How Can Stress Eating Lead To Binge Eating Addiction
Binge eating addiction is a severe, life-threatening eating disorder. Fortunately, it is treatable and easy to manage. Here’s how.
Do you know what stress eating is? Is this something that you often do, and there is nothing wrong with it when it is just once a month?
One day, when you are really stressed, you literally think that it will take your mind away.
However, what happens when you continue this more than once in a week itself. Do you have a problem?
Well, if you are going through this article, then there is a possibility that you are already making headways towards a new addiction.
However, this is not something as dangerous as a drug addiction which can practically kill you. You can visit Ascendant for more info on drug and alcohol addiction.
But that doesn’t mean you will not be careful with the binge eating addiction as well.
In this excerpt below, we will be discussing some of the pressing issues emerging with the concept of binge eating addiction.
However, let us first start with how stress can cause binge eating and how recovery can help in some way.
How Do Stress And Binge Eating Go Hand In Hand
Just imagine yourself having a bad, ugly breakup and wanting to dive first in a cookie box or candies?
This is because, in difficult times, your body produces more of the hormone called cortisol, which is known for increasing hunger.
So if you are suffering from this eating disorder, you already have higher levels of hormones in your body than people who do not. This stimulates the need to eat!
Are you inclined to feel much better after eating sweets or carbohydrates? There is a reason: these foods dictate your mind to release a chemical called serotonin, which promotes your mood.
Stress can also make your heart beat faster, cause abdominal pain, and sweat the palm of your hand. This type of pressure can make it difficult for you to control unhygienic food habits such as appetite when eating.
You can learn how to manage stress without resorting to food, though.
Is Overeating The Same As Binge Eating?
Technically, it is the same because when you are binge eating, you are eating more than the regular amount assigned to your body.
Binge eating is a form of overeating that is defined as the consumption of a large amount of food over a period of time. Therefore, eating because of stress can be called a form of overeating.
However, it is categorized as at least one event of compulsive overeating per week for three continuous months.
Patients who are suffering from binge eating disorder (BED) will show a total loss of control over their inhibitions and emotions. This may appear to be the same as simple overeating but more dangerous.
One of the main distinguishing factors between them is that people with BEDs are in a better mood after overeating, whereas those who eat from time to time due to stress do not.
However, the fact that the mood is improving with overeating causes chronic overeating!
So, you eat, and your mood is all right, and then it derails again just to get some more of that cake from the fridge!
How To Prevent Binge Eating Addiction
Here are some of the ways in which you could prevent someone from gaining a binge eating addiction or help someone get over it:
1. Do Not Skip Meals
No matter what you do, never skip the meals because you are trying to lose all the weight from your current binge sessions. This will only backfire and cause more problems in your life than before.
Skipping meals will only make you more hungry in the next meal, and because of your issues, you won’t be able to control yourself.
It can trigger your symptoms completely, and you wouldn’t be able to control yourself any further.
2. Have A Healthy Meal Plan
Eat more wholesome superfoods! They are unprocessed foods like green leafy vegetables, fruits, seeds, and whole grains. And cut back on treats rather than cutting them out of your diet altogether.
This can help reduce food intake and improve health. And if you have good health, you will be easily able to gain some confidence.
In addition, with improved mental health, you are already getting rid of your binge eating.
3. Have An Exercise Regime
As we already said, a fit body leads to a confident mind! Confidence that you will be able to overcome anything!
There is something about having an exercise regime that gives us such a sense of achievement that we just cannot deny.
Having a daily exercise regime will help you benefit from all the goodness of a healthy body.
4. Go For Recovery
With a specialized recovery program, you have a plan, a treatment team, a support group, and a therapist.
During treatment, you’ll learn new healthy behaviors and ways of thinking that will guide you away from binge eating.
Also, you need to understand that this is a difficult part. You may relapse. But don’t give up! Trust your treatment team. They will work with you to help you get better.
5. Try Mindful Activities
Mindfulness practices form the basis of helping individuals reconnect their bodies to their minds. People who are suffering from BED face separation from their bodies.
The goal of mindful practices like yoga and meditation is to stop autopilot and help us begin to align with our thoughts, feelings, and body.
Self Care Is The key!
Eating disorders or any form of binge eating is not the end of the world! You can always do something to find balance in your diet!
The key is to have patience and not be too strict with yourself! Reward yourself from time to time and do not skip a meal!
