What Is Emotional Eating or Binge Eating
What To Do About It
Eating, whether emotional eating or binge eating, it sneaks up on you and you may not even realize it until something happens that makes you realize something has changed. It may be the realization of stress or difficult emotions in your life. Maybe it is the realization that your close do not fit so well.
Emotional eating is something that may or may not be part of your life right now. Perhaps, it is something from the past. So, maybe not is the time to learn more about it.
This article will help you understand emotional eating and binge eating including binge eating disorder. You will also learn how to deal with the issues and learn practical ways to change your responses to the issue.
What is emotional eating?
According to MedicineNet emotional eating is the practice of consuming large quantities of food — usually “comfort” or junk foods — in response to feelings instead of hunger.
What is binge-eating disorder?
You may or may not be interested in the complete definition of binge-eating disorder. If you are interested read this section. If you are not interested skip this section on go on and read the rest of the article
According to the American Psychiatric Association:
- Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:
1. Eating, in a discreet period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances.
2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).
B. The binge-eating episodes are associated with three (or more) of the following:
1. Eating much more rapidly than normal.
2. Eating until feeling uncomfortably full.
3. Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry.
4. Eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating
5. Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward.
C. Marked distress regarding binge eating is present.
D. The binge eating occurs, on average at least once a week for 3 months.
E. The binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behaviour as in bulimia nervosa and does not occur exclusively during the course of bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, pp. 174)
Specify if:
In partial remission: After full criteria for binge-eating disorder were previously met, binge-eating occurs at an average frequency of less than one episode per week for a sustained period of time.
In full remission: After full criteria for binge-eating disorder were previously met, none of the criteria have been met for a sustained period of time.
Specify current severity:
The minimum level of severity is based on the frequency of episodes of binge eating (see below). The level of severity may be increased to reflect other symptoms and the degree of functional disability.
Mild: 1-3 binge-eating episodes per week.
Moderate: 4-7 binge-eating episodes per week.
Severe: 8-13 binge-eating episode per week.
Extreme: 14 or more binge-eating episodes per week. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, pp. 174-175)
Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder 307.50
This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of a feeding and eating disorder that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of function predominate but do not meet the full criteria for any of the disorders in the feeding and eating disorders diagnostic class. The unspecified feeding or eating disorder category is used in situations in which the clinician chooses not to specify the reason that the criteria are not met for a specific feeding and eating disorder, and includes presentations in which there is insufficient information to make a more specific diagnosis (e.g., in emergency room settings). (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, pp. 176)
Another way to define the issue
Years ago, the author, a dietitian was speaking to a colleague who was also another dietitian. In that conversation, she stated that a binge was either 1000 calories or 1200 calories of food at a time. Understand that this is a professional opinion that has not been found in research.
This gives guidance to the term “definitely larger” which is somewhat vague.
Do I have a binge eating issue?
You may be wondering if you have an issue with binge eating. It may be easier for you to take a quiz/test to decide if you have an issue. The following might help you.
This one if free: Binge Eating Quiz
This one you have to pay a small fee for: Eating Disorders and Emotional Eating Test
Warning signs of binge eating disorder in someone else
Sometimes you may wonder if a loved one or friend has issues with binge eating.
NHS list the follow following as warning signs in other:
- eating a lot of food, very fast
- trying to hide how much they are eating
- storing up supplies of food
- putting on weight – though this doesn’t happen to everyone with binge eating disorder
Causes of binge eating
AAccording to several different websites, there is no known cause of binge eating.
NHS lists the following issues as possible issues leading to binging
- you or a member of your family has a history of eating disorders, depression, or alcohol or drug addiction
- you have been criticised for your eating habits, body shape or weight
- you are overly concerned with being slim, particularly if you also feel pressure from society or your job – for example, ballet dancers, jockeys, models or athletes
- you have anxiety, low self-esteem, an obsessive personality or are a perfectionist
- you have been sexually abused
Mayo Clinic states: The causes of binge-eating disorder are unknown. But genetics, biological factors, long-term dieting and psychological issues increase your risk.
Risk factors
The Mayo Clinic has the following to say about risk factors.
Binge-eating disorder is more common in women than in men. Although people of any age can have binge-eating disorder, it often begins in the late teens or early 20s.
Factors that can increase your risk of developing binge-eating disorder include:
- Family history. You’re much more likely to have an eating disorder if your parents or siblings have (or had) an eating disorder. This may indicate that inherited genes increase the risk of developing an eating disorder.
- Dieting. Many people with binge-eating disorder have a history of dieting. Dieting or restricting calories during the day may trigger an urge to binge eat, especially if you have symptoms of depression.
- Psychological issues. Many people who have binge-eating disorder feel negatively about themselves and their skills and accomplishments. Triggers for bingeing can include stress, poor body self-image and the availability of preferred binge foods.
Learning to deal with binge eating
In order to learn to deal with binge eating, you need to learn to control your emotions. You need to have personal emotional control.
Where do emotions come from
Emotions come from broken boundaries. You have personal boundaries. You may or may not know about your boundaries. Your boundaries may be spoken or unspoken.
When your boundaries are broken, it leads to irritation/anger/trauma. It is learning to deal with these issues that will help with the binge eating.
Anger and emotional control
You need to understand the anger and how it affects you. It may not be anger…it may just be an irritation. It may be several small irritations that add up in a day. It may just be stress that you are reacting to.
“Our body holds the score,” is a newer saying that is very true. This is also true for anger. Anger resides in the back of the jaw and moves down into the shoulders. Perhaps you might recognize it as tension in your shoulders.
One way you might deal with the irritation/anger is to eat and eat until you feel better. When eating, it helps you feel better. It helps you deal with the anger.
The idea is to learn to recognize the anger and deal with it in a healthy way.
Emotional Control
When it comes to eating disorders and binge eating which may be a part of bulimia, emotional control is the most effective way to control the issues.
This will take a while to learn and a lot of practice. However, it will be well worth the effort.
Using the Window of Tolerance is a good guide to learn to control your emotions.
When a person is within their window of tolerance, it is generally the case that the brain is functioning well and can effectively process stimuli. That person is likely to be able to reflect, think rationally, and make decisions calmly without feeling either overwhelmed or withdrawn.
During times of extreme stress, people often experience periods of either hyper- or hypo-arousal.
- Hyper-arousal, otherwise known as the fight/flight, is often characterized by hypervigilance, feelings of anxiety and/or panic, and racing thoughts.
- Hypo-arousal, or a freeze response, may cause feelings of emotional numbness, emptiness, or paralysis.
Another way to look at the window of tolerance is to imagine two parallel lines. In the middle is where you have normal conversations.
Fight/Flight
——————
——————
Freeze/Submit
Above the two lines is where you are in the fight/flight response to stress or trauma. Below the two lines is where you are in the freeze response. This could also be a submit response like, “Just do as you are told.”
The question to ask yourself is, “How are my emotions in the moment”? “Are my emotions within the window of tolerance”? “Are my emotions above the window of tolerance”? “Are my emotions below the window of tolerance?”
When you realize where your emotions are…then it is time to figure out how to deal with them.
Your best resource
The best resource you have for dealing with emotions is your own body. The best way to calm yourself down, to help yourself be able to think and function is breathing.
From the article titled Anxiety: Diagnosis, Symptoms, and Treatment: The type of breathing that is needed is diaphragmatic breathing. To do this you need to align your spine so that it is upright. Then you can take deep breaths that fill your diaphragm. When you breathe this way, you do not want to see your chest expand or your shoulders rising. Expect this will take time to practice. If you ever sang in a choir, played a blowing instrument, or done yoga, you may be aware of this type of breathing. Practice it! You can do it!
Along with body alignment and diaphragmatic breathing, you can ground yourself. This is feeling your feet on the floor and your thigh on the chair and possibly your back on the back of the chair (only if you can have correct posture).
Along with the diaphragmatic breathing you need to learn to set boundaries to keep yourself safe. This will take a while to learn.
If your emotions have become numb and you have entered the freeze or submit response below the window of tolerance…what you need to do is just move your body around a bit…it can even be micro-movements. This will bring your energy level up.
Other resources
There are many other resources that will help you learn to calm yourself. Some of them you may already be doing.
Exercise is important for brain function and also weight control. It helps to regulate your emotions. In the long run, it helps to keep your emotions more in the window of tolerance. The goal is exercising 30 minutes a day for five days a week. This will take practice and commitment…it can be as simple as going for a walk.
Other resources are what you may already do for self-care and/or relaxation. You can also experiment and see what else might be relaxing for you.
When it comes to binge eating
Should it get to the place you have not been able to gain emotional control and you really find yourself really needing to binge eat, choose wisely.
The idea is whenever you are able to gain emotional control and stop the process is the best practice. If you are thinking about binge eating, are you able to do something else? If you find yourself going to get food to binge eat, can you do something else? If you are already binge eating, can you stop eating?
The idea is to stop the binge eating process and gain emotional control. It will take a while to gain this kind of control…are you willing to do it?
Drugs
According to drugs: The following list of medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of this condition: vyvanse, fluoxetine, and lisdexamfetamine.
Conclusion
Now that you have learned that emotional control is the secret to dealing with binge eating, what can you do about it? It will certainly take planning and effort to make changes…you can do it. Decide to make the changes today!
You can learn more about the author Audrey Tait.
You can learn more about boundaries in Reflective Meditations Trilogy: Understanding My Authentic Self, Believing in Myself, Loving Myself, Plus Understanding My Boundaries.