Why do I Binge Eat?

by Sarah
(New York, NY)

Dear Stefanie,

I am just a normal person. I am not gay and trying to hide it. I am not going through a divorce. I am single and love it. I have a really, really good career. I have everything I have ever wanted, including lots of friends, enough money and time, etc.

It seems that every other binge eater has to come to some kind of apex and admits what is bothering him/her. I sometimes identify my frustration as "I have everything and still I have not written a best-selling novel" but I don't really think that is true either.

Yet, I have points where I feel my whole body is squeezing, squeezing. It is so heavy that I cannot move. No way could I take a walk or "phone a friend" (anyway if I had any friends who were not busy at that moment, I would be hanging out with them, not frozen on my couch).

The only thing I can do for succor is (sometimes) crawl to the kitchen for anything to stuff down. The soothing food feeling stops the squeezing.

I feel guilty for feeling like this. I have had everything handed to me. I have an excellent education. I wear nice clothes. I don't have any real problems- just a few small ones like anyone might.

What's your take on this?

Thanks.
Sarah


ANSWER

Are you ready to let go of binge eating?

Are you ready to be at peace with who you are?

Do you know who you are?

If you cannot answer these questions with a yes... then right now you are 'comfortable' with binge eating.

Let me explain...

By being 'comfortable'; I mean that your binge eating patterns do not cause enough pain for you to change. Or in other words.... subconsciously it would more painful to change than to stay where you're at. You may have other beliefs that are keeping you where you're at. And the only person that can uncover those and make changes is you.

Normally when a person is feeling the way you are... all the real issues are buried so deep that you are not consciously aware of them.

If you're ready to ditch binge eating... then you'll need to create the psychological link to more pain with remaining where you're at than with changing.

The truth is that binge eating (and other eating disorders) destroys your physical body. And without a healthy physical body nothing else is life can be thoroughly enjoyed and felt.

What is all that you have in life really worth if you can't enjoy it?

Hope this helps.

All my Best,

Stefanie