Millions of people, both women and men, grapple daily with the challenges of binge or emotional eating. However, the added burden of self-esteem and body image issues, stress, and or emotional distress can often make recovery seem impossible.
But here's the thing— it's not. The journey towards breakthroughs and healing can be a tough process, yet it is entirely achievable with the right guidance and support.
Professional therapists can provide you with insights, help you draw connections that you might fail to see, and help you create new ways of relating to yourself. They can explain the “why” behind your behaviors, making it clear that there's nothing ‘broken’ or ‘wrong’ with you.
It’s all about understanding your emotional triggers and developing coping strategies to manage them. This blog shows the importance of professional guidance for binge eating and people who suffer from the eating disorder.
Table of Contents
- “Why can't I deal with this on my own?”
- “Do I need therapy to be fixed?”
- What Do Emotions Have to do with Binge Eating
- Decoding the Hidden Meanings Behind Binge Urges
- The Importance of Professional Guidance For Binge Eating: Joanie's Story
- Healing involves more than “tools”
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
“Why can't I deal with this on my own?”
Binge eating is not a matter of willpower, control, or addiction. And this may sound surprising, but at its root binge eating disorder is not even about food. Trying to deal with it alone can be challenging because you may not be fully aware of the root causes of your behavior.
After all, we can't fight an invisible army; we just get beaten up. Only by making that army visible can we see what we're up against and fight back.
We can't see this army of ideas, beliefs, automatic responses and hidden triggers but they have everything to do with our behavior. Since we can't have an objective view of our subjective lives, professional guidance can help you understand these underlying reasons that lead to binge eating.
These triggers can be emotional (like stress, anger, or sadness), situational (like being alone), or related to deprivation. A professional can help you identify these triggers and develop strategies to manage them.
Another reason why dealing with binge eating on your own can be difficult is the guilt and shame that accompanies it. After a binge, you might feel guilty or ashamed, which leads to more binge eating as a way to cope.
A professional can help you break this cycle by helping you develop a healthier relationship with yourself.
“Do I need therapy to be fixed?”
Have you ever tried fixing a broken pipe without the proper tools or experience? The result might be a flooded kitchen or worse. Now, consider handling your binge eating disorder in the same way.
Doesn't make sense, does it? Just like any other issue that requires specialized know-how, overcoming disordered eating needs an understanding that extends beyond ourselves.
Going to therapy doesn't mean you're broken. It's a proactive step towards living your best life. Seeking help to navigate life's challenges and learn new strategies to cope with stress, anxiety, or emotional eating is a sign of strength and self-awareness. It means you want to make positive changes in your life.
Think of therapy as a tool for personal growth and self-discovery. It provides a safe space to explore your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and understand how they may be contributing to your binge eating habits.
It's not about fixing what's ‘wrong' with you, but about understanding yourself better and developing healthier coping mechanisms.
Therapists are professionals trained to provide guidance and support. They don't see their clients as ‘broken' people needing to be ‘fixed' but as people facing challenges.
A therapist will work collaboratively with you to understand your experiences and help you develop strategies to manage your emotional eating.
Seeking therapy is a sign of resilience and a commitment to your well-being. It's about taking control of your life and making changes that can lead to a healthier, happier you. It truly means you're human and you're taking steps to improve your quality of life.
What Do Emotions Have to do with Binge Eating
At its core, bingeing is a way of coping; a way of soothing, numbing, filling an inner void, turning emotional pain to physical, and other reasons. If we're focused on food, we're not thinking about other things that might be uncomfortable.
What happens when we try to change this habit by ourselves? At best, we might manage to exchange it for another unhealthy coping method; at worst, we risk strengthening the cycle of guilt and self-recrimination that often accompanies binge eating, further fueling the desire to escape our feelings. This is where professional guidance steps in.
After all, we can put away the ice-cream tubs and pizza boxes, but that doesn't change the way we relate to ourselves.
Those feelings of guilt, shame, anger, sadness, emptiness, and loneliness remain. It's these feelings that a professional is well-equipped to help us manage more effectively.
Through professional guidance, we gain the capacity to confront our feelings head-on. It tends to our emotional health, helping us navigate challenges, understand triggers better and develop healthier coping strategies.
It guides us to self-understanding, healing, and personal growth that we might find challenging to reach on our own.
Decoding the Hidden Meanings Behind Binge Urges
You might wonder, “Why is it so important to decode these hidden meanings behind bingeing?” You may even know exactly why you're turning to food and you are right–but sometimes there are reasons that are out of our awareness.
Look at it like this: imagine you're trying to navigate a colossal labyrinth but without a map or any sense of direction. Sounds overwhelming, doesn't it? That's essentially what dealing with binge eating without understanding your internal motivations can feel like.
But, when you delve into the hidden meanings of your binge eating urges, it's like illuminating darkened corners of the labyrinth. You gain insight, understanding, and the ability to navigate your binge eating tendencies with greater ease.
You see, these compulsions don't just spring up unbidden; they are often rooted in underlying mental or emotional turmoil. In this way, you could say they're often a cry for help, obscured by the harsh stigma associated with eating disorders.
Think of professional guidance as having a compassionate guide who is equipped with a torch and an intimate knowledge of the labyrinth’s complex twists and turns.
A constant companion on your journey who not only understands the intricacies of your struggles but also has the practical tools and strategies to navigate towards the center — towards healing.
Engaging with a professional isn't a sign of weakness, but an act of self-love and courage. Isn't it brave to admit that you need help? Isn't it a mark of strength to reach out, to strive to understand more about yourself and your eating habits in a bid to take back control of your life?
Consider it not as an admission of defeat, but rather as an acceptance of your own strength in recognizing the problem and taking steps towards improvement. Hasn't it always been said that acknowledgment is the first step to resolution?
There's an empowerment that comes with seeking professional guidance—you are consciously choosing to confront your issues and journey towards healing. And what could possibly be more powerful than that?
The Importance of Professional Guidance For Binge Eating: Joanie's Story
Joanie came into my office, threw her hands up in the air, and announced “I don't have problems with my feelings, I just have no willpower with food! I'm a food addict and that's the only issue here. Let me prove it to you…”
She went on to describe how the night before, she had been happily watching her favorite nostalgic sitcom, relaxed and enjoying herself with no emotional troubles at all. Yet suddenly she felt an intense craving for cookie dough ice cream. She couldn't resist and proceeded to polish off the entire carton.
Joanie asserted that she had an addiction to ice cream. “I have zero willpower,” she said. She was determined to prove her binge eating was driven solely by food, not underlying feelings.
Curious, I asked Joanie what sitcom episode she'd been watching prior to the intense craving hitting. “Oh, it was a classic one where the friends have a huge falling out,” she casually replied. “They completely turn on each other over some misunderstandings and they all start fighting.”
I knew Joanie's family history included lots of ferocious sibling conflict she always struggled with. Though Joanie herself didn't notice the connection in the moment, clearly the sitcom had triggered unresolved feelings about her own family fights, heartbreaks and betrayals.
These feelings that got activated were triggering but before Joanie was consciously aware that she was being triggered, she went to ice cream for distraction and relief. Her pull to ice cream wasn't about a lack of willpower – it pointed to those painful inner experiences she was avoiding.
As our work unfolded and Joanie grew more comfortable identifying and processing her feelings about her relatives, the compulsion to binge waned. She no longer needed food to cope with what ice cream couldn't truly feed – underlying emotional needs.
In finally recognizing the roots of her urges, Joanie stepped into freedom from out-of-control eating and ice cream lost its control over her.
Her story illustrates the power of identifying those hidden triggers. Only by seeing why we turn to food can we make changes. And, since we cannot be objective about our subjective experience, it's helpful to have a person who can see us with more clarity. A therapist is exactly that kind of person.
Healing involves more than “tools”
Have you ever found yourself pondering, “Why does my relationship with my therapist matter in my journey of recovery?” This question is a reflection of the critical role that a caring therapeutic relationship plays in overcoming the challenges of binge eating. But what does this relationship look like, and why is it vital?
An effective therapeutic relationship is built on trust, empathy, and mutual respect. Imagine a safe harbor in stormy seas, where your biggest fears, insecurities, and pains are recognized, accepted, and cautiously handled.
This is what a caring therapeutic relationship provides — a safe emotional space that aids you in unraveling the entangled feelings and thoughts that drive your binge eating behaviors.
Rapport with your therapist is the most healing part of therapy. When you feel genuinely listened to, validated, and sincerely cared for, it’s easier to open up and hold more trust.
You can then delve deeper and more confidently into your personal experiences, unearthing root causes, triggers, and harmful patterns that are often hidden beneath the surface of binge eating.
Can you imagine walking on a rocky road in pitch darkness? Now, imagine someone hands you a flashlight. That's how a therapeutic relationship works; it casts light on your journey, illuminating pitfalls and obstacles, and showing you new paths, unconsidered options, and better ways forward.
Since shame and guilt accompany binge eating, being able to share these feelings with a person who is safe and completely there for you. By experiencing compassion and understanding, a caring therapeutic relationship we foster self-compassion, self-esteem, and eventually, self-healing.
Therapy encourages you to see your worth outside of your eating habits, reducing the power binge eating holds over your identity and self-worth.
This alliance with your therapist is more than just a professional relationship; it's a lifeline, a beacon, and a transformative force in your journey to freedom from binge eating.
Also, binge eating can be associated with depression or anxiety. If you're dealing with these issues as well, it's important to seek professional help. A professional can provide a comprehensive treatment approach that addresses all aspects of your health.
Remember, seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but a step towards regaining control over your life. With the right guidance and support, you can overcome binge eating and develop a healthier relationship with food forever.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Seeking professional guidance for binge eating is crucial. This is not simply about diet or willpower, it's about addressing the underlying emotions and habits that fuel this cycle of overeating.
By working with trained professionals, you could learn to manage emotions, establish a healthier relationship with food, and ultimately make sustainable change. Their tailored approaches backed by empathy, years of experience, and proven strategies could surely make your journey toward recovery smoother and more effective.
1. Why is professional guidance necessary in overcoming binge eating?
Seeking professional help offers a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to understanding and addressing binge eating. Specialists provide tools and strategies tailored to your personal experiences and challenges, aiding you in breaking the cycle of binge eating over time.
2. What types of professionals can help with binge eating problems?
A range of professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, dietitians, and nutrition therapists, can provide support and guidance in overcoming binge eating. The choice depends on individual needs and circumstances.
3. How does professional assistance aid in forming a healthier relationship with food?
With the help of professional guidance, you can explore the root causes of your binge eating, including any emotional connections to food. Through this understanding, you can learn techniques to build healthier eating habits and develop a more positive relationship with food.
4. Can professional guidance improve my self-esteem?
Yes, a major component of recovery from binge eating involves rebuilding self-esteem. Professionals can help you recognize and challenge negative self-image, ultimately fostering greater self-confidence and a more positive outlook.
5. Is the impact of professional guidance on binge eating lifelong?
Professional guidance can indeed have a lifelong impact, equipping you with valuable skills and strategies to prevent relapse and handle stress or triggers. This support fosters lasting positive change in your relationship with food and overall well-being.
Get 'The Binge Cure: 7 Steps to Outsmart Emotional Eating'
The Author
Dr. Nina Savelle-Rocklin is a psychoanalyst, author and radio host specializing in binge eating disorder. She is the author of The Binge Cure: 7 Steps to Outsmart Emotional Eating and Food for Thought: Perspectives on Eating Disorders, and co-editor of Beyond the Primal Addiction. She hosts The Dr. Nina Show radio program on LA Talk Radio.
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