Do I have an eating disorder or food addiction?

[Mon950]

Hi,
I do not know if I have a food addiction/ compulsive eating problem.  I think about food a lot, but the first type of food I i go for are salty foods. Not sweet food as a lot of people who binge do. Sometimes I'll eat several packets of potato chips, in addition to my lunch (which I scoff within 10 minutes) and I try avoiding this. I can't resist the vending machine. I constantly think about food. I think about eating 2 large pizzas to myself. I have eaten a family pizza to myself numerous times and then eat chocolate and icecreams following that. When I go to a fast food place I always order enough for a family and eat it all (four large burger meal deals, two foot long subs). I look forward to being alone so that I can eat large amounts of food.

I’m not really sure if this is a real problem or if i’m just complaining. I was 72kg and did lose 22kg about five years ago. I’m starting to put weight on again and am very angry at myself. I don’t know what to do.

[LeftCoastChick]

Bingeing is an eating disorder and categorized as a personality disorder I believe. It's the least talked about ED. It's serious and you need to seek out your doctor to get medical intervention and referral to a psychiatrist. The part of your brain that tells you when you are hungry or full is off kilter. With therapy and mood stabilzer medications you can see a great reduction in your bingeing.  I'll give you a link, you can even bring it into your doc's.
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eating_disorder_treatment.htm

[Mon950]

Thank you for your comment and advice. I will have a look at the website.

[Zoelula]

I'm sorry to correct, but binging is not a personality disorder (I'm a therapist and Psychology Instructor). It is, however, a serious problem that can cause physical problems down the road, and the bottom line is that it is making you miserable. Some people do get good results from mood stabalizing medications, though they aren't right for everyone. I agree that you should talk to your general practitioner about the problem. I also suggest getting therapy from a practitioner (not necessarily a psychiatrist) who is experienced in working specifically with eating disorders. Another alternative is OA, Overeaters Anonymous which is a free self-help program based on the 12 Steps. Look in the phonebook under Overeaters Anonymous as most large towns will have meetings you can attend. Best of luck to you. I have fifteen years recovery from an ED and would be glad to offer any suggestions.

[Mon950]

Congratulations for doing so well. These comments have given me some hope that I can work through this. Thanks for the advice.

[LeftCoastChick]

I apologize, but I did make an error, ED's are in a class all to themselves. Here is a great link that can enlighten you to what binge eating is and what can be done about it.
It's really important that you get a psychiatrist on board, meds can really help level your mood and there are specific meds that. Only a pdoc can diagnose you properly unlike what the "therapist" above said.

No one on the site can give you a definitive diagnosis, so it's best left to a medical pdoc. Therapy on top of seeing a shrink can help you figure out why you are doing it, some pdocs do specialize, not many but some. I am on a mood stabilzer which for the most part has stopped my bingeing, with the exception of PMS, that's really hard. You need to break your cycle of BE'ing, it is possible!


http://www.helpguide.org/mental/binge_eating_disorder.htm

[LeftCoastChick]

oops I gave you the same link twice.

[Zoelula]

What is a pdoc? I'm new to this forum and have never heard that term before. If it means Psychiatrist FYI  most Psychologists and LCSWs are well qualified to diagnose eating disorders. A good therapist will refer and work closely with a Psychiatrist if meds are needed. Unfortunately, many people don't have insurance to cover private Psychiatric services. Many people present at County Mental Health facilities such as the one I worked at before I retired Mental Health personnel did the intake assessment and then refer to our agency Psychiatrist.

I've worked in Behavioral Health for over 25 years, Left Coast and have fifteen years recovery from my own ED. I'm sorry if you're offended if I state something based on my experience.

[Mfisher3]

I have posted here recently and wrote that I too have dealt with various forms of an eating disorder.  I want to just say that regardless of who you get help from, whether it be a psychiatrist, Pdoc, therapist, etc.  The only way you will truly get better is to stay focused and be determined yourself.  These people may be able to give us strategies and help you understand why you do it.  However, until the person decides for them self to make a change, it doesn't really matter what title the person has.  I know this because I have been to them all.  The only thing that helps is my determination and desire to get better.

[Zoelula]

Thanks, you are right, MFisher, and while we all want to help, ourselves and each other, it's not helpful to get caught in debates about the "right way". Ironically, despite being in "the field" I never got any professional help for my own eating disorder. The only outside help I got was through OA and reading about eating disorders. I got abstinent when I was 45 after about 30 years of suffering with this disease.  For me I just got to a point where I was sick of the vicious cycle and self-hate that is bulimia and then I had that determination and desire you speak of. But I can't help but wonder if I might have gotten into recovery sooner if I'd had professional help. I just don't want anyone to suffer anymore than necessary.

By sharing my professional credentials I didn't mean to imply that I was "better than" anyone else here. I've struggled my whole life with an eating disorder, just like everyone else on this forum.

Thanks for the reminder to not get caught up in petty disagreements when we're all here for the same purpose.

[jellybean45]

As i read these i feel the deepest sadness for every one that has a problem with food.  I am a size 10-12 but also consider myself to be a binge eater on a smaller scale.  I think about food 24/7, i secretly eat when im on my own, i binge for a week, eating until i feel sick and my stomache hurts to bursting and then i try to practically starv myself to maintain my weight the next week. I feel like i carnt tell anyone because they'd laugh at me or think i was over reacting.  I hate food, it controls my life, i wish i never had to eat again and i fear that if it wasn't for the fact i hate being sick i feel myself thinking if i made myself sick then it would be better, feel better. I just carnt break the cycle.  I feel i will live like this forever and i fear i will pass these negative habits onto my 3 year old daughter, i am 23 and i know that i have a problem and it isnt greed because i feel i am hurting myself when i binge.

[Zoelula]

Do read all the suggestions on this board and have hope that you don't have to live that way. I've been exactly where you are. I was never morbidly obese either, just played see-saw with the same 25 pounds or so, but I experienced the same obsession love/hate relationship with food. In the end, one of the clues to getting recovery from an eating disorder is realizing it isn't about the weight at all! People with EDs come in all sizes from too thin, to average to somewhat overweight to obese but we all have the same thing in common: we are miserable! Do contact a therapist, your doctor, whoever and get a full evaluation so you can get help. Also consider OA as it's free and people will understand!  I've been in recovery from my eating disorder for 15 years and it's still a miracle every day to be free from that insanity!
Zoe