Ten years ago this month...

fileshiny
fileshiny Posts: 149 Member
I kicked my eating disorder in the nuts, saying goodbye to it forever. I had been bulimic for 20 years, and have been free of that albatross for the past ten. If anyone reading this is going through that struggle, I promise you, it is absolutely possible to kick it to the curb. I won't promise you it will be easy, but when you get to the point where the eating disorder (your coping mechanism) itself is causing more problems in your life than whatever you are trying to cope with, it will be easier to quit than you can currently imagine. When it's time to quit, you'll know, and you'll find a way.

Replies

  • klkateri
    klkateri Posts: 432 Member
    Congrats!! I've seen friends and family members struggle with various eating disorders over the year and admire your strength and courage!
  • baconslave
    baconslave Posts: 7,018 Member
    Congrats to you!
    That is major!
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    @fileshiny that is an awesome result and thanks for sharing.
  • fileshiny
    fileshiny Posts: 149 Member
    klkateri wrote: »
    Congrats!! I've seen friends and family members struggle with various eating disorders over the year and admire your strength and courage!

    Thank you. It wasn't courageous; just necessary.
  • fileshiny
    fileshiny Posts: 149 Member
    baconslave wrote: »
    Congrats to you!
    That is major!

    Thank you. It was major at the time, now it's just part of who I was and who I've become.
  • fileshiny
    fileshiny Posts: 149 Member
    @fileshiny that is an awesome result and thanks for sharing.

    Thanks, Gale.
  • carlsoda
    carlsoda Posts: 3,429 Member
    Amazing! I am so happy for you! My friends daughter was dealing with an eating disorder and luckily they got her in a program fast and has truly turned her life around! It is possible!
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    :) Congratulations!
  • fileshiny
    fileshiny Posts: 149 Member
    carlsoda wrote: »
    Amazing! I am so happy for you! My friends daughter was dealing with an eating disorder and luckily they got her in a program fast and has truly turned her life around! It is possible!

    Not so easy to recognize an eating disorder for what it is - and even harder to get someone in a program fast. Good job to your friends!
  • lisawinning4losing
    lisawinning4losing Posts: 726 Member
    Congratulations! You're an inspiration!
  • FamedSuperPanda
    FamedSuperPanda Posts: 9 Member
    As someone that is 1 year in, this is a great inspiration to me. Congratulations, you should be proud!
  • fileshiny
    fileshiny Posts: 149 Member
    As someone that is 1 year in, this is a great inspiration to me. Congratulations, you should be proud!

    That's truly wonderful to hear. I'm so glad you're doing well. Nine years from now, I hope you'll write your own ten year anniversary post.
  • StephieWillcox
    StephieWillcox Posts: 627 Member
    This is wonderful.

    I don't suffer from bullemia but I am very guilty of binge eating and I struggle every so often with it (I am currently struggling with the after effects of my first binge in about 8 weeks).

    You are right that the disorder becomes much worse than the issues you're masking with the disorder
  • RunawayCurves
    RunawayCurves Posts: 688 Member
    10 years is amazing, I can not even remember a time in my life where eating disorder was not there driving me nuts. Keto is closest thing I get to peace from it.
  • KarlaYP
    KarlaYP Posts: 4,436 Member
    That's an awesome accomplishment! Congratulations!
  • ClaireBearOz
    ClaireBearOz Posts: 64 Member
    That's fantastic. Well done, you! Thanks for sharing.
  • fileshiny
    fileshiny Posts: 149 Member
    That's fantastic. Well done, you! Thanks for sharing.

    Thanks, Claire!
  • fileshiny
    fileshiny Posts: 149 Member
    Karlottap wrote: »
    That's an awesome accomplishment! Congratulations!

    Thanks!
  • fileshiny
    fileshiny Posts: 149 Member
    10 years is amazing, I can not even remember a time in my life where eating disorder was not there driving me nuts. Keto is closest thing I get to peace from it.

    I've been thinking about how you phrased this "eating disorder was [...] driving me nuts"; it's a really lovely way of putting it - no shame attached. You've managed to put it in its place in your life: it's not you, it's something that's annoying you that you have to deal with. That says to me that you're actually well on your way to healing from it, because the hardest part to handle is the shame. Thank you for saying that!
  • fileshiny
    fileshiny Posts: 149 Member
    You are right that the disorder becomes much worse than the issues you're masking with the disorder

    Which is true with any kind of coping mechanism that gets out of hand, right? Alcoholism, bulimia, binge eating disorder, drug addiction, problem gambling...they are all just coping mechanisms that get out of hand. Then, of course, we have to deal with both the original trauma or problem that caused us to need the coping mechanism in the first place, AND the out-of-control coping mechanism. No wonder these are so hard to kick!
  • WIChelle
    WIChelle Posts: 471 Member
    Congratulations!!!