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ASilentObserver profile picture
Dear Body: A Letter to Yourself
by ASilentObserver
Last post
 August 30th
...See more Hello everyone, Have you ever paused to take a moment to think about your relationship with your body?  We often have complex feelings about our bodies – sometimes love and appreciation, other times frustration or even dislike.  I guess it is all part of the journey. This exercise is part of Eating Disorder Awareness Week [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/GroupSupportCommunityEvents_2295/JoinUsforEatingDisordersAwarenessWeekFebruary24thFeb28_347433/].  As we celebrate the EDAW [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/GroupSupportCommunityEvents_2295/JoinUsforEatingDisordersAwarenessWeekFebruary24thFeb28_347433/], we are inviting you to participate in a meaningful exercise: writing a letter to your body.  It is your safe space to express *any* feelings you have, whether positive, negative, or somewhere in between.  Maybe you want to thank your body for its strength and resilience, or maybe you need to express some frustrations.  You can even share your hopes for your body's future. Please know there are no rules here.  You need to be honest, be vulnerable, and be you.  It is more about connecting with yourself and fostering a more mindful and kind relationship with your body. You can do it two ways:  1. Take a piece of paper and pen and write a letter to yourself. And let us know if you did it here in this thread and how did it make you feel.  2. If you are comfortable sharing your letter with us, you can share it here in this thread and we all can reflect and further discuss it as you feel comfortable.   3. Anyone can do this exercise and not limited to the ones who struggle with ED.  Whether you choose to share it with us or keep it private is entirely up to you.  We are simply here to encourage and support you on this journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Who's ready to write their letter?  Let's begin
ASilentObserver profile picture
Introducing... Eating Disorder Care Package
by ASilentObserver
Last post
 August 30th
...See more We are excited to announce a new initiative: Small Steps and Support Care Package for individuals on their journey to recovery from eating disorders. This care package is filled with handpicked information and resources aimed at promoting self-care, mindfulness, and encouragement. They're not a replacement for professional treatment, but a small token of support to let someone know they're not alone and their journey is recognized.  What's included? * Coping Skills  * Relapse Prevention Plan * Steps to take care of yourself * Various resources and links You can view/ download the Eating Disorder Care Package here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MnhQnwjxpFnJ3aiK0j9d5OAE1eK7epEX/view?usp=drive_link] Feel free to bookmark, or share it with anyone who might need it. Your care and support would make a difference in someone's recovery journey!  @heather225 @KristenHR @dancat1128
theriverissinging profile picture
Eating Disorder Support Automated Taglist - New
by theriverissinging
Last post
 August 22nd
...See more This thread controls an auto-updating taglist. To see the current list, go to Eating Disorder Support Taglist [https://rarelycharlie.github.io/taglist?30c2f12674c3d76b794a13ccbe111c5a]. To add yourself to this taglist, press the Reply button in this post and write the exact words “Please add me.” To remove yourself from this taglist, press the Reply button in this post and write the exact words, “Please remove me.” Taglist to be used for check-ins, discussions, events and announcements. ------------------------- we'll be compiling the latest taglist through a process outlined here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/SuggestionsandProblemSolving_383/TeaCakeCompilingautomatedtaglists_291762/] every time we make a post.
cammyleigh123 profile picture
poem i wrote
by cammyleigh123
Last post
 Tuesday
...See more hi!! this is a poem I wrote very recently. I'm not the best but I feel like it says what I wanted it to say. I did the best I could putting my struggles into words. tw!! a whale beached, bloated washed up on the shore a seagull comes down plucks flesh pound by pound from my bones until I am nothing but a skeleton thin, brittle eyes large in their sockets lips tight around my teeth skin streched like canvas paint over every tear tears? crying mourning a body I never had loathing the one that hangs from my frame I'll fitting like clothes  I yearn to slip it off reveal the girl underneath the girl what girl? am I doing this for a girl? who? a girl I have never met a girl I never will still I bite the bait  on the hook piercing my mouth punishing myself  for eating pulled up to the surface I reach down my throat cough up food? mucus saliva like slime gagging, hacking like a hagfish anything to escape the girl in the mirror I pretend I do not see her know her restrict what feeds her  fattens her fuels her and she begs like a sailors dog whining for scraps she scratches the floor pleading begging screaming it hurts it hurts and I  kick her hard  boot connecting with her flesh striking blood red  along the floor red I read somewhere everywhere you are better when thinner smaller, weaker lower down down down drowning numbers lower them smaller be smaller eat smaller too much I choke water down my throat how many calories in an ocean? it wont stop cant stop never stops I drown my body washes up to shore sun bakes my flesh a whale.
braveLand4523 profile picture
Idk if this is an ED or what
by braveLand4523
Last post
 October 24th
...See more So I used to not eat much and it was costing me alot it made me so I couldn't run for literally t minutes before I would get tired and I could see my ribs when I breathe.well now I'm eating alot and I hate it I despise it I feel fat but I know I'm not cause I can still see my ribs when I breathe but,this is definitely not helping my self esstem Idk whether this is a ED or not let me know what you guys think??
cammyleigh123 profile picture
just a rant about my body image I guess :/
by cammyleigh123
Last post
 October 16th
...See more so idk how to really vent.. I'll try my best tho I'm not really diagnosed with any eating disorders, so forgive me if I used the wrong tag!! I just want to stop.. idk, hating my body? I cant stop staring at myself in the mirror and focusing on the way I look. its to the point where I cant stop thinking about my body and calorie intake. I'll fast until dinner some days and then just sleep so I don't feel hungry and then whenever I'm around food I just eat and eat and I feel so guilty about myself after...  Im 14 so that might be why? I know I'm very hormonal at this age, but it doesn't feel normal to hate the way my body looks this much... the issue is I don't really want to get better... I know its bad but I feel so bad whenever I weigh myself and I haven't lost anything and I feel so good when I have. my BMI is 32 which makes me overweight and it feels like it cant be that bad of a habit if in the long run I am losing weight. I know that's not a good way to think at all, but I just don't want to look at myself and cry anymore. I want to wear clothes I like without feeling ashamed of myself and I want to go out in public without feeling humiliated.  I want to stop getting confused for a boy. I want to be thin and I want people to call me pretty. I just want to be happy with the way I look. I just don't want to ruin every family photo I'm in by looking like a sumo wrestler compared to everyone else.  I'm okay with my torso, but my legs and arms are what I really hate. I just want to feel pretty and be pretty. I just feel so gross inside myself like I'm trapped in a big fat suit and it makes me want to cry.  if you read all this, thank you :) sorry a lot of it was rambling nonsense. any advice or support is appreciated!! xoxo
chrundle profile picture
Eating
by chrundle
Last post
 October 15th
...See more Eating feels like a task and I dont know what to do about it. Most the time I dont have any desire to eat, nor the will to figure out what to eat. The whole thing in general just is something i dont enjoy doing most the time. However, I have really bad body dysmorphia and would like to try going to the gym, but i dont ever have the energy for it do to the lack of eating and just always feeling ehh. Ive been trying to get out of the cycle and I had a really good week of eating not long ago but ive since fallen back on making myself do it. 
resourcefulPond1641 profile picture
Clothes labels
by resourcefulPond1641
Last post
 October 15th
...See more Clothes being labeled the wrong size can be really triggering for me. I ended up buying something that was too small for me when I tried in on after I got home.
loyalCircle4117 profile picture
Coffee...
by loyalCircle4117
Last post
 October 10th
...See more I recovered from Anorexia and moving to bullimia... It's hard but I know I can get through this>:] the problem is... Back in the anorexic phase coffee was my friend, my one and only friend who stayed with me and now I can't leave them... I always kept coming back... After recovering I felt my emotions again which is great but after drinking coffee I felt a great joy, an ecstatic feeling! Which then crashes down to rock bottom depression!  This loops over and over again to the point where I distanced myself from everyone and do reckless things just to gain a little bit of happiness... How can I stop this? How can I really recover...
cammyleigh123 profile picture
am i just lazy? (tw for disordered eating + lack of self care)
by cammyleigh123
Last post
 October 4th
...See more ive been counting my calories a lot and my mom and her boyfriend (I call him my stepdad bc he's been with her since I was 7) both know and kinda make fun of it.. like my stepdad'll make comments like.. idk here's an example "ugh that cake was so good I regret it so bad" "well you know what they say, food tastes better the second time around haha" "what?" "binge n' purge n' binge n' purge" (he kinda chanted it?? it was weird.. so he knows and then he says stuff like that and then he'll see me counting calories at the store and he's like "it's be so much easier to lose weight if you weren't so lazy" and then other times he'll poke me in the stomach.. and then he has a Google tablet by the dinner table and it cycles through a bunch of family photos and I just want to cry every time I see a picture of myself on it and I've said that a lot and then I said it again last week and he was like  "yeah.. I was gonna take those down but then I was like "nah" so I kept them up." "oh. can you pretty please take them down?" "nope. its good motivation" idk if I'm being sensitive or not.. advice is welcome and appreciated :)
MercurytheLoner profile picture
I Hate Eating. But I Love Food. But Do I Really Have An Eating Disorder?
by MercurytheLoner
Last post
 October 4th
...See more I started having troubles eating in grade 9. I'm non-binary and wish I had a bit more masculine of a body. My thighs, stomach, and back are too fat, but my friends say I'm skinny. Five years later I guess I still do have an eating disorder, but I don't know. I used to binge/purge, fast, etc. Now I eat on a schedule. Weekdays (protein shake; booster juice; vegetables; dinner is optional...?) Weekends (protein shake; vegetables; dinner is optional...?) My girlfriend says its still an eating disorder, but I think I'm just avoiding bad foods. This is all I eat. Unless I eat something else that isn't on my schedule, but that is thrown up afterwards. I also found that dinner is a difficult meal (my gf and I went on a date to Swiss Chalet and I was trying hard not to throw up my chicken. I didn't want to ruin our night, so I kept it down. She could tell I was uncomfortable and expressed this, but I insisted I was okay.) I just don't know how to fix this. Help?
WhimsyBella profile picture
Breathe by Bella Week 1 - Topic 1 of 3 - Eating Disorders
by WhimsyBella
Last post
 September 5th
...See more Hey ED Warriors! 💛 I hope you're all doing amazing. Welcome / Welcome back to Breathe by Bella. Its so good to have you here! As previously mentioned on my Journal, one of this weeks topics are coping & managing Eating Disorders. Before diving into this conversation, Id like to issue a trigger warning. This entry will thoroughly discuss the effects, causes, and experiences of EDs. If this is a sensitive topic for you, Id recommend you avoid reading. 💛 Its good to talk about your struggles to someone who understands. I hope that from one ED struggler to another, we can find support, friendship, peace, and positivity in these discussions.  I often wonder where my "sick" thoughts stem from. Is it my fault I think this way about my body? Or did I develop this way of thinking because of the people I surround myself with? The truth is- I don't know; and thats okay! We aren't always gonna be on top of our conflicts, especially when they involve mental health. As we grow older, our bodies will inevitably change. That is definitely out of our control, and certainly not our faults. Whether its you commenting on your own body, or someone else doing so- remember this. Your body does not define you, and it never will. Its hard to just read kind words online and actually implement that advice in our day to day lives. We hear the same 'encouraging words' everyday, especially from people who would simply never understand. Although, I usually find myself thinking about what these gentle words really mean. When battling an ED, regular days can feel unusually difficult and heavy. Sometimes, all we really need is an encouraging word to keep us going.  Outsiders tend to assume that ED's are solely about getting skinny; and recovery is simply eating more. Thats so far from the truth. Everyday occurrences as basic as looking in the mirror, changing your clothes, going out with friends, and eating can feel like a challenge. The baggage and thought process that come with an eating disorder can feel indescribable, and sometimes even inconsolable. Thats the real struggle.  Recovery doesn't happen overnight, and it definitely doesn't have a fixed duration before everything falls back in place again. Some days will feel hopeless, and some will feel steady. Theres no pattern or expectancy to rely on when it comes to recovery, and thats the beauty of healing. Whats one thing you needed to hear today, or wanted to tell someone else? Im eager to read all your responses! Stay strong and don't hesitate to reach out if things get hard. You're not alone. 💛 ------------------------- Bella 
goldenFriend9441 profile picture
saw someone post this
by goldenFriend9441
Last post
 July 6th
...See more I don’t want to see anymore posts about “glow ups.” Your body is not a home improvement project. Society pressures you to change it to sell products and services.
duckylistens37 profile picture
ARFID
by duckylistens37
Last post
 June 20th
...See more Hello. I have ARFID which stands for avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. I don’t want to eat, I’m scared to eat because I’m scared I will choke or get sick, and I struggle with the way a food tastes or smells or looks.  I recently lost too much weight and my doctor is considering sending me to the hospital but I’m scared because I’m worried they are going to put an NG tube in me if I don’t eat there which I know I won’t. Does anyone have advice on how to make eating easier or can they tell me what it was like going to the hospital for an eating disorder and having an NG tube? Any information would be helpful. I’m just so scared and want to get better.  I hope that everyone struggling with an eating disorder knows that there is help out there and you are all strong and beautiful and can get through this ❤️‍🩹
redVillage1507 profile picture
Is this disordered...?
by redVillage1507
Last post
 May 4th
...See more Like I don't even know if I have an ED cos im not underweight (im slim but normal bmi) or coming in under calories or anything (well probably not majorly)... but I am super strict about what I eat, everything is planned in advance, I make lists and charts and I look things up obsessively (menus, nutrition, cals etc). I get stressed when an eating event is out of my control (e.g. invited to a dinner party or a restaurant without healthy options). if there's lots of unhealthy food around me I feel anxious... if im tempted by something like bread or something fried, I get panicky, I even got tearful because I ate half a bagel the other day and needed to get it far away from me. I feel so accomplished if I manage to skip a meal or eat very little in a day, resisting temptation somehow. I feel high and superior. I love going to more gym classes than anyone I know. I look at my body in the mirror obsessively - but I like it. I have great abs and arms and I love the compliments I get on them. and I love the sneaky feeling that nobody knows how much actual time and thinking and effort goes into it. The feeling that I'm secretly a bit crazy but no one can tell.

Eating Disorder Support

Welcome to Eating Disorder Support! We are welcoming you with open arms and hope to be part of your recovery journey. All are welcome to participate, whether you are a family member watching a loved one struggling or struggling yourself. 


What are the different forum topics for Eating Disorder Support?

Anorexia Nervosa Support: A place for you to discuss issues relating to Anorexia Nervosa. 

Binge Eating Disorder Support: A place for you to discuss issues relating to Binge Eating.

Bulimia Support: A place for you to discuss issues relating to Bulimia.

Discussions & Check-ins: A place for general discussions and regular community check-ins.

General Support: Need any other support that doesn’t fit within another topic? Post it here!

Family and Friends of Individuals with Eating Disorders: Watching a loved on struggle with an Eating Disorder? Discuss it here.

Introductions, Fun & Games: A place to introduce yourself and take part in a variety of fun, games and icebreakers.

Recovery & Moving On: Recovering from an Eating Disorder? Share your story here!


How can I help?

You can help us by simply responding to threads and sharing your story (if you're comfortable). Check-in with us, join a discussion, or start one! Alternatively, you can join us as a Forum Leader. Check out this thread for more information.


Helpful Threads

Taglist: Do you want to stay up to date with our community? Then join our tag list to be notified whenever there is a new discussion or update within the community!


Eating Disorder FAQ

Q: Are there any sub-community-specific guidelines that we need to adhere to?

A: You can find Sub-community-specific guidelines below, which you should follow in addition to the general forum guidelines.


Help! I still have a question! 

If you need help, feel free to contact a community leader or post here, and someone will contact you!


Community Guidelines

The following are some guidelines specific to the Eating Disorder Sub-Community that we request you to follow along with the general Forum Guidelines. The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure a safe and supportive space for everyone, within this sub-community.

  • Refrain from mentioning specific weights or calorie counts to avoid triggering others.
  • Remember this is a support community - we should all be supportive of each other’s stories and struggles.
  • Everyone’s struggles are different; please avoid encouraging anyone to lose or gain weight.
  • Avoid overly graphic content and mark potentially sensitive posts with a ‘Trigger Warning’ at the top line of the post.
  • Pro-eating disorder content will not be tolerated.
Read the 7 Cups Guidelines
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