Binge Eating

One binge doesn’t mean you have lost your recovery

There is nothing harder than having a period of abstinence from compulsive overeating and then thinking you have “blown it all” because in a split second you made a choice to listened to the eating disorder voice that told you everything would be fine if you just ate one of your trigger foods.

Counsellor Alison Jenkins - Changing Lives Online Counselling Service

But you really haven’t “blown it” by having one binge. That will never undo all the good work you have done; it will never take away the new awareness you have gained so turn this around immediately and view it as a learning event. You might have binged once but you can choose to halt now, draw a line under what has happened and stand back up to fight for your recovery. Don’t start again tomorrow – START NOW.

If you went out for a walk and tripped over, would you return to your front door to start your walk again or would you get back up, dust yourself down and carry on putting one step in front of you? Having a food slip / binge is no different. Recovery from an eating disorder is about progress not perfection. The journey of recovery is full of bumps in the road which are ready to trip you up if you are not vigilant. The important thing is to learn how to deal with these difficult situations so that next time you are more prepared. The key to successful recovery is about being a good problem solver. Life will inevitably throws unexpected events that will trip you up if you are not careful, but if you have learned how to overcome these events you are much more likely to be able to cope with them. As your recovery grows you will become stronger and stronger inside. You will learn how to fight off the eating disorder voice until it has been muted.

Group support with delighted people who have received help through online counselling with Changing Lives Online Counselling Service

So if you have just binged and feel so desperate please reach out for support. Call friends who are also in recovery, talk to a supportive member of your family, e-mail a support group or consider having an online counselling session. If you continue on with the attitude of “I’ve blown it so I may as well carry on” then who knows when you will have the strength to face recovery again.

Perhaps you need to hit your own rock bottom before you realise that this disease takes thousands of people’s lives before they ever have a chance to find recovery. Please don’t let that happen to you. Recovery really is worth fighting for. I literally had no idea how brilliant my life would become, all I wanted was to stop bingeing and remove the food cravings. I have been given so much more.