Relapsed and Frustrated

katdancer93

I've been Diagnosed with Bulimia and have been on this on and off downward spiral for about 4 years of it being non recovery. I started to attempt what was a false recovery last year but I had been purge free for almost 3 weeks and ruined it sunday and have been taking lax since sunday…I just want to stop and Im so frustrated at all anymore… is there something else I can do? My therapist can only see me once a week now because of insurance unless she sends me somewhere inpatient and I don't think I can do that….. I have been tracking really well and exercising but Sunday really threw me off….anyone have any sort of encouragement or know how I feel?

Kristineevans1

It's totally normal to have a relapse during trying to recover, I have found not logging has helped but that's personally. I have to ensure I plan my food so I eat enough to avoid binges and to watch my exercise as if I don't eat enough or get too tired that can trigger me too.

If you can work out why it happened you can be aware for next time, I feel an ed is a lifelong illness and we need to learn how to manage the symptoms and be aware of triggers. Can you phone your therapist for some advise ?

Your not alone and you can get over the blip, we all slip up try not to beat yourself up as it will only exaggerate the ed thoughts x

yrollam1013

Relapses are normal, and they don't mean you failed what matters is you continue to try. What helped me was not to track/log, not to weigh, see a therapist, dietician, and psychiatrist. Ultimately the thing that helped me the most was residential treatment but the outpatient work helped a lot too, I just got impatient with the ups and downs and went somewhere I had to change.

tashaa1992

I've been Diagnosed with Bulimia and have been on this on and off downward spiral for about 4 years of it being non recovery. I started to attempt what was a false recovery last year but I had been purge free for almost 3 weeks and ruined it sunday and have been taking lax since sunday…I just want to stop and Im so frustrated at all anymore… is there something else I can do? My therapist can only see me once a week now because of insurance unless she sends me somewhere inpatient and I don't think I can do that….. I have been tracking really well and exercising but Sunday really threw me off….anyone have any sort of encouragement or know how I feel?
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You didn't ruin it, you had a small slip up. I know how hard it is but everyday try harder than yesterday, everytime you fall, forgive yourself and get back up. We will get there eventually and you'll grow stronger because of it, mentally and physically. Keep fighting xx

SmallestGoal

Something I was told by a therapist once was that you don't have to try and quit cold turkey. That seems counter-intuitive, but seems to be very helpful in terms of creating a longer-lasting recovery.

What she had me do was make up a system or something where you're "allowed" a certain number of slips every week/month/whatever period of time you feel is appropriate. If you don't use the cheat in that time period, come up with a reward (so you don't feel pressured to use-it-or-lose-it). If you do use the cheat and engage in ED behaviors, it's okay because it's a process; you don't feel like you've "blown it" and use that excuse to just completely relapse.

It's not for everyone, but it helped me. I would tend to feel like a failure and just give up after one slip, which meant I never got anywhere. Forgiving those slips and weaning off of purging helped me a lot.

katdancer93

Thanks you all, I think my therapist kinda has me on the same kind of scale that you are using only, i like your idea better. She has upped my calorie intake by 200 a week, Im now around 1000 sometimes over but mostly under but thats the average. If I work out she said to TRY and add at least 200 more calories to the additional ones we are trying for…but I'm still all over the place...

guidothecat

I am on a 'weekly' average now...and they don't expect me to be perfect either...

We are working on the ED behaviors and stuff to change the thoughts about food, etc. It isn't perfect, but it seems to be helping the stress level related to all the BS. If I am low one day, I can adjust the rest of the week, takes some of the guilt and the mental pressure off me?

We are going for a sustainable change, and it isn't going to happen overnight, and they know it...and we need to realize it too?

:flowerforyou: