Why Substance Use and Bingeing Tend to Go Together
April 9, 2025 | By Dana Harron
If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of bingeing and substance use, you’re not alone. These behaviors often feed into each other in ways that can be hard to untangle. Whether it’s using dissociative substances to check out before a binge, turning to drugs to escape the discomfort afterward, or falling into both patterns as a response to trauma, the overlap is more common than people realize.
Many people who struggle with disordered eating find themselves engaging in substance use without entirely realizing the connection between the two. It can start subtly, using something to numb stress before eating or to quiet anxious thoughts. But over time, these behaviors reinforce each other, creating a cycle that becomes increasingly difficult to break.
Dissociation on Top of Dissociation
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Many substances, including alcohol, marijuana, and ketamine, create a dissociative effect, separating a person from their body and emotions. For someone who already feels disconnected or overwhelmed, that can be appealing. But binge eating can do the same thing. The intense focus on food, the trance-like state during a binge, and the numbness afterward all serve the same purpose: getting away from feelings that feel too big to manage.
For some, the pattern is predictable: use something to dull emotions, then binge to disappear completely. Others use substances afterward to escape the aftermath; the physical discomfort, the shame, and the anxiety. Either way, the result is the same. The more this cycle repeats, the harder it becomes to feel present in your own body. Over time, the ability to listen to hunger cues, trust your body, and regulate emotions naturally starts to erode, making it even more difficult to break free.
The Illusion of Control
Underneath all of this, for many, is trauma. The body may not feel like a safe place to be, making dissociation, whether through food or substances, an understandable coping mechanism. Stillness can feel unbearable. Memories and emotions might feel unmanageable. But the strategies that once provided relief start to take on a life of their own, creating patterns that only reinforce disconnection.
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For those with a history of trauma, substance use and bingeing can serve as attempts to control an unpredictable world. They can offer means of escape from overwhelm. But the escape is momentary, and neither provides true relief. The nervous system remains dysregulated, leaving a person more vulnerable to future triggers and more reliant on these behaviors to cope.
How to Stop the Cycle of Bingeing and Substance Use
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If this all sounds complicated, that’s because it is. Patterns shaped by trauma don’t untangle easily, and finding your way out doesn’t happen overnight. But it also doesn’t have to be something you navigate alone. A skilled professional can help you make sense of these connections so that numbing out isn’t the only way through. Healing requires more than just stopping a behavior; it means learning to feel safe in your body, to process emotions in a way that doesn’t overwhelm you, and to rebuild trust with yourself.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery, but with the right support, it is possible to create new patterns. The goal isn’t just to remove unhealthy coping mechanisms but to develop healthier ones that allow for genuine healing. The first step is recognizing the cycle for what it is, a survival strategy that no longer serves you. The next step is finding the right support to help you step into something better.
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