Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 1/11/2010

Question
I am so emabarresed!! Im in my 30's and binge eating like crazy, or rather I dont stop eating. It just getting worse and I realize I need help as I do want to live my life like this. I'm 5'2 and 50 lbs overweight I am surprised that its not more. I eat huge amounts of sugar with coffee with loads of sugars, breads etc my choice. Eating like this completely numbs me, all I care about is the sugar, and feeding whatever it is in me that needs to be fed. I stay up all night so I can avoid people during the day, I am moody, hate people talking to me, when I'm eating like this I dont care that I dont have a job, money, my own place, friends. anything. Its like a part of my logical mind shuts of. I didnt get how bad this is, until I ate really well for 5 weeks, cut out all sugars, breads, coffee, I started making plans to go out, see friends, exiting about looking for work. I wrote down everything I was eating and how I was feeling, energy etc. During a sit on dinner for new year I thought it would be ok, to eat dessert, have a cup of coffee, and one meal got me into a 11 day binge with 10 lbs weight gain. It seems so easy just stop eating. But I cant, I cant deal with the reality of what a loser I turned out to be but I can easily turn things around but I am going to have to get control over my eating as it puts me into a I dont 'care' world. I honestly dont care about anything,but I know I need to start to.  The huge amount of sugar causes other medical problems that wont heal till I give up the sugar. I jsut cant get better and then go back again, it better for me to stay this way then to put myslef on the emotional coaster. The truth is I always promised myslef I will enver be like my dad, but I am, he drinks all his emotions away, is always sad, crys and wants me to make him feel better, never take care of his own emotional needs, doesnt go anywere,  and now I am doing the exact same thing. I dont have money and therapsist are expensive. The clinic ones think binge eating isnt a problem. Its just huge amount of weakness and if I read what I wrote its sounds pathetic who cant take care of themsleves and just eat healty. This cant be me but it is. Sorry for the lenghty letter.

Answer
Daer G.,

Binge Eating is a very serious problem!!  The answer for you would be OA -- Overeaters Anonymous -- many groups believe that certain people are actually allergic or addicted to sugar and white flour!  There are OA meetings online as well.

It sounds as if your system is very sensitive -- I can certainly understand the depression.  Find yourself a group and go every day!  If you can't go to OA, then try weight watchers -- they are very cheap (online as well), and can help people tremendously.

I just want you to know that you're not alone -- there are many many women just like yourself out there suffering.  Please find one of these groups -- and I think you'll feel so much better when you're able to get support from people who are having the same kind of hard time that you are!

Warmly,
Jeanne Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol, Inc.
888-520-1700
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
@jeanniemirasol
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannerustmirasol