How Anxiety Impacts Binge Eating Disorder

Anxiety definitely impacts binge eating disorder. Anxiety is a problem that all people face in their lives but when you have binge eating disorder, this problem can compound your issues and make dealing with your mental illness that much more difficult. The truth is, that there is no way to completely insulate yourself from ever having to deal with an anxious situation ever again. But even when anxiety impacts binge eating disorder, once you have the skills and tools that you need to cope with not only your anxiety but also your binge eating disorder, both can be manageable.

Which Came First: Anxiety or Binge Eating Disorder?

My anxiety has always been closely tied to my binge eating disorder. If I feel anxious or
upset, I often eat for comfort. But the act of eating too much leads to me feeling out of control and that leads to the anxiety that I'm not dealing with my illness and I'm not following my treatment. It can become a vicious cycle of binging because of anxiety then getting anxiety because of binging.

Coping with Anxiety When You Have Binge Eating Disorder?

Your binge eating disorder therapist or doctor can help you cope with your anxiety without binging. I was well aware that my binging could be caused by my emotional states for a very long time before I realized that I needed another coping mechanism. So I came up with a list of relaxing and fun activities that I enjoy doing and through working with my therapist, I now do a lot of different things in order to cope with anxiety and not head towards the fridge.

When I start feeling anxious and I want to binge, the first thing I usually turn to is my writing. It keeps my mind focused on a task and both of my hands busy. After a while, I'm not thinking about the pressing need to binge, I'm thinking about what I'm working on. Other times, I go to Netflix and watch an episode of one of my favorite TV shows. It gives me something to enjoy and calms me down until I don't feel so anxious and I don't want to binge anymore.

Distraction May Not Be Enough When Anxiety Impacts Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is not always conquered by distraction, particularly if you are in a time of high anxiety. It's important to work with your doctor and therapist to help you come up with a plan that is specific to your life, your binge eating disorder, and the cause of your anxiety. Managing both anxiousness and binge eating disorder is no small feat, but with help and some patience with yourself, you can learn how to deal with this mental health problem comorbidity and not let your anxiety feed into your binge eating disorder or vice versa.

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