Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and...

[fitfemme85]

Night time binging. What do all of these have in common? Aside from the fact that I have been a slave to all four for the past 2 years, they are all inter-related and perpetuate one another immensly. What began for me as a lot of stress and anxiety led to secretive eating and night-time binging. I would literally wake up in the middle of the night and eat. Making as little noise as possible so that nobody would hear me of course. At first I thought that not getting caiught was part of the thrill, but even after being caught by my parents, my boyfriend, my siblings, and my roomate, I realized it was much deeper than that. Every time I got caught, I though to myself, wow this is definitely it, I can't keep doing this, but then the cycle would repeat itself. I woke up feeling guilty every morning for the past 2 years. I felt awful and became depressed. My binging of course escalated from a couple times a month, to a weekly ordeal and then to a daily one. I think I became depressed because I began gaining weight. Over the course of 2 years I've put on a 5 pounds from this habit. It may not sound like much to a lot of people, but I have a very petite build so every pound definitely shows. I guess I've made my story long enough and the real reason I actually decided to share my story is that for the past two nights I managed to do what I didn't believe was possible anymore. I highly reccommend that anyone suffering from depression, anxiety, or night eating disoprder look into alternative medicine. My arsenal consists of 5-HTP, St. John's Wort and prayer. The SJW takes time to kick in but the 5-HTP works the next day. I just started taking it 3 days ago and for the first time in long time I woke up not feeling guilty and ashamed. Hope this helps at least one person, I know I was searching for answers all the time.

[cs_carver]

The longer I stay on this WOE, the more I discover so much of my overeating is driven by trigger foods. High-fructose corn syrup is killer, even in tiny amounts. It feels like I'm eating from stress, but the fact is, there's something in my physiology making me crazy, too.

[DuPont]

5htp cured my depression, and let me get on with dealing with my problems.

[trisharau]

I suspect coffee might be the culprit in triggering anxiety attacks, increasing stress levels and causing depression in me. I seem to be fine for a few days after drinking one a day (and actually feel great after it!) but after than I get super moody. Has anyone else found that to be the case?

I am thinking of trying St John's Wort.

[frog33]

fitfemme,

I have been doing the same thing that you are doing and it is awful...each time I promise myself that I'm going to get control...and I don't :help: I'm not sure what the answer is, but maybe just coming here and getting it out in the open...recognizing that we need to get help (or help each other) is a good first step?

I'm going to start by clearing my cupboards of trigger food tomorrow....Have you found anything that works for you when you find yourself doing secretive eating? My mom used to hide M&Ms in the bathroom when I was a little girl and I thought she was so ridiculous. She was also obese and I just hated that about her....now I'm doing the same thing. I don't want my daughter to pick up this family curse as well.