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Binge Eating Disorder
LikeNoOneElse84
Posts: 475 Member
Does anyone deal with this disorder? I have since about 17 years old and it's rough. I did not know what it was until recently though. I thought I was just greedy. It's hard and exhausting. I struggle daily with not binging and keeping busy so that I don't spiral out of control. I really need support seeing as how no one IRL understands and does not believe that it is a real issue. Anyone else struggle with an eating disorder and want to buddy up?
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Hi! I have battled every kind of ED! I strongly suggest getting professional support. The national eating disorder association has very useful info on their website. I wish you all the best. Recovery is not easy, but it is possible!!!!! Big hugs to you. Good for you for reaching out for support!1
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Thank you! I do need to look into professional support but wasn't sure whereto go. Thanks for the info0
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I was never formally diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder, but that's only because it wasn't in the older versions of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders.) But yeah, I fit the criteria.
Food was my friend, my "lover" at times, etc. etc. - I had bingeing rituals that I guarded jealously starting from childhood.
Yes, I'm echoing others who say it's helpful to work with a professional who is an "eating disorders" specialist. Probably anybody who has worked with the other EDs would be familiar with BED, too. (I am a retired psychotherapist, by the way - but although I know about all of the EDs, I didn't specialize in this.)
For me, I had to understand that I had a lot of anxiety around having enough food, of how to nurture myself with and without food, all that stuff. And I had to really learn how to be okay with myself - no matter what size I was. And that last part really helped - I even married for the second time (at age 48) heavier than I am today. I didn't allow my size or even my ED to stop me from living or dating or anything.
It's been a lot of years now since I had a binge, but that doesn't mean I haven't overeaten - believe me, I'm still fat! I have eaten more calories than my body needs. But that binge stuff - the eating of mass quantities of specific foods to the point of passing out (almost) - no, it's been a long time since I've done that. So from one perspective, I consider that I've come a very long way. And I may never be very thin. I can accept that since I did start from a very tough place.
I had to work on my anxiety first, but that helped so much in being able to finally relax a bit around food and eating. Then I could work on the eating disorder, and now I'm able to work on the mechanics of calories and exercise and nutrition. It feels a lot less of a problem now, but i still mess up - and yeah, there are times when eating more, especially of sugary stuff, happens. Plus being older doesn't help, either! But, one day at a time, I move forward.
Good luck to you! Feel free to friend me, if you'd like.
Laura1 -
I have been dealing with probably all my life. I would sneak food and engorge myself almost daily. I have to work every morning or whenever I am home not to raid the kitchen it absolutely sucks. I totally understand where you're coming from.LikeNoOneElse84 wrote: »Does anyone deal with this disorder? I have since about 17 years old and it's rough. I did not know what it was until recently though. I thought I was just greedy. It's hard and exhausting. I struggle daily with not binging and keeping busy so that I don't spiral out of control. I really need support seeing as how no one IRL understands and does not believe that it is a real issue. Anyone else struggle with an eating disorder and want to buddy up?
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I am currently struggling with this disorder0
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I am so sorry you're struggling right now. BED- sucks! It can get better. I have found that restriction and bingeing are two sides of the same coin. I am aggreisvly trying to lose the "diet" mentality. Difficult but not impossible. I am now finding that my bingeing is subsiding.
Hang in there. Better days ahead. Glad you found this group.0
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