DOPAMINE CHASING AND BINGE EATING
#dopamine #eatingpsychology #foodaddiction
Join me in-person on Monday 20th May 2024 in Brighton: [ Ссылка ]
And on Thursday 23rd May 2024 in Bournemouth: [ Ссылка ]
Online community: [ Ссылка ]
Podcast: [ Ссылка ]
Connect and Recover Groups: [ Ссылка ]
Weekly binge eating therapy groups: [ Ссылка ]
My book, I Can't Stop Eating, is available on Amazon [ Ссылка ] (UK affiliate link, please search for title in Amazon if outside of UK)
Website – [ Ссылка ]
Instagram – [ Ссылка ]
Disclaimer: This video is for information purposes only and my content should not be used as a substitute for seeking treatment from a healthcare provider. My content is not going to be suitable for everyone, so please use your self discernment before applying any video content in your own life.
In today’s video, I explore the complex and often contradictory advice surrounding binge eating recovery. Many of you are familiar with the overwhelming variety of approaches, from those advocating for more food to combat restriction-triggered binges, to others who treat binge eating as an addiction that requires cutting out certain foods to break the cycle. My goal here is to bridge these viewpoints and discuss the dual nature of binge urges and how they can be managed.
Firstly, let's talk about the primal urge to binge, which is deeply rooted in our hunger system. This type of urge can be confusing because it often strikes even when we’re not physically hungry, especially after or in anticipation of dieting. The primal brain's fear of impending restriction can trigger these overwhelming urges, making the solution for some to simply eat more regularly without restriction.
On the other hand, there are urges linked to our dopamine system, where the pursuit of a “high” from certain foods can perpetuate a cycle of binge eating. This system can get hijacked by various activities in our digital age, like excessive social media use, which parallels the relentless pursuit of that next dopamine hit from food.
This week, I’ve been particularly struck by how my own behaviors—constant distraction and an inability to focus—mirror this dopaminergic chase, not just with food but across various aspects of my life. Recognizing this pattern is crucial, as many of us might misattribute these traits to conditions like ADHD when, in fact, they are manifestations of a dopamine imbalance that can be adjusted.
The challenge, then, is breaking this cycle without triggering the primal brain's panic about restriction. I share personal anecdotes about how I’ve managed to interrupt these patterns, not through food, which can often feel too direct and fraught with emotional resistance, but through other less charged behaviors like reducing screen time.
For those struggling with similar issues, I suggest starting small, identifying less resistant areas of your life to begin breaking the cycle. This approach can make the overall goal of managing food-related triggers more attainable without the overwhelming backlash from your brain.
Remember, understanding and interrupting these cycles is a journey that doesn’t always have a clear or easy path. It requires patience, self-compassion, and a willingness to experiment with different strategies that address both the physical and psychological components of binge eating.
If you find value in this discussion and are looking for more insights into managing binge eating and breaking free from the cycle of diet-induced anxiety and dopamine-driven behaviors, consider subscribing and hitting the bell icon for updates on future videos. Your engagement helps spread the message to those who might benefit the most. Thank you for watching, and I look forward to continuing this conversation in our next session.
