All About Binge Eating and How to Overcome it with Psychological Therapy & Counselling

What is Binge Eating?

Binge eating problems involve regularly eating large portions of food all at once and usually very quickly until you feel uncomfortably full or even bloated.

It is not unusual to then have feelings of guilt immediately following an episode and it is considered by some schools of thought as a form of self-harm.

Binging sessions are often planned in advance and you may even buy special binge foods such as cakes or foods with a high carbohydrate content.

Binge eating problems can affect people of all genders and most frequently starts in the late teens or early 20s.

Sufferers usually perform this act with as much secrecy as they can.

Symptoms of Binge Eating

The main symptoms associated with binge eating include:

• Eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, typically within two hours.
• Feeling a lack of control over eating during a binge episode.
• Eating when not hungry or until uncomfortably full.
• Eating alone or in secret due to feelings of embarrassment or shame.
• Feeling guilty, depressed, or disgusted after a binge episode.
• Eating rapidly or not chewing food properly during a binge episode.
• Repeatedly dieting or attempting to lose weight without success.
• Preoccupation with body shape or weight.
• Avoiding social situations or activities due to concerns about body shape or weight.
• Experiencing physical discomfort such as bloating, stomach pain, or fatigue after a binge episode.

You may have some or all of these symptoms or even different ones and experiencing these symptoms is not necessarily indicative of a mental health problem.

Potential Causes of Binge Eating Problems

There are no definitive ’causes’ of binge eating or other eating issues, however, you may be more likely to develop binge eating problems if:

• A member of your family has a history of eating disorders, depression, or alcohol abuse or drug abuse.
• You have experienced strong criticism of your eating habits, body shape or weight.
• You are overly concerned with being slim, particularly if you also feel pressure from society or your job.
• You have anxiety, low self-esteem, OCD or have a “perfectionist” thinking style.

If you think you may have an eating problem we advise that you consult your GP in the first instance and before seeking out psychological help

With the right treatment and support, most people recover, but it does take time, effort and a desire to overcome the problem in order to be successful.

Therapy & Counselling for Binge Eating

We offer a number of different types of therapy and counselling for binge eating and food-related problems.

Choosing the most suitable therapy depends on a number of different considerations including factors such as:

• How long you have had the problem.
• Your personal preferences.
• How your problem is affecting you today.

You can read more about the different types of therapy for eating problems on the following links:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Binge Eating
• Counselling for Binge Eating
• Pluralistic Therapy for Binge Eating

Although all therapies use slightly different approaches, the one thing they all have in common is the relationship that is formed between the client and therapist.

Research suggests that this therapy relationship may be the most important factor in achieving a good therapy outcome.

The Behaviour Change Framework

All of our binge eating counselling sessions and programmes use the Behaviour Change Framework (BCF).

This scientifically proven protocol defines the stages of behaviour change that you need to go through in order to achieve long lasting and sustainable change.

The framework provides a roadmap that indicates if more change is required before entering the next phase of mental health therapy.

In this way, we are able to ensure that you get the best possible level of support in overcoming your mental health problems as well preventing early termination of therapy.

You can read more about the Science of Change here.

Arrange your FREE initial consultation here.

If you’d like to find out more about overcoming binge eating issues or recovering from any of your mental health problems then why not arrange a free initial consultation with us.

During this consultation we will discuss your particular issues and the different types of mental health counselling we offer without you having to commit to any counselling going forward.

The consultation lasts around 50 minutes and is a great opportunity to meet with either Paul or Joan and decide if you would like to proceed with any support.