restriction and bingeing. This weight cycling can be quite stressful for the body
Causes of Binge Eating Disorder
As with all eating disorders, the causes of BED are unique to each individual and more often than not will be a mix of a number of factors.
- Restrictive Eating: Very often people who binge eat are always dieting and attempting to control and minimise the amount of food they consume. Calorie restriction, skipping meals, cutting out types of food, and generally having irregular eating patterns will often make your body overly hungry and this can trigger binge eating.
- Trauma: People who have experienced trauma may use binge eating as a way to cope with the emotional distress of this
- Emotional Regulation: Binge eating is often a way to cope with or numb out from stressful events or painful emotions like anxiety and/ or depression
- Genetics: As with other eating disorders it appears that there may be a high genetic component to binge eating and that it may run in families.
- Environmental Factors: Like other eating disorders – can play a part. This can range from food insecurity to the social pressure to conform to a certain body type which leads to body image dissatisfaction, to living in areas with easy access to highly palatable food.
Pathways to Recovery With Eating Disorder Recovery Coaching
Like all other eating disorders there is no quick fix to BED and the recovery journey will look different for everyone. Eating disorder recovery is also unlikely to be linear however the positive news is that full recovery is possible.
I know that it can be difficult to discuss BED because of the extreme shame that often comes with living with this disorder but trying to do recovery on your own is overwhelming so my number one tip for recovery is to connect with professional help. In particular, if you connect with professionals like those at Healthy Self Recovery, who are specific to the eating disorder world you will be met with understanding and compassion.
Professionals Who Can Help With BED
A therapist or counselor will help you to address and understand the underlying causes of binge eating and find new ways of dealing. They can also help with any other coexisting mental health concerns
A registered dietitian helps you to recognise and break the cycle of binge eating and grow a develop a positive relationship with food
An eating disorder recovery coach will guide support and hold accountability on a daily basis to break the cycle of binge eating, to teach you healthy coping mechanisms
If you or someone you know is struggling with binge eating, reaching out for help is a vital step toward recovery. Remember, recovery is a journey, and you do not have to face it alone.
Begin Recovering From Binge Eating Disorder With Eating Disorder Recovery Coaching in the United Kingdom
Take the first step toward healing your relationship with food with Healthy Self Recovery. Our compassionate eating disorder recovery coaching approach is designed to help you break free from binge eating and rediscover balance and self-confidence. Let us support you in creating a life where food feels less like a struggle and more like nourishment for your mind, body, and soul. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
- Contact me to schedule a free discovery call to see if Eating Disorder Recovery Coaching is right for you.
- Begin meeting with me, Marianna Miles, a skilled British eating disorder recovery coach
- Start healing your relationship with food.
Additional Services Offered at Healthy Self Recovery
As a British eating disorder recovery coach, my goal is to support you through your healing journey and help you create lasting change. This is why I offer personalized eating disorder recovery coaching that addresses the thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and anxieties associated with your eating disorder. Along with text support for those moments when you need additional encouragement or face difficulties. I also provide meal support sessions in a safe space where you can challenge food rules and practice healthier coping techniques. We will collaborate with your medical team to incorporate your treatment goals into our sessions.. Together, we’ll develop a recovery plan tailored to your needs. Empowering you to move forward into a life of healing and fulfillment. I offer services throughout the UK, including England, Scotland, and Ireland, to provide the support you need wherever you are.
