Symptoms of binge eating are not always apparent to friends, family, and acquaintances of the sufferer.  This is because there is a great deal of shame and guilt associated with the binges and a lot of effort is put into concealing this part of it.  Until binge eating treatment is sought, the victim of this disorder will continue to indulge in episodes of compulsive overeating, which usually lasts about 2 hours.  The worst part is that these people feel out of control and powerless to stop eating during these episodes.

Emotional eating is a key factor involved in binge eating.  Everyone, at some point in time, will turn to food in order to relax.  It is when this becomes the only way to handle stress or other emotions that a serious problem begins.

People who suffer from a food addiction are just like alcoholics.  They cannot say no to food just as the alcoholic cannot say no to a drink.  These are both disorders that are brought about by many different causes.

Typical symptoms of binge eating include:

• The inability to stop eating or to control the type of food eaten.

• Eating huge amounts of food quickly.

• Continuing to eat even after feeling full.

• Stockpiling or hiding food to secretly eat later.

• Eating normally when others are present while gorging when alone.

• Constantly eating all day with no planned meals.

• Feeling embarrassed over the amount of food eaten.

• Being able to relax only by eating.

• Having no real feelings while bingeing.

• No matter how much is consumed there is never any satisfaction.

• Feelings of guilt, disgust, or depression after a binge.

• Desperate to control eating habits or weight.

If you, or someone you know, are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to speak to someone about binge eating treatment.  This is not a healthy way to live and there are many things that can go wrong if treatment is not received.

How to Help Yourself Stop Binge Eating

While professional help is certainly the best and fastest way to get rid of the symptoms of binge eating, there are some things that you can begin to do for yourself immediately.

• Eat breakfast.  If you skip breakfast, you may become hungrier later in the day, which can lead to overeating.  You will jumpstart your metabolism by doing this as well as fighting off hunger.

• Get rid of temptation.  You will more likely overeat if there is junk food and other unhealthy snacks in your house.  Get rid of all things that will be tempting to you.

• Don’t diet.  When you are on a strict diet, you can easily start craving food that is bad for you along with the urge to overeat.  Instead, find some foods that you like but that are nutritious.  Don’t think of them as “good” food or “bad” food.

• Exercise.  It has been shown that exercise does many good things for the body, mind, and spirit.  Take part in some physical activity that you enjoy.

You will most likely want to also seek professional binge eating treatment.  This may involve many areas of your life.  There are several therapies that have proved to be quite successful in treating the symptoms of binge eating.  You may take part in both private and group therapy, and your family may also be asked to take part.  The important thing to remember is that you most likely didn’t get to the point of binge eating all by yourself.  Therefore, it may be important that family members or others close to you also take part in your binge eating treatment.  As these are the people who are around you most often, they will be the ones who will be able to help you stay on the path to recovery.  They will also be the people who can keep watch on you to see if your symptoms of binge eating return.

Whatever you do, don’t allow yourself to give up once you have begun treatment.  The first step is the most important and the hardest.  While the rest of your recovery will not be easy, at least you will have a support system that can keep you from falling again.  Keep in mind that once you have recovered, you will no longer need to be in binge eating treatment.  At that point, you may be able to help others who suffer.