I have struggled with binge eating for most of my life. I have spent the past few years really trying to overcome it. For a long time I thought the answer was to diet and hope the urges to binge would just disappear. I struggle the most with binge eating at night. After dinner I begin to relax, then I'm hit with an urge to binge. It's like a light switch being turned on, a flicker of joy. An impulsive inclination to go and eat. My binges last several hours. I lay in bed watching TV, stuffing food into my mouth in a zombie like trance. It feels comforting. I have found that my binge eating is linked to my sleeping patterns. I have a terrible time falling and staying asleep. I've taken OTC remedies, refusing to take prescription sleep aids because of the scary side effects that come along with them. Binge eating lulls me to sleep like nothing else! I feel so comfortable from my carbohydrate over dose. I have been trying to find ways to avoid binge eating and manage to get some sleep. I have been taking Melatonin for a while. It seems to help me to fall asleep, but I still wake up several times throughout the evening. Each time I do I get an urge to binge, as I know it will afford me a restful night. In addition to dealing with binge eating I also deal with nicotine addiction. I quit smoking about 3 years ago. I have smoked here and there, but have relied heavily on NRT. I use nicotine lozenges almost constantly. I haven't been able to give them up because of my binge eating. I feel like if I give up both simultaneously that I will have a nervous break down! So here I am trying to really put up a fight to recover from my binge eating. I'm not really keen on the idea of going to therapy and paying someone $100s to pretend to care. Maybe they do, I'm naturally a mistrusting person who doesn't really like to talk in person . This forum seems interesting. So I'm willing to give it a try. Perhaps I will find a fresh perspective. Some new ideas to throw in the mix to help me recover. Also maybe give someone some advice or support that will help them.