During the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s understandable that people who struggle with eating disorders may experience worsening symptoms. Today, I will define binge eating disorder, overeating, and emotional eating. Then, I will discuss possible reasons why you may be struggling more with your eating disorder during the COVID-19 crisis.
What is binge eating disorder (BED)?
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is an eating disorder that causes individuals to eat large amounts of food during a short period of time. They may plan to binge. This means they spend time gathering up the foods that they are looking forward to having. Or, the urge to binge may happen spontaneously. People who binge eat often describe feeling zoned-out throughout the process. Then, they report feeling overfull and ashamed afterward. They often make promises to themselves that they won’t do this again based on how terribly they feel after a binge. But, without professional help may have difficulty breaking the cycle.Why is binge eating disorder likely to be worse during the Coronavirus Pandemic?
This is a time of lots of uncertainty and stress for all of us. And, many people who struggle with mental health issues may see their symptoms worsen. For people who binge eat, it may be particularly challenging to have lots of time on your hands. For example, our clients have said that binging can sometimes be one way to break the day up. They also use binging to numb their uncomfortable feelings. These feelings may be related to uncertainty about the future, economic problems, and worry about health for yourself and loved ones. Furthermore, many people are stocking up on food, and this may be particularly triggering for someone with BED. They may be thinking that they are buying more because it may be hard to get to the store often during the quarantine. But, then they find themselves struggling with actually having that much food on hand.
What is compulsive overeating?
Compulsive overeating is similar to binge eating, but overeating eating does not take place only during a discrete period of time. Instead, a person who suffers from compulsive overeating will often eat more than their body needs or wants throughout the day. They may return to the kitchen for multiple trips or find themselves snacking so much that they don’t want meals.
Why is compulsive overeating likely to be worse during COVID-19? 
Compulsive overeating is likely to be worse during COVID-19 because it fills voids. With the lack of routine in many people’s lives, it offers something to do. With the lack of social contact, it offers a way to relieve loneliness. Many people with compulsive overeating eat out of habit.
What is emotional eating?
Whereas binge eating or compulsive overeating refer to what and how a person eats, emotional eating has to do with why a person is eating. A person who is emotionally eating might binge, compulsively overeats, or might not do either of those things, they eat because they are feeling unpleasant emotions. People who eat emotionally often do it in order to avoid feeling painful feelings like anger, sadness, or loneliness. Some do it in order to seemingly relieve a general sense of anxiety as well.
Why is emotional eating likely to be worse during COVID-19?
There are no guideposts for how to handle your feelings during this epidemic. Even if you’ve had a healthy and normal relationship with food your whole life, the chances are that the overwhelming uncertainty, existential anxiety, isolation, and stress are difficult to cope with. There is a biological underpinning to eating when stressed. From an evolutionary perspective, it would make sense to eat more when you are stressed out because there might not be a lot of food available. So, eating means storing some energy for later. But in our modern society, you can easily get food, and there isn’t really the need to overeat.
How can I stop binge eating, compulsive eating or emotional eating during covid-19?
The most obvious solution is to work with a professional who understands the terrain of these problems. Healing from these conditions can be complicated. This is because they are rooted both in psychology (learning to break habits, learning to deal more effectively with feelings) and biology (re-training the brain to release a dopaminergic response without food, re-training the body to differentiate between emotional and physical hunger). The good news is that help is available, even if you can’t make it to traditional in-person therapy in a counseling office.
Begin online therapy for eating disorders in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC:
If you’re struggling with an eating disorder during COVID-19, our online therapists can help. We specialize in providing the highest quality eating disorder treatments. We’re currently providing eating disorder treatment online to practice social distancing. To begin online therapy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC please follow these steps:- Contact our Washington DC counseling clinic to learn more about online therapy in Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland,
- Meet with an online therapist who specializes in treating eating disorders and providing online therapy
- Begin online therapy and find relief from your eating disorder.
Other Services offered at Monarch Wellness & Psychotherapy
Monarch Wellness and Psychotherapy offers a variety of therapy services to help you find hope for a better tomorrow. Our goal is to create a safe online space so you can be real and honest about what’s bothering you. The therapists at Monarch Wellness are currently offering all their counseling services online to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 crisis. Our counseling services include individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and group therapy for adolescents, young adults, and adults in the D.C. area. Our practice specializes in treating individuals with eating disorders including Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating Disorder/Compulsive Overeating. In addition to eating disorders, our therapists help clients manage and overcome their anxiety, depression, and trauma. If you have questions about our practice, please visit our FAQ page or contact our office to discuss the ways we can help you overcome your mental health concerns and thrive!
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