Ep 71- Giving Up the High of a Binge
June 19, 2025
Is binge eating your brain’s way of chasing a “high”?
Today on the Become a Confident Eater Podcast, I break down the emotional rollercoaster of binge eating—from the initial rush to the crushing low—and why letting go of this toxic high is key to food freedom.
You’ll learn..
Where the high of the binge comes from
The hidden cost of the emotional low that follows
How to find new highs that feel good before, during, and after
What to do if food feels like the only exciting thing in your day
The High That Starts The Binge
Binge eating often begins with a high. You give in to the urge. Food hits your tongue. There is a rush of energy and pleasure. Sugar and refined carbs spike dopamine so your survival brain thinks this is good and wants more. Emotionally it feels buzzy and intense. Mentally it can feel like a haze where you are numb to stress and tucked inside a private bubble with you and the food.
The Low That Always Follows
The high is not the end of the story. If it were you would have no reason to stop. After the peak comes a deep low. Guilt and shame can flood in even during the binge. When it ends you see the wrappers. Your stomach hurts. Bloated. Foggy. Sluggish. Thoughts spiral. Why did I do that. How do I make up for it. The longer after the binge the heavier the low. The high is brief. The low lingers for hours days and even years as the habit repeats.
Why Your Brain Chases The Rollercoaster
Sometimes life feels stressful. Sometimes it feels boring and dull. The high and low of a binge can seem like drama and excitement inside Groundhog Day. Your brain starts to crave the buildup the sneaking the rush the shame and then the promise to be better tomorrow. It is like a toxic relationship. Intermittent highs keep you hooked even though the relationship hurts you.
See The High For What It Is
To stop binge eating you must see that the binge is not giving you pleasure you actually want. It is chaos pretending to be fun. Ask the question you would use in any relationship. Is this bringing me more happiness or more pain. Be honest. Most of the time the answer is pain.
Your brain can mistake emotional intensity for emotional aliveness. Stimulation is not fulfillment. Big swings do not equal a meaningful life.
Grieving The Drama And Choosing Calm
When you heal the binge cycle you give up the high highs and you also lose the low lows. What remains is steady calm. If your nervous system is used to chaos calm might feel empty at first. That does not mean it is wrong. You are retraining your brain that safety and ease are allowed.
Real fun and pleasure are slower safer and sustainable. Just like a healthy relationship they are soft kind supportive and nourishing.
New Highs That Feel Good Before During And After
You can create a better high than any binge ever gave you. The first high is not bingeing itself. Leaving food behind. Feeling lighter and energized. Watching your confidence grow. If I could conquer binge eating what else can I do.
Make your own list and notice options that feel good before during and after
movement that lifts your mood like a long walk a hike dancing or a run
deep time with a best friend laughing or sharing honestly and feeling seen
organizing a space and admiring the calm it creates
reading a great book
airport energy and the thrill of travel
meaningful wins at work or at home
moments of pride as a parent partner or friend
If life feels dull use it as information. Set goals that stretch you. Your binge recovery can be one of those goals. Let the journey bring natural highs and occasional lows that actually move you forward.
You do not have to settle for a life that is numb. You have free will. If you wake up and do not like the direction you can change it. You are one thought and one decision away from a different day.
The Bottom Line
The binge high is a false high. The low is real and costly. Practice showing your brain the full picture so it releases the urge to chase short spikes and chooses steady well being instead.
Ready To Trade The Binge High For Real Peace
If food feels like the only exciting thing in your day I can help you build better highs and a calmer relationship with eating. In the Confident Eater Program we break the binge cycle step by step, retrain your brain, and make eating feel simple again so you can enjoy food without guilt or fear. If that sounds like the change you want, book a consultation and let’s get you feeling like a natural eater.