The Ultimate Health Clinics Blog

Insatiable Hunger and Binge Eating Disorder

When Eating Becomes a Problem

 

An eating disorder might seem humorous. Have you ever joked that you could “eat everything on this table?” For some people, though, overeating is no laughing matter. Overeating and binge eating disorders are complex illnesses that can be life-threatening. As a Santa Barbara psychologist, I have seen how they can completely overwhelm patients’ lives and wreak havoc on their bodies.

Although both issues are generally labeled as eating disorders, there are some differences between insatiable hunger and binge eating disorder. With insatiable hunger, patients feel like they are always hungry, no matter how recently or how much food they have eaten. Although there may be some type of physical cause for this feeling, it can also stem from anxiety. It could be based on feelings of low self-esteem, or might represent insatiable needs which were not met by parents or significant others. Therapy for anxiety can often uncover these underlying causes and alleviate the feeling of continual hunger. 

According to The Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders, a binge eating disorder usually involves periodic occasions where sufferers will go on an eating binge and consume a large quantity of food in a short period of time. They feel like they have no control over their actions. Sufferers continue taking in food until they are uncomfortably full, and do not take any voluntary steps to purge the food from their bodies. Binge eating may be used as a means of hiding from emotions, filling a void inside, or coping with stresses and problems. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), it can manifest with a sense of depression about the overall situation and loss of control. Depression counselingmay be one step in understanding why these patients feel so sad that they look to unhealthy eating habits for comfort. 

In either case, long-term afflictions with the disorder can lead to serious health issues. The patient will likely be overweight and may suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, and other diseases associated with overeating. For these sufferers, it is not as simple as going on a diet or working with a nutritionist to learn about healthy eating habits. They may need to see a psychologist for depression in order to work through their feelings of despair and to understand the unhealthy role food is playing in their lives. 

Understanding Insatiable Hunger and Binge Eating Disorder

 

It can be difficult to accept the fact that you no longer have a healthy relationship with food. You may try to forget any episodes of unhealthy eating, and may attempt to hide any evidence. You may push away others who try to show concern or offer help. The first step in overcoming any type of disorder is realizing that you are acting in a way that is not healthy for your mind or your body. Some questions which might help determine if you or someone you love are dealing with insatiable hunger or a binge eating disorder include: 

• Do you recognize when you are full and are you capable of stopping eating?
• Do you feel like you are always hungry, even after a physician has ruled out any possible medical causes?
• Do you often eat more in comparison to others at the same meal?
• Do you try to hide your eating, or evidence of how much you have eaten?
• What are your eating habits like now compared to what they were a year or two ago?
• How much food do you eat in a typical day?
• Have your sleep patterns been interrupted by your eating habits?
• How quickly do you eat?
• How do you feel emotionally about the way you eat?
• Have your eating habits affected your relationships with others?
• To what extent is your life controlled by your eating?
• Do you have secret “stashes” of food in various locations?

Your answers to these questions don’t necessarily indicate that you have an eating disorder, but they provide helpful guidelines. If you think there is cause for concern, it is always best to check with a medical doctor and a Santa Barbara therapist to confirm your suspicions. 

Overcoming an Insatiable Hunger or Binge Eating Disorder

The first thing to understand if you think you are dealing with an eating disorder is that you are not alone. There are many people in situations similar to yours, many people who can help you, and many people that love you. When you come to me for help withmanaging anxiety and/or your eating disorder I spend time getting to know you so we can explore the emotional roots of your condition together. 

In addition to psychotherapy, I may recommend a consultation with your medical doctor to discussantidepressants or other medication to help you deal with the emotional turmoil you are experiencing. It may also be helpful to seek alternative therapies to relieve stress and tension. The Deep Tissue Massage Center specializes in Therapeutic Deep Tissue Massage which promotes full body stress relief, healthy function of muscle tissues, and speeds recovery. Points of Health Acupuncture helps you rejuvenate, relax, balance, and heal. Together we’ll help you regain control of your life. 

If you feel you are being controlled by insatiable hunger or a binge eating disorder, contact my office immediately to set up a session, and let me help you find a path to a better life. 

Dr. Adina McGarr-Knabke

The Santa Barbara Therapist

 

About MySantaBarbaraTherapy.com: If you feel you need therapy for depressionto help you overcome an insatiable hunger or binge eating disorder, consider setting an appointment with Dr. Adina McGarr-Knabke, the Santa Barbara Therapist. The doctor provides counseling for anxiety to help patients deal with many types ofeating disorders. The office, which is located at 1187 Coast Village Rd., Suite 10P in Santa Barbara, also provides alcoholism and addiction treatment services. Visit the website at http://mysantabarbaratherapy.com to find links for more information regarding binge eating. “Like” the Facebook page to receive updates, tips, and information on managing anxiety and sustaining good mental health. Appointments to see the psychologist for anxiety and other mental issues may be made online or by calling 818-518-6775.

 

 

CAN CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIES HAVE A SAFE HALLOWEEN?

Happy Halloween from Riviera Allergy Medical Center!

It is that time of year when kids dress up in costumes and go door-to-door collecting candy. There can be a lot of fun and excitement associated with trick-or-treating, but parents whose children have allergies need to keep a wary eye out for allergens that could cause an allergic reaction.

More chocolates and sweets are sold during the week of Halloween than in any other week of the year. Some of the favorites to hand out include those that are loaded with nuts, wheat, eggs and other ingredients that can turn a day of fun into a night of asthma and allergy problems.

At Riviera Allergy Medical Center we want all of our patients to have a safe and happy Halloween. We provide allergy testing that will help determine the specific types of food allergies that are affecting your child. Our center offers the benefits of allergy shots and top allergy medications to help fight the debilitating effects of allergic reactions. Ask us about the latest in food allergy remedies so that your child can get out there and start trick-or-treating again.

Dr. Ulrike Ziegner and the staff of Riviera Allergy Medical Center

Can Children with Allergies Have a Safe Halloween?

As parents, we never want to tell our children that there is something they cannot do, especially when it comes to something fun like collecting candy. Younger children may not understand the negative consequences that can be associated with their food allergies. Here are some tips from the Riviera Allergy Medical Center that might help ensure a safe and healthy Halloween:

• Have an allergy test: Don’t just guess at the type of allergy your child may have. An allergy test is a fast and simple way to narrow down specific allergens. Once we know for sure what your child reacts to, we can develop an allergy treatment plan.
• The school Halloween party: Your child’s teacher and school nurse should already be aware of any allergies, but other parents might not. If possible, volunteer to provide safe snacks for your child, or at least offer to help with the party so you can monitor your child’s intake.
• Trick-or-treating: You might decide to hold an alternative event, such as a scary movie night, scavenger hunt, or backyard party in place of going out. Get together with other parents of children with allergies and hold an allergen-free event. If you do take your children around the neighborhood, be sure to carry any emergency medications with you, such as an EpiPen. If you control the houses you visit, you can drop off special treats in advance. Be sure that your children don’t eat any treats before you check everything to make sure it is safe. Trade allergen-free treats for unsafe candy when you get home so your child won’t feel like he or she is missing out on quantity.
• Be aware of “fun” sizes: Smaller or “fun-sized” candy may contain different ingredients than the regular-sized versions. Always read the ingredients list and be very careful of what you allow your child to eat. Don’t allow your child to eat anything that is unlabeled.
• Buy specialty items: Zenfully Delicious offers a list of allergy and gluten-free Halloween treats such as Divvies, Bug Bites, Yummy Earth Lollipops, and Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks. Non-candy fun might include stickers, Glo-sticks, Halloween pencils, or magnets.
• Look for the “teal pumpkin”: The Food Allergy Research & Education organization is encouraging people to place a teal-painted pumpkin outside their door if they’re offering non-food treats, such as small toys, stickers and crayons.

 

 

Here are some Halloween question and answers for you from your allergy doctor, Dr. Ulrike Ziegner:

• How likely is it that my child really does have a food allergy?During the past decade, there has been an 18 percent surge in the number of children with food allergies, according to the Loyola University Health System. Your child could be one of the 6-8 percent of children who currently have at least one food allergy. The top allergy foods include milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.

• What should I do if my child experiences an allergic reaction? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported that food allergies result in more than 300,000 ambulatory-care visits a year among children under 18. Once a reaction does start, epinephrine is usually the first line of defense, if this medication has been prescribed for your specific allergy situation. After the injection, you should still seek emergency medical attention.

• Are there remedies for allergies? Allergy care is changing all of the time, and your child’s sensitivities may even change as he or she grows older. Visit our website and download our complimentary guide, “Be Allergy-Free With Dr. Z.”

Halloween Events in Redondo Beach, CA 

• Trick-or-Treating: The Riviera Village in Redondo Beach welcomes those families looking to score some solid trick or treating space. Ghosts and goblins will mix with princesses and super heroes as Riviera Village hosts the annual Halloween Trick or Treat on Friday, October 31st. Catalina Avenue will be closed to traffic from Avenue I to Palos Verdes Blvd., and the shops will hand out candy and treats from 4 to 6 pm.
• Visit the South Bay Galleria Pumpkin Patch: Open through October 31 on Kingsdale Avenue.
• Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum Pumpkin Patch: Come out for a fun filled afternoon on Saturday, October 25 from 1-3pm when the Rancho is turned into a pumpkin patch. Pick a pumpkin and decorate it. Get spooky with paint, pens, stickers and more. Other fun contests include: pumpkin seed spitting contest, pie eating contest, and costume parade. 18127 S. Alameda St., Rancho Dominguez.
• Halloween Carnival & Costume Contest: Lomita Parks and Recreation Department hosts a costume contest and carnival on Friday October 31 from 6-8pm at Lomita Park, 24428 Eshelman Avenue. Prize categories include Prettiest, Funniest, Most Original, Judge’s Pick, and Scariest. There will be game booths and a balloonist.

We hope you have a safe and Happy Halloween.

Sincerely,

Dr. Z and Staff

1711 Via El Prado, Suite 101
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Phone: 310.792.9050
Fax: 310.792.9048
http://www.rivieraallergy.com