I don’t anger easily, but when I read that Binge Eating Disorder is an official illness and the “new” disorder of the year, I flipped.
Binge Eating Disorder is now listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
This means that insurance companies can now cover the cost of treatment which is a good thing. Hopefully more people who suffer from Binge Eating Disorder will seek help.
It also means that drug companies now have a new market to make tons of money off of medications.
It also means that more medications can be improperly prescribed and cause unnecessary negative side effects – including addiction.
This is why I’m so furious.
WHAT IS BINGE EATING DISORDER?
Consuming an abnormally large amount of foods in a short period of time is one of the symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder. Other symptoms are familiar to those who experience mindless eating and emotional eating:
- Eating until uncomfortably full
- Eating large amounts of food when not hungry
- Being very upset about binge eating
And the common triggers for Binge Eating Disorder are:
- Negative emotions
- Interpersonal stressors
- Dietary restraint
- Feeling bad about body weight, body shape, and food
- Feeling bored
MEDICATION FOR BINGE EATING DISORDER
Yes! We have a new drug for you! Call and ask your doctor to prescribe it! Woo Hoo!
It’s called Vyvanese. It’s a central nervous system stimulant. It affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.
No need to find new ways to reduce those pesky common triggers. Let the drugs do it for you!
(It’s been used for children with ADHD for years.)
According to the Vyvanese website there are a few side effects you should know about though:
– Sudden death (it will only happen once, so no worries), stroke
– Increase in blood pressure
– Psychotic or manic symptoms in patients with no prior history
– Most common side effects: dry mouth, decreased appetite, insomnia, constipation, and anxiety
THE BIG PROBLEM?
Unless you find ways to handle the underlying cause of overeating, you are doomed to remain addicted to eating.
Kind of like the monster under the bed. It won’t disappear just because you swallow a pill.
If you choose to take the medication, then you also add the possibility of becoming addicted to the drug, among other nasty side effects.
Which will you choose?
Down off my soapbox now.
What are your thoughts? Please share them below.
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