Binge Eating: When Shame and Secrecy Hold Too Much Power

Why do people binge when they feel shame? Because shame feels terrible! Shame is sometimes described as a "punch in the gut" or a heart-wrenching feeling — and bingeing works to temporarily take away these negative feelings. Early childhood memories of feeling shamed about the way your body looks or your relationship to food can trigger ongoing shame in adulthood. This could perhaps also lead to eating disorder behaviors.