Signs of compulsive eating

Signs of compulsive eating

What is compulsive eating?

Compulsive eating involves episodes of uncontrollable eating or binging, feeling frenzied or out of control. Eating even happens past the point of being uncomfortably full. Unlike individuals with bulimia, compulsive overeaters do not attempt to compensate for their overeating by vomiting, taking laxatives, fasting, or purging. However, there may be intervals of repetitive diets. While compulsive eating can potentially lead to weight gain, body weight can range from normal to severely obese.

What causes compulsive eating?

Although there is no known exact cause of compulsive overeating, there are several likely options. Compulsive eating is a behavior used to fill a void, cope with stress, suppress unpleasant emotions, solve problems, or create a state of numbness to difficult situations or feelings. Triggers can include anxiety, depression, stress, boredom or loneliness, dieting and low self-esteem. Compulsive eating is a behavior driven by a desire to deal with hidden problems rather than feelings of hunger. The eating activity provides temporary relief, but is typically followed by further distress in the form of guilt, shame, or disgust. A perpetual cycle of eating to relieve anxiety occurs and then feeling bad when you eat too much. This often leads to a vicious cycle of binge eating and depression.

Why is it so hard to stop?

If you find yourself compulsively overeating, you can try any diet or plan to quit. First you can experience some weight loss success. But in the long term, diets or strictly controlled eating may not address or resolve the root causes of your overeating. Furthermore, with hunger and restriction eventually comes a binge response. This excessive episode leads to feelings of failure and even more depression. Compulsive overeating is a coping behavior that can be overcome by learning and incorporating other behaviors that are at least as effective as eating.

Symptoms of compulsive overeating

This is not a complete list of signs and symptoms. Also, a person may not have every symptom on the list to have compulsive eating behavior.

* Eating normally in front of others and compulsively overeating alone.

* Binging or eating uncontrollably

* Eating late at night or while others are sleeping.

* Hides a private stash of junk food.

* Dissatisfied with body weight.

*Always think about food.

* Eat to feel better.

* Not enjoying the food that is eaten.

* You feel out of control and can't stop eating while you binge.

*Continue eating even if you feel full.

* Become anxious while eating.

* A History of Diet Mistakes.

*Depression.

* Feels guilty and ashamed about binge eating.

* Worry about eating.

* Eating vigorously, hardly chewing food.

* Hide food.

* Eat in secret.

* Binging after a diet.

* Hunger creates a feeling of vulnerability and discomfort.

If you recognize yourself as a compulsive eater – take heart! There is hope and there is healing. Author Thomas Moore wrote: "When the soul is neglected, it does not simply disappear, it appears symptomatically in obsessions, addictions, violence, and loss of meaning. I believe that people with addictive eating behaviors are unique, creative, caring, and sensitive individuals who are seeking a deeper connection to their true inner spirit. Recovery occurs when you have a sense of your own mind, your own self, and your own Developing bodies...and when you develop the belief that your emotions are valid, important, and noteworthy.

Inspired by Annette Colby