For those who binge, it can be a crippling and consuming condition that tends to take over their very lives. But the damage doesn't only occur during the eating, but what follows it, as well. Knowing what to do after binge eating is just as crucial as controlling the episodes themselves.
The key here is finding out why the episode happened in the first place. These things happen as a direct result of a certain type of behavior that should not have occurred in the first place. Did the person skip meals? Was it an impulse as a direct response to some bad news? Did they wait too long to eat? Or did they simply choose a favorite weakness of theirs to vent all of their frustrations over?
Regardless of the reasons it needs to be turned into a learning experience. Choose to come up with a positive response to the episode and see how knowing what you know can help to prevent it from happening in the future. This is also a good time to contact a friend or family member that you can brainstorm with. Having someone around to bounce ideas off of will help you see things in a new perspective.
This is also a prime time to take interest in a hobby or pastime that they have been putting off. Being able to channel that emotion into a passion that brings them joy will have a rewarding effect, rather than being downtrodden from it. Some may also find solace in a book, a song, or even a TV show. Anything to lift the spirits and bring the individual from a sense of depression and defeat back to happiness will counteract the ill effects.
Another good way to attack this is to eliminate anything that can become obsessive when eaten. All foods that are high in sugar or carbs are very easy to become addicted to. It often starts out as just a snack and before long the container is empty. Replacing these items with healthier choices will help them to resist the urge to consume the entire package of empty calories.
Even though a person's first reaction about what to do after binge eating is normally to beat themselves up about what just happened, this is clearly not the right mentality to have. The thing to remember here is not to focus on what has occurred, but to cast attention on what needs to occur in the future. This is the only way that a resolution can be found.
