Q I was managing well, but during a very stressful period my late-night binging came back. I'm a working mom in my 40s — if it relapses like this, do I have to start over from the beginning?
A Relapse isn't failure — it's a natural part of the recovery process. Even if you waver temporarily during a high-stress period, the rhythm you've built remains, so you return to the recovery track much faster than at the start.
Detailed Answer
Binge and late-night eating can temporarily reappear when stress, lack of sleep, and life changes overlap. What matters is that wavering once or twice doesn't mean everything has collapsed. Because the regular meal and sleep rhythm you built stays at the foundation, once you return to that rhythm after wavering, recovery is quick.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
At Dongjedang, we understand relapse as a signal that the body has tilted back toward stagnation and suppression. When stress blocks circulation again, nighttime binging easily revives. In such cases, rather than starting over from scratch, it's often enough to release the blockage, empty the accumulated surplus, and readjust the rhythm. Accepting wavering as part of recovery becomes the strength to keep going.
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