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!

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.

Laura

I am currently struggling with this disorder