The problem with binging is recognizing that you are substituting food for a coping mechanism. We eat because physiologically we have to, but the act of eating gives us good feelings because we are giving our body what it wants. We are just programmed to like food, especially in large quantities. It's the primal part of our brain screaming at us, that we may not know when our next meal is going to come. The thing is in our modern day society, that is totally unnecessary. We have food at our convenience and don't need to worry about running out. So the trick to stopping a binge is... DISTRACTION.

That's right. When you feel the binge coming on, put the food down and just leave the room. Stay out of the kitchen or wherever food is being consumed. Just focus on the feelings you are currently experiencing, and ask yourself: am I really hungry? Realizing that eating will not solve your problems in a binge situation is extremely hard. But it is possible to avoid such a situation, its just about distracting yourself and redirecting that energy.

If you feel it coming on, immediately go do something else that requires immense concentration. Call up your friend, or you mum, or even your grandma (they love hearing from you for no reason!) and tell them you just want to chat. Often you can find a way to talk about these awful feelings and get it off your chest without having to resort to stuffing yourself to the point of sickness, and eventually engaging in a purge. Or come on here and post that you are really struggling. It may not get a response right away, but just typing out the reason for your icky feelings may help them settle down.

Binging can be a form of self-harm as real as any other. It's a release that calms us down in a time of stress. But like any other form of self-harm, it often has undesirable consequences. Just remember that you are strong, you are beautiful, and you most certainly are not obese! That is just somebody's opinion not a fact, and they most likely said it out of anger or frustration because they weren't feeling too good about themselves. It is only what you think that counts, and letting other people bring you down is a waste of time and energy.

Just remember we're here for you.