All or Nothing: Betty Binger

Betty is in her 20s and has been having lots of sex since her first experience a decade ago. Sexual abuse and/or family trauma are likely part of her past. Betty uses her body to reel men in and then push them away. All the while, she masturbates frequently to distract and soothe herself.

An obvious pattern has emerged in Betty’s life. When single, she diets and exercises feverishly to attract and have sex with a lot of men, including strangers. Once in a committed relationship, Betty stops taking care of herself and instead focuses her energy on keeping her man happy. She gains a lot of weight fast and her partners leave her.

Why She Seeks Treatment

The dramatic ups and downs in her weight bring Betty into therapy. She may join an Overeaters Anonymous group and begin to recognize her pattern of using her body to attract and repel her lovers – and wants it to stop. Over time, Betty addresses her sexual abuse history and gains control over both her eating disorder and her sexual addiction.