Here are some questions to consider if you are trying to change behaviors around eating habits and may need some additional help getting at the core of the problem. These questions may also help you determine if severe or extreme eating habits are related to extreme distress, painful emotions, or other psychological difficulties:
Is your eating behavior is a way to prove a point, get back at, or communicate something to someone or yourself? Is it a way to self-validate, keep a secret, empower you, or to protect you in some way? Does it prevent or block others from getting too close or getting to know you?
Does your eating behavior have anything to do with preventing feeling? Does it have a numbing effect? Does it block, thwart, or get rid of feelings? Or does it release strong, intense, or unwanted feelings?
Does eating large quantities of food soothe, take care of, provide, or fulfill psychological desires? Does it fulfill emptiness, loneliness, or aching? Do your eating habits have an immediate impact in reducing intense psychological distress or anxiety?
Do you have difficulty tolerating fullness, satisfaction, or contentment? Do you feel guilty if you feel “good”? Is feeling empty/full equated with punishment or success?
Does digesting food have anything to do with digesting your emotion? If you have a tendency to get rid of food through self-induced vomiting or other compensatory mechanisms, what would it mean to you feel full, digest food, or keep what you’ve eaten?
If you were to be completely honest with your eating habits, what would you have to risk? What would be the cost/ benefit of sharing this with someone who wouldn’t judge or blame you?