Teen Toolkit

Binging

14/1/2021

Binging is a word you hear a lot - we binge on chocolate, fast food, Netflix, social media, alcohol... I know a lot about binging, I used to have an eating disorder. I know for a fact that in most cases, neither binging or completely denying ourselves is good. It's important to have balance in our lives. There is nothing wrong with chocolate, fast food, Netflix or alcohol as long as it is part of a balanced life (and you are over the legal drinking age). But when we have too much of them - it's not good for us.

Often binging is triggered by certain emotions or feelings such as despair, hopelessness, depression, guilt, shame, pain... Ironically, binging usually increases these feelings, rather than relieve them. There are things you can do to stop these binge sessions - get a big dose of fresh air, get out in nature, do some exercise, catch up with a friend, do a meditation exercise, get creative and make something, practise being mindful...

One of the most effective ways of getting our minds off ourselves, our problems and negative feelings is to do something for someone else. Being kind to someone can be a great release valve for those negative emotions. Next time you feel yourself spiralling towards another binge session, do something for someone else - ring or visit a friend (don't just text or message them), make someone a nice card and send it to them, help your mum with the chores, play a board game or computer game with your brother or sister, write positive, encouraging comments on people's social media posts, bake a cake and take it to your neighbour...

It's obviously a bit more complicated than what I've outlined above but next time you feel yourself spiralling out of control and tempted to binge on [insert your favourite binge here], be kind to yourself by being mindful and be kind to someone else. It might not solve all your problems, but it might help.

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