Night eating syndrome, an eating/sleeping disorder that is still being pushed and pulled upon to determine where it belongs in the DSMV can lurk in the background once the night eater gains control of the chronic habit and stops the practice of waking and immediately choosing white flour/white sugar types of food to binge upon. There is a conscious knowledge of the habit most of the time, but in those who are so sleep deprived, there can be merely a fleeting memory of initially waking up without remembering the attached bingeing behaviors.

Personally, I was free of night eating for almost seven years until recently when my attached disorders began to be triggered into action. Eating disorders are commonly attached to depression, but can and oftentimes are also attached to anxiety disorders and depression. A long line of untreated mental illnesses that breed newly attached disorders is quite normal and happens quite often.

Being diagnosed seven years ago with post traumatic stress disorder, depression and night eating syndrome - I began vigilently studying these disorders to understand them thoroughly and have found that being in control of ones' self is of the utmost importance. All lifestyle factors - diet, exercise, sleep, and relaxation techniques enter into that control factor.

Having post traumatic stress disorder, though, after being triggered by a very difficult trigger in which I have difficulty controlling my symptoms with - leads to a trigger to avoidance behaviors which are my worst symptom, then depression and finally now my eating disorder which is night eating.

This has caused me to take a look at my medications, treatment plan and thwarting avoidance behaviors. Avoidance behaviors will kill your treatment plan almost every time so you must learn about yourself and your tendencies as well as possible so you can see what is going on in your brain.

While night eating for the first time in seven years has returned as I awoke the other night with several animal crackers in my mouth and several on the pillow next to me - I must be vigilent to stop this habit by ridding the house of any foods I might be tempted to eat and staying aware and mindful at the initial wake up point that I must stay in bed. My husband is a great helper with this because he can wake up upon my waking and sitting up in bed to tell me to lay back down.

Don't lose hope. I do suggest that you go to a sleep clinic to have a study done. Sleep apnea is ever present in many night eaters and can be a key through a CPAP machine to getting better quality sleep at night so as to not be so sleep deprived thus more out of control of your situation.

Visit my website, "night eating" for more information concerning night eating and other eating and sleep disorders. Visit anxieties 101 for info on post traumatic stress disorder and emotional feelings sites concerning your emotions and feelings concerning these disorders!

Author's Bio: 

This author has been studying anxiety disorders, depression, mental illness, eating disorders, sleep disorders and how lifestyle factors affect these problems for over seven years now. Having a background rife with domestic violence and abuse - Kathleen has developed a network of over 30 websites that touches everything people need to be aware of in hopes of using a self help network for better mental and physical health and well being.