Emotional Binge Eating: What You Should Know

When it comes to emotional eating, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there. For one, emotional eating is not the same as binge eating. Emotional eating is simply eating in response to an emotional trigger, such as stress, boredom, or sadness. Binge eating, on the other hand, is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of overeating.

If you find yourself emotional eating on a regular basis, it’s important to understand why you’re doing it. Once you know the triggers that lead to your emotional eating, you can start to find other ways to cope with those emotions.

Here are some things to keep in mind about emotional eating:

1. Emotional eating is normal.

We all eat for emotional reasons from time to time. If you find yourself emotional eating on a regular basis, it doesn’t mean you’re weak or have no self-control. It’s simply a sign that you’re using food to cope with emotions.

2. Emotional eating is not the same as binge eating.

Binge eating is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of overeating. With binge eating, you may feel like you can’t control your eating. You may also feel ashamed, disgusted, or guilty after eating.

3. Emotional eating is a coping mechanism.

When you’re feeling stressed, bored, or sad, food can be a way to cope with those emotions. For some people, emotional eating is a way to avoid dealing with difficult emotions.

4. Emotional eating can lead to weight gain.

If you find yourself emotional eating on a regular basis, it can lead to weight gain. This is because you’re likely eating more calories than you need. Emotional eating can also lead to other health problems, such as type 2 diabetes.

5. There are other ways to cope with emotions.

If you’re emotional eating on a regular basis, it’s important to find other ways to cope with your emotions. Some healthy coping mechanisms include exercise, journaling, and spending time with friends or family.

If you’re struggling with emotional eating, know that you’re not alone. There are many resources available to help you cope with your emotions in a healthy way.