topic Binge Eating & Depression in Depression

Binge Eating & Depression

thisaquarian — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 07:08:13 GMT

Hi everyone. I've looked through the threads before and I can never find anyone else struggling with binge eating, so I'm here to start my own, and perhaps find others who are in the same boat as me.

I've just eaten an insane amount of food. I couldn't even tell you *what* I ate, as all I did was go from the couch to the fridge. I feel sick now, and this is not something strange for me. Binge eating has always been the way that I deal with anything... I'm now a very large person with a heap of medical issues. Why hasn't that scared me to turn it all around?!

Depression is unfair, and it never makes sense. However, I think that I can think of some things which may have brought the dark cloud back. Last week at work, I was stressed and overwhelmed. I'm in a job which I find incredibly stressful in a company I don't believe in. Then on the weekend my partner and I had to put one of our kittens down after it was attacked by a dog. The heat isn't helping and makes me want to just hibernate inside my house, in the air con. I am disappointed in myself for not going to work yesterday or today. I am disappointed that I am back here.

Binge Eating & Depression

geoff — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 19:08:58 GMT

dear thisaquarian, I'm sorry about your little kitten and I certainly hope that you didn't have to view this horrible siting, but if you did then that would have been absolutely terrible to see.

One thing for sure is 'depression is unfair, and it never makes sense', and I'm sure everyone still

Binge Eating & Depression

Chris_B — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 22:48:53 GMT

Hi thisaquarian, I've found some threads on binge eating for you:

Depression and binge eating

Binge eating

Depression causing binge eating

Binge eating as a coping mechanism for anxiety

Never ending binge eating

At a loss - depression and binge eating

Binge Eating & Depression

Leo_Rose — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 10:19:36 GMT

Hi thisaquarian. I agree, Depression is so unfair. It's this horrible blackness that cloaks your life and festers your mind. I have past experiences of binge eating when I felt low. My depression got far worse than what I am about to tell you but it did improve before I relapsed (a break up with my now ex triggered a very dark period in my life which I have since moved on from).

Like you it would be colossal amounts of food consumed over a short period of time leaving me feeling physically sick and ashamed of myself. But that wasn't enough to stop me. It would happen over and over again. Feeling sad? I'd eat. Feeling angry? I'd eat. Feeling sad and angry about the weight I gained? I'd eat. The cycle continued for years until I was sat at 95kg at the age of 27. I couldn't go on and had a moment of clarity; either change or allow this to consume and ruin me. I'm not suggesting for one minute you will read this and suddenly all will change and you'll be on the road to recovery. You won't, you'll have set backs and moments where you want to give up. But if you can allow yourself just a moment to step back and think about your choices when you reach for unnecessary food you may develop healthier habits to manage your depression.

I hope this helps you in some way.

Binge Eating & Depression

Guest_1055 — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 14:35:32 GMT

Hey ScottishJen

I too have binge eating issues similar to thisaquarian or comfort eating I call it. So how did you stop this cycle in your life? Your cycle sounds pretty similar to what happens to me. I want to be free of it, I have seen it like a merry go round, and I just want to get off it for good. And never get on it again.

Shell xx

Binge Eating & Depression

Leo_Rose — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 09:47:08 GMT

Hey Shell,

I literally was about to eat a family bag of Doritos; for no reason other than being bored/sad. When I stopped myself, looked at the bag and it dawned on me that eating the bag wasn't going to help. So I put it back. I wish I could tell you that was the end of it. It wasn't. I thought about the tortilla chips all day. I went back and looked at them a few times but I just kept telling myself that this wasn't the answer. But that was only one day. It took and still does take immense will power not to relapse back - I admit I have but by no means the way I used to.

Try to remind yourself that the high from the food is easily attained and short lived. But more importantly remind yourself that you are worth a longer and more challenging investment than a sugar high. If you can afford yourself a moment before you start eating to consider doing anything else, do it!

I hope this is helpful 😊😊

Binge Eating & Depression

Guest_1055 — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 11:19:54 GMT

Hey ScottishJen, it is helpful..... Just knowing I am not alone in this particular struggle helps me. And I do totally get what you were facing up against with the packet of doritos.

Your suggestion brought up a memory of something I read, but I wasn't disciplined to keep at it. It was like this.....you get a craving or desire to eat, or you feel so sad, you think food will make you feel better usually junk for me, or you are bored. So when this comes upon you. You drink a large glass of water. Then say to yourself......I"ll just wait 10 minutes, before I consume this chocolate, 10 minutes isn't that long. As soon as the 10 minutes are up, you look at the enemy and say nope. Then eat 1 piece of fresh fruit, wait another 10 minutes and so on. Till eventually the desire goes away. Just replace the desires with beneficial things for your body.

I am still on this cycle though, as today I went into Woolworths and bought a Cadbury Easter bunny. Yes they are out all ready..... Bought it out of habit and boredom.

Anyway I wanted to thankyou for your encouragement.

Hugs

Shelley xx

Binge Eating & Depression

Leo_Rose — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 11:54:38 GMT

Hey Shelley Anne,

Y'know the supermarkets and bottle shops don't exactly help in these situations when chocolate, chips etc are cheaper than fruit and vegetables. And some wine - obviously nothing actually worth savouring and enjoying 😉 is cheaper by the litre than milk.

And Easter chocolate in January? Is nothing special anymore?

Binge Eating & Depression

thisaquarian — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 10:17:20 GMT

Hi everyone 🙂 well it's been another afternoon of bingeing... and it's not until afterwards that I feel like cr*p that I realise why it happened. I feel lonely. Other than my partner I have no one to have indepth conversations with. I used to have a friend who I grew quite close to and she ended up betraying me... she was quite a manipulative and abusive person. I really crave having someone that I can confide in. I know that food isn't the cure for loneliness so I have cleaned the kitchen, and tidied the lounge room and I'm sitting in bed so I can't access any food.

Binge Eating & Depression

Guest_1055 — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 10:34:49 GMT

Hey this aquarian

Oh please don't be to hard on yourself. You are far too precious for that. I do know what it feels like to feel like crap or just plain yuk. Sometimes your body doesn't even want to move. I'm sorry you had a friend that was abusive and manipulative. You know you can always write in these BB forums, anything that is in your heart, or anything that is troubling you. Some people even go to counselors to discuss deep stuff. So please feel free to simply unload anything here if you want.

I am glad you cleaned the kitchen, sometimes I even struggle with that.

Sending you a hug now just in case you want or need one.

Shelley xx

Binge Eating & Depression

FirstInLine — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 08:41:14 GMT

I have this problem too, and it's still beating me to this day. The only thing I've found to help is to be very mindful when I eat. Make sure I sit at a table with proper cutlery and take my time with each bite. If I eat while watching TV or on the computer I can get out of control. When I'm majorly stressed I try to have a cup of tea first to settle myself down before I dive into food, it can lessen hunger pangs. It's a tough battle either way, good luck.

Binge Eating & Depression

Leo_Rose — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 11:10:51 GMT

Hey thisaquarian,

I'm sorry to hear your friend betrayed you. It's a tough blow to recover from. I wish you well on that front as good friends are hard to come by and so important too. But as Shelley Anne says we are here to listen to you. Everyone here as some experience of mental health problems so we can relate. So post away, use this forum to vent or rant or seek advice; whatever you need at that point.

Good idea clearing away all the food. If you keep just the basics then it's harde to binge. Exercise all the control you have over bingeing. FirstInLine is right about a drink before meals. You're filled up and the hunger pangs are at bay. Keep reminding yourself that excess food isn't necessary.

Binge Eating & Depression

Cravingfreedom — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 23:34:17 GMT

Hi thisaquarian, I can relate to so much of what you are saying. I am 26 and am also large due to my uncontrollable bingeing. I find it hard to get through one day with binge eating. I also feel lonely and so wish I had a friend to confide in also. It's so hard to find people who truly understand binge eating.

Would love to talk to you more 🙂

Binge Eating & Depression

Elizabeth CP — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 11:06:12 GMT

Binging is very common but very damaging. Last year I was feeling very uncomfortable physically & mentally due to my weight which was steadily increasing due to my eating. All my clothes were tight & uncomfortable. I went on a diet & have reached my goal weight. I thought I would share what helped me in the hope it would help others.

I set a realistic goal by choosing a healthy weight rather than aiming too low & risking failure.

I set a date to start my diet so I could prepare

I stuck to a healthy diet rather than a fad diet. Fad diets from my experience lead to quick weight loss initially but I can't stick with them & end up feeling hungry, tired & low energy leading to return to binging. The diet I chose specified how much of each food group you needed to eat & was based on the healthy eating guidelines. I found by sticking to these amounts I felt satisfied which helped reduce the temptation to binge.

I avoided buying foods which were too tempting & not healthy to help reduce the temptation to binge.

I told people I could trust that I was dieting because for me that gave me an extra incentive to stick to the diet rather than risk others knowing I had failed. I would avoid telling anyone who I thought might not be encouraging or supportive.

I kept a chart on the fridge to keep track of what I ate as well as my overall weight loss to keep me motivated.

There were a few times I went out to functions & gave in to temptation but I decided to focus on sticking to the diet at home rather than beating myself up if I went overboard when out.

I worked out tricks which helped me. For example in winter I tried to have homemade vegetable soup on hand to heat up at lunch to fill me up. In summer I use salad in the same way. I like chocolate so I made cocoa drinks with skim milk & sweetener to satisfy that desire & stop me feeling too deprived. I enjoy desert so I would often have fruit & yogurt for supper. I chose fruit I really liked & nice yogurt & took time to enjoy it. I think it is important to find ways to enjoy the healthy food to make it easier to stick to the diet.

For me just trying to stop binging didn't work but going on a diet that was healthy & fitted my tastes & lifestyle worked & helped me develop better eating habits hopefully to last long term.

Of course there are times when I'm tempted. Being overtired & having low energy makes it harder to resist temptation. Adequate sleep, regular exercise & healthy eating assist.