[fishsandwich]

I've noticed myself eating incredible amounts of food lately -- often to the point where I make myself feel very sick. For the first time, today I threw up after eating.

I don't know what it is or why. I normally do not eat very much or very often and this month I will eat everything, without even knowing that I am eating. But I don't understand if it's bingeing or if I'm just maybe stressed or whatever. I guess it doesn't matter as I won't be seeking any professional help for whatever this may be. I just want it to stop.

[kirbydog156]

Fish, I think you already know. Eating a large amount of food in a short period of time, not related to physical hunger, way more food than you usually eat, feeling an extreme amount of guilt afterward, feeling completely out-of-control. You mentioned wanting "it" to stop, as if it's outside of yourself. The only way for it to stop is to understand why you're doing it in the first place. You also mentioned usually not eating much or often. A good way to work with binge eating is to connect with your body and your physical hunger. Having small amounts of healthy food 3-6 times a day and writing about how you're feeling each time can really help you understand what is hunger and what is something else....anger, frustration, lonliness, boredom, etc. Also curious as to why you're not willing/able to work with a therapist on this. Finding an eating disorders therapist really helped me find my way out of this.

[fishsandwich]

No no, I eat healthily and regularly (twice a day) when I'm "normal", but this month is weird. I've never felt hunger; I actually have never felt much of anything in my body and I was always fine with this and reasonably healthy regardless. I have always had to remind myself to eat and drink. It's just this month it has changed; I know I'm bingeing but I didn't know if it was a disorder-type thing or just normal overeating.
I don't see professional therapists because they are willing to refer people to psychiatry and require looking at psychiatric records; I oppose psychiatric intervention in my life so therapy (amongst other things) is also ruled out. Therapy has never been useful for me in the past, anyway.

[TexasMockingbird]

Question: What is the difference between "bingeing" as a "disorder-type thing" and "normal overeating"? (I'm not trying to say that there's no difference; I'm asking what the difference is.) Thanks.

[Vibe]

Since it's been happening on a very short term basis, I wouldn't think you've suddenly developed a disorder. It does sound like binge eating, but that can be caused by a variety of reasons. Is something stressful or new going on in your life? Have other habits changed which maybe make food more accessible? Maybe your hormones are just a tad off?

I'd try to control it to a point where you're not making yourself sick or eating way more than is healthy. Maybe figure out if there are other unhealthy areas in your life which need to be dealt with. If it continues you could bring it up to someone, but it might just go away on it's own. Be aware and on top of it, but don't let it stress you out too much. If it's caused by stress then that would make things worse.

When I feel like eating a ton and don't want to stop, I usually keep really healthy snack food around too. Carrot sticks, fruit, etc. This helps keep it from causing other problems.

[lms0717]

Based on personal experience, it sounds like you are bingeing. My other guess is that it may be a situational thing for you. If this is something that just started, I highly recommend getting on top of it and trying to figure out what is triggering the eating. I am a binge eater, a very bad binge eater, and I am going through an extremely difficult time right now. I am working on finding treatment as well as educating myself about eating disorders. I am also bipolar and have to deal with that as well.

You sound kind of sad to me and I get the feeling that there is some underlying condition or situation that has triggered this for you. My suggestions would be for you to do some web searching and get educated, keep coming back here for support, trying journaling or anything that might help you get in touch with your feelings. If you work at it, I know you will be able to figure it out. The main thing will be for you to keep monitoring it and if it becomes worse, you really need to get serious about getting some type of help. There are support groups for overeaters that don't involve therapists or pdocs.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.