Do GPs deal with compulsive overeating?

Nicki

And don't worry OP. Every mental health professional I have ever encountered has been a lot pleasanter and more balanced than Ems.

onlyroz

I was basically going to say what Person_One said - it is your GP's job to either deal with your problems themselves if they can or to refer you to the relevant specialist. I think this is normally the case even if you wished to seek private treatment. No GP would ever laugh you out of the surgery no matter what problem you went to them with.

Counting_Pennies_2

I know only too well what it is like, and it has plagued me on and off for a good 20 years.


I had anorexia when I was in my mid teens, then I was pumped up by a hospital and left to it.


Never dealing with the issues.


I got myself in a form of normality in my early 20s.


Since then through unhappiness in life I have eaten.


I would say see a dietician if you want advice on the best foods to eat. But I wonder if you know that already.


Yes you could see your GP, but their service is very limited (a sticking plaster at best)


I would say look to sort out the root cause. What is it in life that is making you unhappy. Is it the current situation of life you see yourself in. Your relationship, your work, your past. What is it that is holding you back, stopping you being happy.


I would personally recommend counselling, and with the NHS you will likely have several months waiting and then just be given 6 weeks to cure all (which for a deep rooted issue, this is hard to do) So you might need to look at paying for counselling yourself.


I wish you all the best.


Personally, I don't think you ever get over an eating disorder. I do believe it is linked with mental health. The plan would be to get it under control and understand the emotional triggers. There is not a day that goes by without it affecting my thoughts and decisions. But really if people were honest, many people do need to think about what they are eating, and the battle with that chocolate bar, crisps, extra plateful of something. I think it is probably the case with someone with an eating disorder we take it to an extreme!


Wishing you well

Sniggle_2

I am in exactly the same situation.
I am diagnosed with PTSD and BPD.
Over the last 6 months my weight has ballooned. I just can't stop eating. Every time the word diet is mentioned either out loud or in my head, I go into panic mode. It's like I feel I will never eat again, so I binge eat. I even hide food in the house in case I ever run out.
I'm sick of it and really need to lose weight. Like the op said, I KNOW I'm overweight, I KNOW I need to diet, I WANT to lose weight, but my head won't let me

AliBee16

I'm in the same situation as well, so would be interested in how you get on, Heartbreak Star. I

I have found one book to be helpful; Gillian Riley's book
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eating-Less-Say-Goodbye-Overeating/dp/0091902479
and the latest Paul McKenna one about emotional eating.
I cannot diet, I have tried so many over the years. I have also wondered if counselling might help, and if it is available on the NHS. I personally believe this affects many more people than is realised and the sooner this is accepted, the sooner overweight people will be able to get proper help, and not told simply what to eat.
Good luck

WantToBeSE

heartbreak_star wrote: »

This is probably a very odd thing to ask - especially in light of some recent threads - so please be kind to me. I am at my wit's end with this, and have been in tears over it.

I am an ex-bulimic, and am trying to face up to the fact I am quite likely to now be a compulsive overeater. I use food as a comfort, a shield, an emotion-nullifier...everything. I have managed to remain a size 14 through sheer hard work at the gym. I admit I eat in secret, and I admit I eat food I don't even want because it makes me feel numb, like a drug.

For those of you who will inevitably say "just go on a diet" it's not quite that easy. I know I'm fat. I hate that I'm fat. I hate the compulsion to stuff my face. I hate myself altogether. I can trace part of it back to the fact my mum always made big meals and encouraged me to eat, but then said I was fat all the time.

Sooo...my question is this. Is it worth me making an appointment with my GP to discuss this, or will I be laughed all the way to the dietician? Or does anyone know of anywhere else that could help me out a little?

I really want to sort this, and believe that I deserve to be healthy and happy.

Mods, if this is too close to asking for medical help, please delete.

HBS x

Hi HBS.

I too am an ex-bulimic (and ex-anorexic before that) and have had periods of being what I thought was a COE (compulsive over eater). Do you mind me asking how long this (the over eating) has been going on for?
I am wondering if you are actually still bulimic, but using exercise as the purge part of your eating disorder, instead of the vomiting?
I hope you don't mind me asking?

Beat (the link given by person_one earlier on) is a great place to start with getting support.

Did you have any psychotherapy to deal with the underlying reason behind your Bulimia?

Yes- you definitely need to go and see your GP. COE is every bit as life threatening as AN or BN, maybe even more so as the symptoms are largely ignored.
Not wanting to put you off, but SOME GP's don't take any eating disorders 'seriously' unless you are emaciated- totally wrong I know, but happens quite commonly as GPs don't have much training in MH, especially EDs.
Prepare for him/her to not take your illness seriously. Go armed with everything you can to support your diagnoses.

Good luck and keep us updated if you can.x.

RuthnJasper

Person_one wrote: »

Nothing ridiculous at all about recognising when you're struggling and you need a bit of help! Its the opposite of ridiculous in fact.

Echoing this and Nicki's post re. Ems-nil-yo. You have a problem; that is NOTHING to be ashamed of and you are seeking help, which shows great strength of character.

I too have issues, which I dreaded going to my GP about when it all finally came to a head in 2001 but now, with the benefit of hindsight, I am so glad I took the leap and admitted I needed help. Had I not done that I'm fairly sure I wouldn't be here today.
H-S - you deserve to live a happy life, please do go to the GP and I hope they'll be able to assist and/or refer you on to a specialist team.

When I was under a psychiatrist at the hospital (having been referred by my GP), my CPN worked through cognitive behavioural therapy steps with me and I found it incredibly helpful. Obviously different approaches suit different people, but I found it so useful in helping to understand why I was affected by things the way I was and it certainly helped me to learn that I was not a freak or a nut. One of the books I worked through with my CPN is still available on Amazon - here's a link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Overcoming-Depression-Cognitive-Behavioural-Techniques/dp/1849010668/ref=sr_1_20?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397761164&sr=1-20&keywords=cognitive+behavioural+therapy

I sincerely wish you all the very best. You will get there - even if it doesn't seem like it at the moment. Keep us posted on how you get on, OK (if you want to)?

R xx

barbiedoll

I can't recall ever having to report a post but I have reported Ems posts because they are inflammatory and scaremongering.

Issue and/or illness, it's irrelevant to OP, she just asked for opinions. She doesn't need to be told to see a medical professional "immediately" (probably not a good idea on a Bank Holiday!) and from what I've seen/read of HBS's other posts, she sounds like a very sensible and normal individual.

HBS, do see your GP (not necessarily "immediately" lol!) and ask for a referral to a dietician if you think that is what you need. If you don't get any joy from your GP, see a different one at your practice. You have nothing to be ashamed of or embarassed about, and your GP will have seen it all before.

Good luck with whatever you decide, keep us posted.

Indie_Kid

I don't really have anything useful to add - but GPs have seen this all before.

Take care and hope all goes well.

southoftheriver

Well done for being brave enough to post, seeing your GP is just the next step. You're aren't being silly to feel like this.

Good luck with everything, and be kind to yourself.