Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating
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People who struggle with binge eating frequently don’t realize that it is an eating disorder, often characterizing themselves as “bad” “out of control” or “flawed.”
Despite the fact that 2.8% of people will suffer from binge eating disorder in their lifetime and that BED is three times more prevalent than other eating disorders, the general population most commonly hears stories about anorexia and bulimia.
binge eating disorder is often hidden as a result of shame around feeling out of control around food and fear of food’s impact on body shape and size.
making binge eating disorder widely misunderstood.
Here at Reclaim Therapy we know that if bingeing becomes frequent and severe, it can have a great impact on people’s sense of self, and can impair psychological and physical ways of being in the world.
understanding the signs and symptoms of binge eating can be one of the first steps to accessing support, specialized treatment and recovery.
Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms that could indicate binge eating disorder:
Evidence of binge eating episodes- at least one per week for a 3 month span.
This could include:
Disappearance of food
Wrappers or containers hidden in the trash
Wrappers or containers hidden in different areas of the home or office
A feeling of being out of control, or out of body, throughout binge eating episodes.
Eating rapidly, or faster than normal.
Eating until feeling uncomfortably full.
Intense guilt, shame or distress following binge eating episodes.
Discomfort around eating around other people or fear of eating in public due to shame around food choices or expectations of judgement.
Comorbidity of anxiety, substance abuse or a mood disorder.
Engaging in dieting behaviors in effort to regain a sense of control over eating patterns.
Hoarding and/or hiding food.
Obsession with body image as a result of eating behaviors and feeling like “damage” needs to be “undone”.
Rituals around certain food and planned binges.
Stomach and GI complaints following eating experiences.
Fasting or starting a new diet/plan following binge eating episodes.
These symptoms are not equivalent to a lack of willpower or control.
they are indicators of a disordered relationship with food and body, and can be effectively treated by a binge eating therapist in pennsylvania.
When looking for binge eating treatment near you, it’s important to find specialists who understand and can hold your story, your symptoms and your recovery process sacred while providing evidence based treatment. Treatment can look like one-on-one therapy sessions, group sessions and nutrition support.
here at reclaim therapy we are honored to offer all of these options to residents of pennsylvania.
Recovery from binge eating disorder can be complex, as the disorder is often rooted in a number of places- trauma, loss, diet-culture, family culture and a disconnection from the body. Our therapists use a non-diet, trauma informed approach to treat behaviors and help clients heal from the wounds that underly the behaviors.
We firmly believe that the process of recovery is possible, and that all people are deserving of having a peaceful and compassionate relationship with their body and with food.
If you are struggling with symptoms of binge eating disorder we encourage you to contact us when you’re ready to talk about how you can start to feel better.
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Looking for in person therapy or online therapy in Pennsylvania?
Reclaim Therapy, located in Horsham, PA, is committed to providing compassionate and effective treatment for people struggling with binge eating disorder, body image, trauma and other eating disorders. We understand how hard it can be to reach out for support AND find the right kind of support for what you’re struggling with. We want you to know that we will do our best to meet your needs and help you reach your goals in recovery and in your life.