Although you have satisfied your hunger, you still want to eat and eat something because it gives you pleasure and helps you forget about stress? Compulsive eating symptoms can be caused by difficulty coping with emotions. See how to deal with too much eating on your own or see which specialist to go to.

Each of us may experience an episode of eating from time to time, especially if we live in increased tension and stress. Sometimes it is difficult to discharge emotions using traditional methods, and food is always at hand and quickly improves your well-being. Usually everything goes back to normal after a difficult period.

When can you talk about compulsive eating?

However, if the "days of weakness" are repeated often, you eat alone, quickly devouring the contents of the refrigerator, and after binge eating, you feel guilty, embarrassed and disgusted with yourself - this may indicate overeating compulsive . binge eating), i.e. the internal compulsion of excessive eating. This disorder is similar to bulimia nervosa, but it is not combined with inducing vomiting or purging, which increases your body weight.

The use of various diets usually does not bring long-term effects, and disturbed body image and greater fatigue, low mood and lack of energy cause withdrawal from social life, neglect of home and professional duties, resignation from previous passions or problems in relationships in a relationship.

Food can be a substitute for closeness

Food gives us energy to live, but it can also have other functions. It can be a sign of an emotional connection, an expression of love, consolation, pleasure or entertainment. Even an infant during feeding not only satisfies hunger, but also the need for closeness, calms down and experiences less pain.

Infancy, childhood and early adulthood can all influence the formation of certain eating behaviors. Especially if food is given to the child as a reward, consolation or a substitute for closeness. - Eating brings relief to many people and gives a sense of security, because these are the patterns that were passed on, shaped by the family home - says psychologist Ewa Miturska. - In addition, food as a regulator of emotions is readily available, it is at hand,you only need to walk a few meters to the refrigerator. And using other methods of dealing with difficult emotions requires more effort and a little different commitment.

Compulsive eating is eating food without feeling hungry

- Eating disorders, including compulsive overeating, occur when eating is a way of coping with emotions, says the psychologist. - Some studies show that a large group of risk are people with mood disorders, and they are definitely more often women. Food calms down sadness, anger, fear, a sense of hurt, grief, it is a saver of unpleasant feelings.

And if someone cannot deal with them, talk about them or relieve emotional tension in a constructive way, eating can become a substitute activity for him. A person suffering from compulsive overeating reaches for food in moments of emotional conflict or when lonely. Inability to cope with these situations is replaced by the need to eat something, and this brings relief. They often eat food without feeling physically hungry. Eat them in advance, as long as they do not feel the stress. - Every emotion is a carrier of information - explains our expert. - Unpleasant emotions most often say that something no longer works in our lives and that it needs to be corrected, changed. If we suppress it - take it - yes, it will improve our mood for a moment, but nothing more. This is only an escape from emotions, but the problem itself will not be solved.

Treating the problem of compulsive eating

It is not easy to analyze the experienced feelings on our own, especially since we often do not have such habits learned from home. - In many families, difficult emotions are not talked about - explains Ewa Miturska. - Therefore, the child grows up in the belief that emotions are not good, it would be best not to express them, not show them and suppress them. An adult, brought up in such an atmosphere, will not gain the ability to relieve emotional tension and, additionally, to reflect on experiences. Psychotherapy can help you learn this.

Occasional overeating is not a cause for concern. However, if such behavior becomes habitual, you lose control over your weight, you are ashamed of your body, experience extreme emotions and are accompanied by a critical style of thinking about yourself, it is worth going to a psychologist. It will help you look at the swollen problems that underlie compulsive overeating.

- It is better to start treatment at this stage than to recover from being overweight or obese later. It also happens that the pattern of compulsive eating turns into anothereating disorders: dangerous bulimia or anorexia - says the psychologist.

This will be useful to you

How to stop compulsive eating?

  • Change your eating habits.The basis is a he althy menu. Eat 5 meals a day at intervals of 2-3 hours. Regular energy supplies will have a positive effect on your well-being, minimize hunger pangs and the desire to reach for unhe althy "clogs". They will also improve metabolism, making it easier to lose weight.
  • Lead a regular lifestyle.Maintain a balance between work and free time. Get enough sleep, because sleep deprivation increases your appetite. If you have crazy days during the week, slow down on the weekend. Start playing sports because it helps to relieve stress and causes the release of endorphins to improve your mood.
  • Regulate emotions.Daily relaxation, cultural entertainment, relaxation techniques, meetings with friends will help you in this. Don't run away from your emotions, express them, watch them. Think about why some of them keep with you, and you need to change to get rid of sadness, anger, and hurt. And make these changes.

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Category:

Psychology