Binging - to seek help or not?

I am completely lost. When is binging considered a serious problem? I have been binging every day for over a week and I know that this isn't normal but I'm finding it incredibly hard to stop.

I've tried talking to my family and friends about it but they don't understand and as I am not overweight (yet) they don't seem to see it as an issue. It is a massive issue to me as I am gaining weight fast and am absolutely miserable, and really want to talk to someone about it.

Am I just being over dramatic? I have tried different techniques to help myself but seem to be getting nowhere. Maybe I should give it a little time before considering getting outside help?

Any advice is much appreciated!

if its interfering with living a normal life then it is a problem. if your friends and family do not take you seriously i would try to find someone that specializes in ED's in your area that you can talk to

Define what you consider binging. Have you suffered another ED prior to this? 

I had a brief period where I was underweight because I exercised too much and ate far too little. Never went to see anyone about it and was thus never diagnosed with anything.

When I say binge I mean eating roughly 5000 calories or more, and eating to or past the point of feeling sick.

What are you binging on?  What are your trigger foods?  Are you eating enough nourishing foods full of vitamins and minerals?  On a day when you eat your normal intake how many calories are you taking in?

Original Post by cynicalkit:

I had a brief period where I was underweight because I exercised too much and ate far too little. Never went to see anyone about it and was thus never diagnosed with anything.

 

Ditto.  What you just described is an eating disorder.   I went through the same thing that lasted less than two years. I used to use the same ters you did, but I can now see that it was an ED.  I was underweight and when I started gaining (I did recovery on myown for the most part, saw a doctor once or twice then decided to do it on my own) I binged alot.  More than 5000 and at times I cried because I was so full it hurt really really bad.  If that brief period you describe was longer than a month or two (and recent) its probably your body trying to get as many calories as possible in case you decide to starve it again.  The other reason it happens is because when you starve yourself your body and brain lose to ability to recognize satiety.  It has no clue what full feels like or when you should stop.  

My binging didn't start immediately after I began eating enough and exercising less.  I started binging after probably my 2nd month of eating normal and lasted a month or two.

Ah :(

I am reluctant to use the term 'eating disorder' to describe that period because I'm scared people will look at me differently and think that I am just exaggerating to get attention. It doesn't really help that I am constantly around someone else who I think has an eating disorder and thus thinks that the behaviour is completely normal. It did last longer than a month or two so I guess you could be right about my body freaking out trying to get calories.

Normally I would eat about 1200-1400 calories a day, which is probably too little but I am working on it! My trigger foods are possibly carbs - I tend to go for bread and cereal when I binge but I pretty much shovel in anything that I can get my hands on.

hmm.. well a lot of people say that a binge has a lot to do with the state of mind as well as the food consumption.

i have been struggling with BED for awhile now, and have finally reached out for some professional help.

for me, a binge is consuming upwards of 5000 calories. Honestly, 5000 calories would have been a small-ish binge for me. my mind would be going insane and about a million miles a second. i would literally not be able to stop. on the verge of tears, panic attacks, yet still stuffing my face. even to the point of being vaguely suicidal sometimes...

so, i mean i don't know. if you don't feel like you can get a handle on it on your own and could see it getting a little more out of control - it might be worth it to make a couple few therapy sessions to see if that helps you nip it before it gets worse...

in any case, i wish you luck!

I've had this phase... noone understood me either. Was eating til my stomach hurt and it made me cry.

I would say seek help now before it gets worse. Mine went on for 5 months.