
Ever since my mom got sick and died several years ago, I’ve had a really big problem with food…….. I will very often (it ranges from every day to once or twice a week) eat until I am painfully full. While I am eating, I acknowledge that what I am doing is harmful, is making me fat, think about how unhealthy it is and how much I want to lose weight (I am about 20 lbs overweight b/c of this) but I continue to eat until I feel sick (or, sometimes, am sick).
After my mom’s death I did get some therapy, which pulled me out of depression but I still have this habit.
I’ve come to realize that it’s a mind-numbing comfort – the repetitive chewing motion, the texture of the food in my mouth, the lack of need to think or feel. Also, how much/often I do it seems to be directly related to how much frustration and anxiety I am feeling in my life (early last summer I was really happy and content for a period and lost about 15 lbs, which I quickly gained back as soon as a situation started causing me anxiety).
How do I deal with these feelings in a healthy way? What can I do that will have the same effect, but is healthy?
I can’t afford more therapy (college student).
Note: I enjoy eating healthy food (veggies, fruits, fish, chicken, whole grains). When I binge it’s most often on bread products or sweets like cookies/brownies. I hardly ever eat fast food, chips, fried food, etc.