Help for Compulsive Overeating
Do you tend to eat when you are not hungry, to binge, or to continue eating even when you are full? If so, you may be a compulsive overeater.
People often overeat in response to stress, anxiety, anger, depression, loneliness or boredom. They use overeating as a way to cope with stress and to numb unpleasant feelings. This emotional eating can be accompanied by acute feelings of loss of control. Although this type of overeating can temporarily reduce negative mood states, afterwards individuals who binge often experience extreme self-criticism and a depressed mood. It becomes a vicious cycle in which an individual uses food to escape a negative mood. However, overeating exacerbates the problem and results in feelings of shame, guilt, and depression.
One of the best techniques to reduce emotional eating is to keep an eating journal. List what you are eating and your mood state. This begins to build awareness about what triggers you to eat. As you begin to see patterns such as “I overeat whenever I’m bored,” then you can come up with alternative ways to cope. For example, when you are bored, you could read, take a walk, or call a friend.Another type of journaling can be helpful as well. Just writing down your thoughts and feelings daily can be a good release. Instead of eating, write down your feelings. This helps you identify your emotions and release them. You should notice a sense of relief after writing sessions. This journal should be one that is just for you and one in which you can write uncensored. Don’t worry about spelling and punctuation. Just write. The journal becomes like a reliable friend that is always there when you need it.
If compulsive eating problems do not improve, you may want to seek out help in person from a qualified mental health professional such as a psychologist, Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CSW). In addition, sometimes there are chemical components to compulsive over eating. A psychiatrist or other physician may be able to detect whether or not your condition may be caused by a chemical imbalance. If this is the case your doctor may suggest medication. Combining medication and professional psychotherapy can be an effective way to overcome compulsive overeating.