1. Learn How to Cope with Your Emotions
People often binge eat to suppress difficult emotions, so finding a new way to cope with these emotions is important. Some activities you may want to consider include exercising, yoga, taking up a new hobby, calling a friend, writing in a journal, or anything else that will help you through emotional periods. Once you are able to cope with difficult emotions in healthier ways, you may find that you are better able to stop binge eating.
2. Find Your Triggers and Try to Avoid Them
Try to avoid places or activities that may trigger you to binge eat. If you find you binge eat more while watching TV, limit your TV viewing time. If you tend to binge eat in bed, make it a personal rule that you can no longer eat in bed. If you remove yourself from the places and situations that can trigger you to binge eat, you are less likely to do so.
3. Recognize when Binge Eating is a Problem
Admit when you can't stop binge eating on your own and when it is time to seek outside help. It may be beneficial for you to begin psychotherapy. A psychotherapist can help you in determining the reasons why you binge eat as well as provide you with the tools you need to better cope with difficult emotions.
4. Get to the Root of the Problem
It may be recommended that you begin taking medications to stop binge eating. While there are currently no medications that are specifically for binge eating, medications can be prescribed to treat any underlying conditions that may be causing you to binge eat, such as depression or anxiety. Treating these conditions may help you to stop binge eating.
5. Seek Out Specialized Weight Loss Programs
Behavioral weight-loss programs can help you to stop binge eating while working on the issues that cause you to binge eat. These programs are conducted under the supervision of health care professionals. Other types of weight loss programs may not be effective in helping you stop binge eating because they do not deal with the issues that trigger the binge eating.
6. Ask for Help
There are self-help books, videos and support groups that may be effective in helping you to stop binge eating. These resources may be used on their own or in conjunction with psychotherapy.