I don’t self-disclose much, so here goes…. I have battled with food the majority of my life. I have a pretty dismal trauma history. Food became an escape. It became a way to numb and then, when I discovered purging and compulsive exercise, it took on a life of its own. Now, it doesn’t have […]
My specialty is Binge Eating Disorder. Since February is Eating Disorder Awareness Month, I wanted to tell you a little more about it. When it comes to diagnosing BED, these are the DSM criteria: Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following: Eating, in a discrete period […]
It can seem as though food is in the driver seat. Binge eating makes us feel powerless and weak. We don’t even necessarily want to eat many times, but like a moth to the flame, we can’t seem to stop ourselves. Does this sound familiar? Now, compound that with the many diets you have probably […]
Binge eating is a complex animal. It feels like a friend until it becomes the enemy. When we are young with limited coping skills and even less power, food becomes a powerful escape. We escape the pain and emptiness of not having our needs met. As we grow up, the pathways formed in our brain […]
Binge eating is far more complicated than it appears on the surface. It drives me crazy when clients tell me the people in their lives tell them to simply stop overeating. Well, gee, I guess they hadn’t thought of that before! Binge eating creates powerful connections in the brain and it isn’t as simple as […]
Binge eating and dieting have a very adversarial relationship, but they are so intertwined. This occurs in two ways. Research has shown that childhood dieting is directly linked to binge eating behavior in adulthood. However, ANY food deprivation in childhood will create this behavior. When we are deprived of food in our formative years whether […]
Binge Eating Disorder is the most common eating disorder. More people struggle with Binge Eating Disorder than Anorexia and Bulimia combined. Yet, most people are more likely to go on a diet than seek treatment for this very real issue. You aren’t lazy. Willpower won’t help you overcome this. February is eating disorder awareness month, […]
If you struggle with binge eating, it can feel like an endless cycle. Here are 5 steps that will help you stop binge eating in its tracks….. Stop dieting. It is a well-established fact that dieting, particularly restrictive diets, set us up for binge eating behavior. If you tell me not to eat something, it […]
In my latest interview on 97.1 ZHT, we are talking about binge eating. February is Eating Disorder Awareness month. To learn more, you are welcome to attend Beyond Overeating: Overcoming Binge Eating. This free seminar will be held Tuesday 2/23 at the St. Mark’s Hospital (1200 E 3900 S) Lamb Auditorium (2nd floor- Women’s Pavilion)at […]
Binge eating is a difficult beast to tackle. Mostly this is due to the shame people feel, so they keep it a secret. Unfortunately, this just drives them further into the binge eating cycle and increases shame. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why you binge? Sure, it might start out with craving food […]
Michelle Lewis has been working in the mental health field since 2001. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Weber State University and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Utah. She is passionate about helping others achieve their goals.
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