Sometimes it does seem like the food takes on a life of it's own. My daughter is an addict..she has had problems with drugs and alcohol for years..I have to look at the issues I have with food are exactly the same as the ones that she has to deal with. I do not have to eat every time my stomach says that i do. She does not have to use the drugs and alcohol either. I had heard the phrase "food addiction" before but never really understood until I had to deal with it myself. It might sound overly simple but my sister has a phrase that helps me.."One needs to eat to live...not live to eat." If I expect my daughter to stay "clean" and not abuse, how can I expect less of myself..The people here are great..don't hesitate to ask for help..prayers are with you...hope we can talk some time...cindy

I have a food journal and i write down everything I eat, when I eat it. Even if it is just a cup of coffee, i write it down. It helps me hold my self accountable for what i have consumed.
This doesn't make the craving for food go away, but it helps.
I also try to do a little bit of low impact exercise like Tai Chi, Yoga or I just get out of my environment and walk. Try to do anything you can do to avoid eating when your not hungry. I find that a distraction is best for me. Good luck to you!

you are not alone in your assessment. I could NEVER do what you are doing willow. the dr wants me to do that and it's all i can do to keep with it for a couple weeks before I feel deprived and punished. I hate this addiction.

I am an acupuncture student in Hawaii, and I a former cancer and eating disorder survivor! One of the most useful healing traditions is Chinese medicine, which has been treating illness for thousands of years and includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation, and massage. I must stress how important herbal medicine is in overcoming food addiction. There are herbal remedies for food addiction and disorders that have been researched and used for thousands of years in China. If you see a licensed acupuncturist/herbalist, they will prescribe a formula that is specific to your condition and your makeup (don't go to the store and buy random herbs, it may be harmful or ineffective). In addition to standard therapies, Chinese medicine, especially acupuncture, is invaluable because it uniquely addresses the emotional and physical discomforts of various eating disorders.

The medical complications of eating disorders compromise multiple body systems, including the cardiac, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems. Resulting problems can include everything from headaches to infertility. The medical problems creating by eating disorders can be life threatening (which is why eating disorders require Western evaluation and treatment). Even those dysfunctions that are not life threatening, however, are uncomfortable and can seriously interfere with efforts to recover.

Primary examples of this are those symptoms associated with the digestive system, one of the most disrupted systems of the body. Depending on the specific eating disorder, symptoms of this disruption may include abdominal bloating, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and acid reflux. All of these problems make efforts to resume healthy and normalized eating more difficult and are impediments to the recovery of full health.

Acupuncture has a history of effectively addressing the above symptoms, easing the distress of recovery until the body functions effectively by itself. According to Chinese medical theory, all of these complaints result from damage done to the organs and meridians of digestion. Treatment is aimed at restoring proper energetic flow and function. Through this rebalancing, acupuncture addresses symptoms such as abdominal bloating, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and reflux. Acupuncture treats both acute and chronic complaints, and rebalancing the bodys energy can help prevent future dysfunction.

Besides physical complaints, emotional tendencies and imbalances are intimately involved as both causes and effects of eating disorders. The mental and emotional distress associated with eating disorders can be agonizing, and whether emotions and mood cause or maintain an eating disorder is not always entirely clear. Complaints include depression, anxiety, obsessive symptoms, insomnia, social withdrawal, irritability, and impulsivity.

Given the emotional nature of these disorders, therapies that ease distressed moods and calm agitation are invaluable. A feeling of mental and physical relaxation is often the first effect of acupuncture a patient notices, and this reduction in stress can offer a reprieve from the constant and exhausting voice of the eating disorder in a distinctly different way from other therapies. By rebalancing the bodys energy, acupuncture decreases mental and emotional agitation and allows a return to a natural state of balance. This has profound implications for how an individual is able to navigate everyday situations, making recovery more comfortable and thorough.

I hope you look into acupuncture or herbal medicine as an alternative - may you be happy and healthy!

I know exactly how you feel. I have been bingeing for almost 3 years and I feel so out of control. Just believe in yourself. I know it is hard but you can overcome this.