Binge eating disorder please help!!!

Basically, where do I start...I'm terrified for my boyfriend. We are on 8 months now of being together and I love him, I want to spend the rest of my life with him. We are 21 so its not like I am some high schooler saying this. And he knows I was a past anorexic/bulimic victim. He is motivating me to get through these relapses that are on and off and even directed me in seeing treatment. Because I needed someone to push me in getting help. I want to be a mother and have a beautiful daughter and not have her deal with the same issues.

Anyway, why am I worried about him if he is encouraging me you wonder? Well he has been trying to lose weight for a while now (years actually) and struggling. I love him and fell for in because he is the most sweetest, caring, thoughtful guy I have ever met. I think to myself how lucky I am to have him. He is 6 foot tall and I am 5foot 7inches. He is 400 pounds though which is why he is trying to lose weight. I am around 140-145 and trying to get myself to be happy with my body and not compare myself to other girls.

The thing is, he may have binge eating disorder. I want to help which is why I am doing everything I can to try and find the right tips and things to help him get through this like he did for me and anorexia. I don't want to lose him. I don't know what I would do if I lost him. I really need some help here.
What are some helpful tips I can do?

Replies

  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    If he did not ask for your help, stay out of it. You can do more harm than good trying to help if he doesn't want it.

    If he does want help, look into professional help for him.
  • snowflakesav
    snowflakesav Posts: 649 Member
    Stay out of his issues with food. Continue to accept him as he is and be direct and clinical about his weight.

    This is a slippery slope for anyone. It is called codependency and you should seek help for your own issues.
  • elphie754 wrote: »
    If he did not ask for your help, stay out of it. You can do more harm than good trying to help if he doesn't want it.

    If he does want help, look into professional help for him.
    elphie754 wrote: »
    If he did not ask for your help, stay out of it. You can do more harm than good trying to help if he doesn't want it.

    If he does want help, look into professional help for him.

    He did ask me for help why the hell do you think I am looking for help?!

  • Stay out of his issues with food. Continue to accept him as he is and be direct and clinical about his weight.

    This is a slippery slope for anyone. It is called codependency and you should seek help for your own issues.

    I'm recovering better and learning to focus on what my body wants rather than restricting. I don't want him struggling
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    If he did not ask for your help, stay out of it. You can do more harm than good trying to help if he doesn't want it.

    If he does want help, look into professional help for him.
    elphie754 wrote: »
    If he did not ask for your help, stay out of it. You can do more harm than good trying to help if he doesn't want it.

    If he does want help, look into professional help for him.

    He did ask me for help why the hell do you think I am looking for help?!

    Then look into professional counseling.
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    Talk to him about seeking professional help.
  • He says he goes in to see his therapist Monday and will bring it up to him. While I have my therapist appointment today. So we are both being a supportive group for each other.
  • What counseling is there for binge eating disorder. I don't know if it's the same treatment as anorexia and bulimia
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited December 2015
    What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a treatment that concentrates on patterns of thinking that are distorted and the beliefs that are the root cause of irrational thinking. CBT aims to incorporate psychodynamic and behavioral therapies in help relieve symptoms that a man or woman may be experiencing. The key concept behind CBT revolves around the idea that thoughts and feelings are tied with behavior. Therefore, the goal of CBT is to help individuals learn that while they cannot control every aspect of their environment, they are able to gain control of how circumstances in their surroundings are interpreted and dealt with.

    Since CBT is generally a shorter-term treatment option in comparison to other types of therapy available, it is often a more affordable alternative. CBT is become increasingly popular as its effectiveness in helping patients overcome destructive behaviors has been demonstrated. While fundamental aspects of CBT can be followed back to ancient philosophical traditions, Arnold Lazarus with Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck, developed the first form of CBT in the 1970s. CBT draws emphases on thoughts, beliefs, values, and the behaviors that sustain mental health disorders, such as eating disorders and mood disorders.

    ...Uses of CBT

    Cognitive Behavior Therapy has been applied in treating individuals suffering from various mental health disorders, utilized successfully within many clinical and non-clinical environments as a treatment for various disorders, personality conditions, and behavioral problems. CBT has also been a proven form of therapy for the treatment of eating disorders, particularly bulimia and binge-eating disorders, as it includes educational components and the development of a meal plan. CBT is highly successful in that it addresses the psychological, familial, and societal facets correlated with eating disorders and directly focuses on the problematic thinking and behaviors that sustain eating disorder symptoms.

    Read more: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/treatment-for-eating-disorders/types-of-treatments/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    What counseling is there for binge eating disorder. I don't know if it's the same treatment as anorexia and bulimia

    Exactly, so let his therapist determine the best course of action.
  • elphie754 wrote: »
    What counseling is there for binge eating disorder. I don't know if it's the same treatment as anorexia and bulimia

    Exactly, so let his therapist determine the best course of action.

    Excuse me for being a caring girlfriend.

  • heatherlewisis
    heatherlewisis Posts: 118 Member
    OP you've gotten solid advice here, not sure why you're responding so defensively... Just be there for him and help him in the ways he has asked you to... And let him work it out with his therapist the rest of the way :)