“Compulsive eating is my greatest enemy, but it is also my greatest friend. Both my parents are alcoholics. Living with a mom who is a screamer and a dad who is passive-aggressive drove me to food for comfort. Mom was a compulsive eater too. After her nightly fights with dad, she would retreat to her bedroom with a bag of chips, a box of crackers and two liters of soda. My parents weren’t there for me because they were too wrapped up in their own problems. At least I could always predict and rely on the comfort of a macaroni and cheese casserole”. ~This story comes from “Maura” who shared her story about compulsive eating on the Internet.
Compulsive overeating, also referred to as binge eating, is a serious eating disorder that carries with it both physical and emotional complications. “Maura” posted that she suffered with depression, muscle aches, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome and stretch marks. She wrote, “None of that is as bad as the inner pain, the low self-esteem, the shame, the isolation and the embarrassment” that her compulsive overeating have caused her.
Yo-Yo Dieting And Weight Cycling Facts. Binge Eating Has Roots In Past. Annoyed With Yo-Yo Weight. Signs You May Have A Binge Eating Disorder. LISTEN to these topics on “The Joan Jerkovich Show,” this Saturday from 6-7am; or Sunday from 9-10pm. Listen to 1150 KSAL as “Your Life Coach” brings you “Empowering Talk Radio!”
According to the National Eating Disorder Association, binge eating disorder is a severe, life-threatening and treatable eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort); a feeling of a loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame, distress or guilt afterwards, and not regularly using unhealthy compensatory measures (e.g., purging) to counter the binge eating.
Binge eating disorder, or BED as it is also known, is the most common eating disorder in the United States. It is three times more common than anorexia and bulimia combined. It often begins in the late teens or early 20’s, although it has been reported in both young children and older adults.
If you think you have BED, there are qualified professionals available to help. One effective program is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It can help binge-eaters learn to challenge the distorted beliefs and thoughts they have related to food. Becoming more aware and mindful of their desires, uncomfortable feelings and urges that drive them to overeat begins the process toward change. CBT helps people like “Maura” find a way to “sit with” the uncomfortable feelings that drive them to eat instead of judge them. It helps to replace their unhealthy urges with new, healthier eating behaviors.
“Maura” has found hope and is making progress. She is learning to love herself and treat herself better and you can too. Take the first step toward better emotional and physical health. You deserve good things in life just as “Maura” does!
Joan Jerkovich, BCC
Board Certified Life Coach
