emotional eating

Emma, emotional eating is one of the hallmarks of all types of eating disorders.

To be technical about it we should say it something like: the use (or abstention from) food as an attempt to regulate emotional states. But that takes too long to say all the time (and isn't very catchy), so everyone just says "emotional eating" which works just fine.

Also, anxiety and depression are very common in eating disorders and related illnesses, so I'm not surprised you mentioned anxiety. 

There are some good websites where you can find books and info- the Gurze website where you found this blog is a fabulous one- they have all kinds of cool books and stuff that can help. And the NEDA website is helpful also. 

If any of you guys have books on eating disorders in general and/or binge-eating disorder in particular they think Emma might like, maybe you can give her some recommendations. As a start, Emma, you can't go wrong with anything listed on the Gurze website.

I also hope you can at some point go back to the psychologist you saw beofre. It would be so fabulous if there was someone near you who had lots of experience working with people who have eating disorders. But it doesn't sound like there is. The psychologist you saw could help you with anxiety and coping with life skills though, and that would help a lot with the eating disorder stuff. 

Welcome to our little community at this blog. We're happy to have you :)

Comments

[Ann]

I believe I've shared on here before about my experience when I run into my first T, I get major anxiety. My chest tightens and hurts like an elephant is standing on it, I get light-headed from not being able to breathe, I become paralyzed and have to think really hard to keep moving (if I'm already walking), if I'm alone when I run into her Ed automatically takes over and I have to work really hard to convince myself that he does not have the right coping skills for my situation.

Today, I had an appointment with my current T, who I think absolutely Rocks! And we discussed my old T who works at the same center, just a little awkward. Just discussing her made the anxiety flair, like the beginnings of a flame. We rehashed everything that I went through during my year with her and how I felt physically, emotionally, cognately, how symptoms increased, everything. Then my current T realized that I had absolutely no closure with this woman, I already knew this. So, she gave me homework to write a letter to my old T, just for me to share with my current T. And then to write a letter to myself telling myself stuff like "You were brave to stick with her for so long" apparently I need to hear that stuff.

After the session, my T walks me to the reception area to reschedule and in the hallway who do I see, that's right my old T, hand straight to chest. Then she follows us into the reception area, shaking hands to painful chest, warm face, not leaving my current T's side. I love my current T, when she saw her down the hallway and me grab my chest, she kindly whispered we're getting closure, then after the old T left the reception area, she told me I was protecting you, I won't let her get you :) She makes me smile even in the midst of the anxiety, which happened to stay around for most of the day, ughh! I'm hoping these letters help.

[Sarah]

I like "Overcoming Overeating" by Hirschmann and Munter. It took me a long, long time (literally years) to be able to read through the book and recognize myself in it, though. It explains lots more about what Johanna says above about using food to regulate emotions.

Another book I recently read was "50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food" by Susan Albers. I didn't find it useful at all but it does get good reviews.

I also find it helpful to read a lot of the "fat acceptance" blogs and sites online. They help me to work towards having a better attitude towards myself, I think.

A problem for me with a lot of the eating disorder books and sites, as well as even the overeating books and sites, is that there's a big focus on "You're not REALLY fat, you're just body dysmorphic!" or "If you start eating normally you'll lose lots of weight". Neither of those are realistic for me. I really AM fat and even if I lost some weight by overeating less and never binging I am not going to lose enough weight to become 'not-fat'. (Defined, say, as not having to shop at plus-size stores.) So I like the fat acceptance stuff because it's about living well at your current size.

Ann, that really sucks. I am glad that your current T was able to help you feel safer. I used to feel the same way about running into an old high school phys.ed. teacher. It's well over a decade later and I still worry any time I do anything related to physical activity that I'll run into her. Since working on it a whole bunch on therapy I still worry but it's much less bothersome. The physical symptoms especially are pretty much gone which is a big relief.

[wendy]

Ann I have had that same time of emotional response to some specific people which i am currently working...no fun, but hoping to get closure...glad your current therapist is so helpful and kind.