If you’re struggling with binge eating, you know that this disorder can be crippling. It can wreak havoc on not only your self-esteem but your day-to-day life. Medicines are available for treatment but they may come with unwanted side effects. Thankfully, there are approaches you might want to try such as hypnosis for binge eating.

Let’s talk a bit about binge eating first before we get into hypnosis.

What is Binge Eating?

Simply put, binge eating is out of control eating. It’s an eating disorder that compels you to eat an enormous amount of food in one sitting. But doing so comes with feelings of guilt, shame, and remorse that afterward, you might try to get rid of all the food you ate by trying to vomit or using laxatives. It’s a pretty vicious cycle.

Some of the signs and symptoms include eating even if you’re uncomfortably full, frequently eating in secret, eating excessive amounts of food, and eating very quickly. While experts still haven’t pinpointed the exact cause of binge eating disorder, a study found in Obesity showed that dopamine may be a factor. It can heighten the person’s craving or bring about so much enjoyment in consuming so much food.

Now, how common is binge eating disorder?

According to a national survey, approximately 2.8M Americans suffer from binge eating disorder (BED). Moreover,  a 2007 study reported that in women about 3.5% had binge eating disorder. On the other hand, the percentage is slightly lower in men (2.0%).

The same study found that compared to bulimia and anorexia nervosa, BED is three times more common even with the two eating disorders combined. Also, it’s more common than HIV, schizophrenia, and breast cancer.

 

What are the Dangers?

BED can lead to serious health issues such as depression and anxiety, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Many people who binge eat want to feel good however this feeling is fleeting. When you overeat, this may lead to obesity which then predisposes you to diabetes and heart problems.

 

Hypnosis for Binge Eating

With BED, it can be very difficult to depend on sheer willpower to conquer the urge to overeat. That’s why there are several treatments, both medical and alternative ones you might want to consider, such as hypnosis.

If you need more information on using hypnosis, read up on our quick guide to hypnosis.

During hypnosis, your clinical hypnotherapist can help evaluate your relationship with food, if you’re using it to deal with stress or negative emotions (emotional eating). Sometimes this eating disorder can be from dissatisfaction with how you look. Also, it may have been rooted in childhood, like parents telling you to eat everything on your plate or growing up in a toxic environment.

Hypnosis can be powerful in retraining your mind to break negative eating habits. Your hypnotherapist can unlock the workings of your subconscious mind and guide you towards powerful self-transformation. Moreover, it has been used for depression, anxiety,  weight loss, and other health issues.

Just remember to look for a qualified hypnotherapist when considering hypnosis for binge eating. Everybody in Mind Wellness Center Founder Carla Chalah is a certified clinical hypnotherapist with more than 10 years of experience and she can help you get started with managing your binge eating through hypnosis sessions.