Nighttime Eating - Finding Patterns and Getting to Solutions

We've been discussing the problem of nighttime eating, and NES (Nighttime Eating Syndrome) several times in the last couple of weeks here.  It seems a lot of us experience this. I read and really appreciate your comments. It's good to know that we are not alone.  This new blog is highly interactive - keep writing and we'll all keep sharing and interacting.

I too struggle with night eating from time-to-time.  It's a valid concern, and if habitual or extreme, a problem that needs a solution.  Help is on the way.  I want to assure you that nighttime eating, while seemingly a very difficult problem, is certainly something that can go away, or be managed.  All we need to do is to understand why it is happening, feed the underlying problem (instead of symptomatically trying to overeat it away), and accept the peace and comfort we need from God, from each other, and by making an effort to live a fully satisfying, full life.

Reading through what people posted, I find a few patterns, and I think you may too.  

First, I see that there are some medical conditions or diseases (dis-ease = ill at ease or lack of ease) going on in our group.  One person (they didn't write their name) said that they have GERD, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or acid reflux, and are on medication.  That person also wrote they have hot chocolate to be comforted.  From my own experience with GERD (which I had but it has since been cured without medication - I'll write about that soon) chocolate was something that triggered it!  It was high on a list of foods my physician gave me that make it worse, or even caused it.  The sugar also revs up energy, which could be keeping you up. They further write they listen to a prayer tape "and that helps."  Wonderful - keep it up.  I ask you, what childhood or past memories of comfort does hot chocolate offer?

J.C. wrote she/he takes "a common sleeping pill due to severe depression and insomnia."  The pill causes J.C. to get up and binge, without her/his knowledge.  J.C. is very upset about it, using the word desperate, calling out for help.  I feel great empathy for you; this medication sounds as if it may be compounding your problems, perhaps speak to your M.D.  Another commenter also is experiencing depression and is on medication for it, writing that they just graduated from nursing school but cannot find a job: "anger, depression, and the fact that my Dad has cancer is overwhelming right now."   Makes sense sleep would be a problem, of course, you have tons of stress and good reason to be very anxious and depressed.  Sounds to me like the solution is to do what you're doing - taking action to find a job, and helping your Dad as best you can - but perhaps to ask God for help in trying some slightly different approaches.  You're a nurse, first of all you may need to nurse yourself, find ways of comfort that don't have such negative side effects.  Also, look for work in allied nursing fields: home care, working with children, doctor's offices, walk-in immediate care clinics, rehab, etc.  I believe you CAN find a job, do you believe you can?

Ella writes she has diabetes, and can't give up sweets, "I love my candy, cookies, peanut butter & jelly."  She doesn't want to ask God for help with this, but will for other things.  Sounds to me like you want sweetness in your life, and who doesn't?  Get some sweetness in other ways.  Try what another commenter wrote: "For weeks I have quit by just saying the serenity prayer and telling my husband to hold me till the urge goes away."  Another "Your Name" writer said to Ella, "maybe the reason you don't get to sleep until 2 or 3 in the morning is because you eat lots of sugar and your body has that extra energy and wants to burn it off before sleeping."  That may be true.  So either eat way less sugar (like a small amount of unsweetened apple or peach sauce, or raisins) OR do something with that energy - dance, yoga, read a whole book, etc.  There are infinite ways to get sweetness in your life: call a friend and trade confessions (tell them your problems, and listen to theirs each night).  Do a 30-minute meditation, keeping a list of worries, problems, fears, tensions, anxieties, etc. and then get on your knees and offer this list to God.  Put it in God's hands, and feel the love you have for God, and then ask for the ability to receive God's love and let you sleep.  Know you are bathed in God's love, and fully rest assured.

Yet another "Your Name" said, and I so love this, "I make a conscious decision to just be in God's presence. I ask Him to help me stay with Him, and push any other thoughts out of my mind. Very soon I am relaxed and at peace, and I always fall asleep."  I know this is true.

I cannot comment on everyone's comments, unfortunately, but I read everyone's and others do too - so please keep posting.  Those patterns?  Do you see what I see?  First, medical conditions do have something to do with this, of course, and require medical attention.  I cannot address those, as I am not a medical doctor, I am a God doctor! (I am a theologian).  I find that many of these comments are about the need for COMFORT.  The habits (yes, habits) are possibly all seeking ways to get assurance, comfort, and true satisfaction.  Another big pattern I see is that many people say they BELIEVE they CANNOT change.  If you believe it impossible, it is impossible.  Believe all things are possible with God, and they are possible.

Some answers for the moment (not THE answer necessarily, but ideas to try):
 

(1) Find ways to comfort yourself without negative side effects: get hugs and holding, confide and confess what's troubling you, prayer and meditation, sleep tapes.  (Please post some of your ways of positive comforts).
(2) Make an effort to not feed yourself too much energy from food before sleep; in other words, do anything possible to get off a sugar addiction.
(3) Avoid foods that give you problems, or make you feel bad or too energetic.  
(4) Dig under the symptoms: discover what's really giving you worry and anxiety and keeping you up at night, and then make a plan with an adviser or trusted friend, ask for God's help and take little actions on it daily, fully believing that things are getting better.
(5) Finally, the most important, realize that what is keeping you up at night, and causing night eating, are externals: situations, problems, past memories, future fears and worries.  What may help is to find love and true satisfaction internally - by knowing deep, deep down that God is within you at the core of your Being.  Just "be still and know" over and over again.  Then, take refuge and joy in the comfort of His mighty arms and infinite love, always.

Several of us wrote that they'd lost quite a bit of weight after mitigating or ending night eating.  Just that one change made a big difference.  Sadly, it didn't keep going.  So try and try again, this time doing a few little things differently, and putting God at the center of your life.

I will write more about this as time goes by, so please post and return often!