Compulsive Overeating

What is Compulsive Overeating?

Compulsive overeating is an eating disorder in which a person eats excessive amounts of food in an uncontrollable manner, often consuming a large amount of calories in one sitting. Some compulsive overeaters consume food throughout the day, an activity called grazing. For the compulsive overeater, binging on food is a way to cope with overwhelming emotions, stressful life situations, and can provide the illusion of relief from feelings of emptiness. Though sufferers from the disorder are aware that what they are doing is abnormal, they are powerless in controlling or stopping the behavior. When a person begins to gain weight, they often increase dieting or other restricting behaviors. Unfortunately, this typically increases the urges to binge which causes the next compulsive overeating episode. This becomes a viscous cycle of binging, restricting, and triggering feelings of guilt and shame.

Compulsive Overeating Signs and Symptoms

Early intervention is essential to overcome this eating disorder and to help reduce any permanent physical or emotional consequences. Here are some common signs and symptoms of compulsive overeating:

• Uncontrolled consumption of food though not hungry
• Unrestrained eating that may even be painful
• Obsessively thinking about food
• Obsessive thinking or talking about body weight, shape, size, appearance or food
• Depression, anxiety, or extreme mood swings
• Rapid weight gain
• Eating alone or secretive eating because of embarrassment or guilt
• Attempting or engaging in a number of diets
• Rapid eating pace, mindless eating
• Self-criticism, low self-esteem, or feelings of worthlessness
• Urges or desires to consume more and more food
• Body dissatisfaction, body image distortion
• Rituals around body checking, exercise, or food
• Loss of interest in activities, relationships or people
• Large quantities of money spent on food, restaurants, or at the grocery store
• Hoarding of food
• Hidden food or food wrappers

Compulsive Overeating Treatment

For dedicated, caring treatment of compulsive overeating, come to Castlewood Treatment Center for Eating Disorders. Our approach is to help the client determine the emotions or life events that have led to the onset of compulsive overeating and to help the client resolve them. We help the client conquer feelings of worthlessness, depression, and hopelessness, while helping them relinquish their food addictions, and developing healthier coping mechanisms.

Unique but Effective Treatment Strategy

The treatment of Compulsive overeating at Castlewood is a unique therapeutic experience. Qualified licensed, specialists work with clients to help them regain control over symptoms, resolve trauma, and allow them to develop skills throughout the varying levels of care. The small nurturing environment of ten residential clients allows for personal care and attention. Our entire staff is trained in Internal Family Systems therapy which allows healing to occur in and outside the therapy sessions.

We will:

• Find out the underlying issues that led to the onset of compulsive overeating and help to resolve those issues
• Help the patient identify and develop healthier ways to cope
• Encourage the participation of the family in the treatment process
• Provide a continuum of care, so that clients can practice dealing with everyday life situations while still in treatment
• Provide continuing aftercare once his/her stay at Castlewood is over
• Help launch or support them into their transition to college, job, or relationships

To know more about how we can help you combat compulsive overeating, please call one of our intake experts. Dial 1-866-225-0377 (toll free) or 636-386-6611. For more information or to ask questions, email the Castlewood staff at info@castlewoodtc.com.