Compulsive over eating ( Binge Eatid Disorder BED) is by no means the domain of people who are exclusively obese. More than half of eating disorder sufferers struggling with overeating episodes are slim or have a normal body build. The problem of paroxysmal overeating affects both men and women. Learn more useful information about paroxysmal overeating, read about proper treatment options.
Paroxysmal overeating (binge eating disorder) – characteristic symptom
It is now accepted that an episode of compulsive overeating is an episode of eating, defined by two specific factors. The first is that the eating of food is excessive, much larger by normal standards. The second and much more important factor is that the eating is accompanied by a subjective sense of loss of control. Many people, when describing episodes, experience them as overpowering and uncontrollable. It is this sense of being driven by food that leads to the use of the term uncontrollable craving.
- Recurrent episodes of overeating. Each episode is characterized by eating in a short period of time of less than two hours, with the amount of food exceeding the dose of a “normal meal.” The amount of food understood to be significantly higher, caloric value equal to at least two meals (1.5 to 3 thousand calories).
- A sense of lack of control, loss of control over the amount of food consumed. A feeling of not being able to stop eating or control the food consumed.
Three or more of the following criteria are present during episodes of overeating:
- Lack of control. Eating at a much faster pace.
- Overeating to the point of unpleasant symptoms and painful overeating.
- Absorbing large amounts of food without physically feeling hungry.
- Frequent eating alone, hiding from meals.
- Distinct mental suffering from compulsive overeating. After an episode, feelings of self-loathing, lowered mood and strong feelings of guilt.
- Overeating occurs on average once or twice a week for a period of three months.
Compulsive overeating – what is eaten and in what quantities?
Episodes of overeating usually occur where food supplies are kept, often in the kitchen. Some people buy food on the way between work and home. The amount of food consumed during an overeating episode sometimes varies. Sometimes patients report consuming about 2,000-3,000 calories or more during a seizure.
Eating disorders – types of episodes
There are episodes that involve the consumption of a normal amount of food. This type of overeating has been called subjective overeating to distinguish it from true, objective overeating. The most important indicator is loss of control, compulsion to eat and experiencing distress. The most common episodes have an objective dimension, i.e. the amount of food consumed exceeds the need. Usually high-calorie food is consumed, which is considered fattening, and the person tries to exclude this type of food from his diet.
Compulsive overeating almost always occurs secretly. This secrecy can persist for many years. It takes place in private, and the appearance of normal eating is often maintained in front of others. Maintaining this secrecy can involve a host of ploys and deceptions.
What triggers an overeating attack?
Characteristic events and experiences usually trigger overeating. They can be divided into three types.
1.The first factor, relates to food and eating. For example, breaking a diet rule, the availability of “dangerous foods” e.g. pizza, chips, feeling full after eating, thinking or even dreaming about food.
The only thing that ultimately triggers me is hunger. If I’m hungry, instead of eating something to satisfy my hunger, I eat whatever I can find at hand. It’s almost as if I have to satisfy all tastes, even for things I don’t want or like.
2.The second, related to worries about weight and figure. For example, worrying about figure and weight, checking weight. Discovering that the scale, is bigger or clothes are tight triggers the feeling that one is fat.
If I discover that my weight has increased or my clothes are too tight. I immediately want to eat. I know it’s silly when I really want so desperately to be thin, but I just feel like I can’t cope and might as well just give in to the food. Of course, after an onslaught of overeating, I feel even worse.
3. Negative mood states, such as feeling unhappy or depressed, feeling lonely or alienated, feeling tense or angry.
A seizure starts when I’m tired or depressed or just plain upset. I become tense, panic and have a great emptiness in my stomach. I try to block the compulsion to eat, which is growing more and more, but without success. The only way I know to relieve these feelings is to overeat. Overeating really relieves the unpleasant feeling, obscures what has upset me, and helps relieve tension. The problem is that it replaces them with a feeling of being clogged and exhausted.
Compensation methods – diet
Most people suffering from paroxysmal overeating try to go on a diet at the same time to lose weight. The use of a diet usually precedes the onset of overeating. In the mechanism of paroxysmal overeating, there are three basic ways to use diets.
The first method is starvation, or not eating anything at all for long periods of time. The second method is frugal eating, that is, trying to limit food – a low number of calories each day. The third method, the most popular, is to avoid certain types of foods that are thought to be fattening, high-calorie foods. These foods are often described as forbidden, bad or dangerous.
All three methods of dieting. They encourage overeating and thus the process of dieting becomes inextricably linked to episodes of loss of control over eating. Dieting makes people susceptible to overeating, creating physical and psychological pressure to eat. In order to introduce a proper diet, it is necessary to consult a specialist. A nutritionist in accordance with our health and dietary needs will determine a diet that will not raise the risk of an overeating episode.
Attitude towards weight and figure
For many people who struggle with paroxysmal overeating, weight and their figure are of great and special importance. Their self-esteem depends largely on how they feel about their weight and figure. Anxiety and focus on their own weight dominates their lives. Many of them are devastated by a strong desire to lose weight and become perfectly thin.
If they happen to gain weight, they become momentarily fat. There is no room for indirect conclusions, the area of appearance is conceived in terms of black-and-white thinking. Cognitive distortions often win out in self-assessment and self-esteem. Often individuals feel depressed, avoid company, and give up the effort to control their diet. This results in even more frequent bouts of overeating. This in turn increases feelings of depression and isolation. The vicious circles in which a person builds up get bigger and more serious consequences.
Co-occurring disorders
Eating disorders, due to their nature and enormous impact, can contribute to co-occurring disorders.
Depression symptoms. Sufferers of compulsive overeating attacks usually present a range of depressive symptoms. These are associated with feelings of guilt, poorer attention span, and lack of energy. Episodes of overeating increase isolation, shame and feelings of failure
Anxiety symptoms. People who compulsively overeat often notice very unpleasant anxiety symptoms in themselves. These include mental symptoms of worry, tension pains such as headaches, palpitations, and difficulty breathing.
Can paroxysmal overeating be cured on its own?
Paroxysmal overeating is a difficult problem to overcome on its own for several reasons:
- The habitual cycle of eating, in some ways, resembles chemical addiction.
- Behaviors, related to eating, can reduce unpleasant feelings and reduce stress.
- Feelings and behaviors, associated with overeating are perpetuated by certain maladaptive thoughts and misconceptions about food, weight and the body.
- Many people who face this eating disorder have suffered previous treatment failures and have lower motivation to change.
Treatment for compulsive eating
Pharmacotherapy
The results of studies of pharmacological treatment with anti-depressants show high efficacy. The frequency of overeating episodes decreases by an average of 50% or even 60% during the initial few weeks of treatment. Food preoccupation is also reduced and mood improves. Although most patients who take antidepressants have been found to overeat less frequently, few truly stop overeating altogether. The definite value of drug treatment is its effect on comorbid symptoms such as depression and anxiety disorders.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is designed for patients with eating disorders. The therapy protocol has been confirmed by a significant number of studies. The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for eating disorders has been studied in a number of thorough clinical trials. The short-term results are very impressive. A reduction in the frequency of compulsive overeating of about 90% on average has been achieved. Helping patients regain control over food and alleviating anxiety about figure and weight is considered a key factor in patients’ spontaneous recovery.
Change
When you decide to change your eating behavior. Keep in mind that for some of us these changes will be very mild, for others they may be, associated with much more discomfort.
- Changes in thoughts and feelings
For many people, eating to excess serves to avoid unpleasant states or difficult thoughts and feelings. When we stop overeating, the desensitizing properties of these behaviors stop working. As a result, we are likely to become more aware of our own unpleasant thoughts and emotions. Getting in touch with your emotions, although it can sometimes be a painful experience, will help you find yourself, understand what you want for yourself and how you feel. These unpleasant thoughts and feelings will diminish as you learn healthy reactions and how to deal with your emotions in a healthier way.
- Uncertainty and anxiety
Whenever you face something you don’t fully know, you can expect to experience some anxiety. This is especially true when experiencing something new, when the outcome is uncertain. It’s perfectly normal to feel anxiety at times of change. It is normal that you will also experience various setbacks. The process of change varies, sometimes you will take a step forward and then two steps back. Try to keep in mind the reasons why you are learning these new skills, related to eating habits and a new way of thinking.
If you feel the time has come, take the next step and schedule a consultation – online psychotherapy.