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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.
Porzeczka profile picture
My experience & concerns
by Porzeczka
Last post
 Friday
...See more I don't have anything diagnosed yet, but I'm afraid I may be anorexic. I've been feeling guilty after eating ever since I can remember, I started skipping meals 2 years ago, then started eating again but now it got so much worse. I have a calorie counting app and I eat 400kcal a day, starving almost all the time. When I eat, I eat only small meals and avoid "normal" meals, eating only ones like oatmeal on water or cucumber with yogurt. A while ago I also created a Pinterest board with "goals" and "allowed meals", as well as a Spotify playlist about how I feel. One of my friends knows about this and is incredibly concerned but I just can't stop. I feel so much better than before once I started eating less and I know what it can lead to or just how unhealthy it is but I just can't stop now. I'm closer to my dream body than ever before, I don't want to stop, ever. A year ago I weighted 60kg, my current weight is around 50kg and my goal is 40/35kg or less. Yes, I'm aware it's very unhealthy and unnatural and that I'd look like skin and bones but I don't mind, as long as I don't feel guilty in my own body for just existing. I don't expect a response from anyone, but i just wanted to tell someone about it, even if it's just through a website.
peachcherubim profile picture
very tired
by peachcherubim
Last post
 July 24th
...See more im not going to disclose how long, as i know eating disorders are contagious and competitive. i dont want to hurt anyone. but i started a fast and i cannot stop and im so exhausted. i wish i could change. i tried and i clearly didnt do so well. i know eating disorders take a lifetime to heal but all i seem to care about right now is getting worse and losing weight, and all the logic i was able to provide myself in active recovery, i am not now. i just feel like im in too deep again. 
Camus00 profile picture
TW: Actually need to lose weight
by Camus00
Last post
 July 17th
...See more Like the title says....I actually need to lose weight. I have that type of anorexia where I'm not underweight. Haven't been in a good decade. However, I find myself compensating for all the time that I don't eat with extra calories in the one meal I do eat/on good days when I have several meals. This lead to me actually being overweight and I cannot do any diet without it being extremely strict and triggering. Life doesn't let me exercise, so I'm unsure how I'm supposed to get back to a healthy weight again. The most frustrating part is that it's not even a lot, a person without this problem could shed the extra kgs in a couple months. I juts really hate it because it's the heaviest I've ever been, and I want to be able to do this in a healthy and permanent way.
insightfulEyes3026 profile picture
Lets Eat Together!
by insightfulEyes3026
Last post
 May 13th
...See more Lets eat together today!  if you are doing something right now, come back to this post when you can!  I know it is hard, so go grab something small,  Maybe its a granola bar, toast, fruit, crackers, yogurt, a muffin, pasta, soup, a dry handful of cereal, literally anything that sounds okay right now.  I just wanted to say that your body deserves food EVERY DAY, and not just when you feel you deserve it. Before I say anything else, I want you to know that I know how hard it is, and its not as simple as "just eating something." I have spent years of my life struggling with an eating disorder, and I know how consuming it can become. I know what it feels like to overthink every bite, the guilt, the voice telling you not to eat, your mind being a war with yourself. I get it.  Food can be so scary,  recovery is hard,  but what is really scary is never recovering,  so do the hard thing,  for your FUTURE! Anorexia is a DISORDER,  not a friend,  not a personality,  not a tik-tok trend,  not something you want.  It steals so much,  your energy,  your focus,  your relationships,  your happines,  your personality,  all for what?  to live in a body you don't even like?  Lets take one step in taking our lives back today,  you don't need to recover all at once,  its baby steps  You don't need to suddenly wake up one morning and love yourself,  you don't need to stop being scared right now.  Right now, the goal is just to eat something.  thats it.  I know its scary, but you've got this, we'll do it together! Take a deep breath,  relax your shoulders,  unclench your jaw,  put on a comfort show, or maybe some calming music,  it somewhere safe and cozy.  And take one bite.  The first one is always the hardest, but I promise you, it is so worth it.  Remind yourself  "one bite will not make my gain weight," It is literally physically impossible.  Then take another bite, and remind yourself again.  Your eating disorder will argue with you, tell you to stop. It might make you panic or overthink or compensate afterwards. But those are feelings, not facts, and you don't have to obey it! Food is not something you need to earn, you do not need to be "sick enough" to recover.  Please eat today!  and when you do, comment something you ate! :) Anything counts,  a piece of toast,  a smoothie,  an egg,  coffee with cream,  snacks,  a dry handful of cereal (my personal go to)! Then come back tomorrow, and comment again.  and the next day.  and the next.  Lets make this thread a safe space to encourage eachother, and all recover together! Before I end this, I just want to remind you  that your body is not the most important thing about you, not your weight, your size, the number on the scale. You are a whole person, with thoughts, memories, talents, favourite songs, dreams, humor, and people who care about you.  There IS life outside of this disorder.  You DESERVE life.  I know recovery is terrifying, but staying trapped forever is terrifying too. So today, just focus on right now.  Now go eat something,  I'll do it with you! I'm proud of you :)
insightfulEyes3026 profile picture
Why Choose Recovery (anorexia)
by insightfulEyes3026
Last post
 April 6th
...See more Why choose recovery?  That is a question that has bugged at me for years, and if you are struggling, you know what I mean. You might not want to, you might feel safer stay where you are. You might think "its not that bad," or "I'm not sick enough." So why choose recovery?  Not because its easy, because its not. Not because you will wake up one morning and instantly love everything about yourself.  Recover because it is taking so much away from you.  All the time, the energy, the constant counting and calculating, body checking, worrying about calories. Is that really how you want to spend the rest of your life?  Recovery is choosing to get your life back, even if you don't know what that looks like right now. Sure, it will be uncomfortable, and really hard, but its taking back control of your life, rather than letting the disorder control you.  There is a little voice inside you, somewhere, saying "I'm tired" "what if...(I tried recovery)" That voice, that voice is YOU. The other one, the one that tells you "skip it," "you don't need it" "you'll regret this," that is the disorder talking.  And don't get me wrong, sometimes it can sound so convincing, it can sound easier, it sounds comforting.  But choosing recovery is choosing to listen to your own voice, and questioning the disorder.  Something that is really helpful, is doing the opposite of what it tells you to do. for example, if it tells you to fast or not to eat, go get a snack, eat a meal, kick it in the butt, let it know its not welcome here.  When you choose not to listen to the voice, you are choosing yourself.  If eating feels really hard for you right now, I get it, it can be so hard, and you're not alone. Some things that help are:  - Eating with a distraction (play music or watch a show, or I like to call a friend) - start with a food that is the least overwhelming for you - take it one bite at a time -Most importantly, remind yourself you don't need to "earn" food.  Choosing recovery doesn't mean making one choice and never struggling again, but it also doesn't mean that it will be this hard forever. You have to choose it over, and over, but it will be so worth it, I promise you!  So back to my main question: Why choose recovery?  choose recovery because you deserve a life that is beyond your eating disorder. You deserve to think about more than food, to feel more than guilt, to exist without fighting yourself, to BE HAPPY!  If you don't think that you are ready, let me give you a little secret, you will never feel ready. You just have to take a step, and go for it! You've got this!  And if you need someone to talk to, please feel free to DM me, I'd be more than happy to talk to you!  Some helpful links to check out:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MnhQnwjxpFnJ3aiK0j9d5OAE1eK7epEX/view https://www.aba12steps.org/ https://www.7cups.com/forum/eds/General_2454/SupportiveRecoveryContentMasterpost_219511/ this one is really helpful!! https://www.7cups.com/eating-disorder-help/ P.S. if you're looking for a sign to choose recovery, let this be it, because you've taken the time to read this post, some part of you deep down must think its worth it? 
AFishTail profile picture
I just need to vent
by AFishTail
Last post
 March 18th
...See more Unorganized rant: I’m clinically overweight and I don’t think that I even have the “right” (is that the right word?) to say I have an eating disorder. I don’t meet the qualifications of low BMI. But, then again, all my friends think I do. And the attention makes me feel good. Until it doesn’t, and I stop sitting with them at lunch. I hate myself because I do so “good” all day—I eat maybe ~50 calories worth of food from when I wake up until 6, then I go home and eat dinner and feel fat and disgusting. Sometimes, I’m okay, and I don’t care about food, and I’ll eat what others describe as “normal” but what I think is “absurd.” And then I get tired of anorexia and say, “why even try?” But I force it back onto myself. I hate it, I hate this. A lot of my friends had eating disorders, and I worry that I forced one onto myself too, to be like them. They’re all fine now, but I’m not and I can’t stop. I can, but I won’t. I want to, but I can’t let myself. I eat at night sometimes, sweet things. And then I exercise for hours to get rid of it. I’m always tired, and I’m fighting an uphill battle both ways: losing weight, and deciding whether or not to keep losing weight. I use my skinny friends for motivation, and those friends can eat whatever they want. It’s not fair. The other day, my skinny friend said to me (he knows abt my problem, im male btw) “I’m too skinny, I wish I wasn’t so skinny. Even though I eat like 8 meals a day. You’re lucky that you’re not skinny.” WFT? Itold a friend I trust abt this, and he said that skinny friend was “in the right” for “motivating” me. ***, motivating me for what? Starving myself? Didn’t we have entire debates over me not doing that? Well then don’t mind if I do. When im changing for gym, I’ll just stare at my shirtless skinny friend with a BMI of like 5 who all my friends always say “body tea” to, and admire the way his bones stick out, and use him for motivation. My friends tattled on me to my parents (that’s what I get for opening up to them), but they don’t care, and that’s good. At least, not about what I do when they can’t see me. They think I’m normal, just that I skipped lunch a few days. I hate myself. I hate my body, and my intrusive thoughts. I’m trying so hard to loose weight, but I can’t do it fast enough, which makes me frustrated. My parents contradict themselves endlessly—they always say “eat what’s healthy,” but then (when I wasn’t trapped) they’d say “slow down and put some back” when I’d take seconds. They’d tell me it was health-related, but then why did we keep all this junk food in the house that I wasn’t allowed to eat? Having talks with me about obesity when you catch me eating a cookie? I learned to hide wrappers, and then they’d have huge convos about me with that, saying “just throw them away, that’s disgusting. Don’t be a slob.” And so I would, and they’d tell me to eat less junk food, and the cycle starts again. And I try, and I try. And I love being hungry but I love food and I hate that hollow feeling and the nausea and chugging water until I feel like a balloon and waking up having less energy than I had before and not being able to tell anyone anything and I’m always around people so I can never scream and I’m so fed up. I’m fed up, but I’m not fed.
limeMap1402 profile picture
My experience
by limeMap1402
Last post
 March 8th
...See more Hi everyone, I am a 17 year old girl who has struggled with anorexia for the past 5 years. It’s taken up a big part of my life. Ive spent most of my teen years in and out of hospitals and treatments centers. I’ve never actually been to high school and experienced normal teenage stuff. One of the roots for my anorexia was getting bullied as a 12 year old kid, I was made to feel like an outsider because I was still trying to figure out what I liked, who I liked, how I dressed, things I enjoyed. Most of the time I was the main target and was shamed and told I was fat and stuff like “I can see your three chins” “you have rolls” stuff like that. I thought that because they would constantly sit there and criticize my body then that must be the thing that had to be changed. I was always a healthy kid who enjoyed food, healthy weight range for my age. It first started wanting to loose a couple of pounds to not get judged. Then when they noticed it, it felt powerful the main bully couldn’t continue to say she was the smallest one of the group. These toxic friendshipss lasted for about two years. I did not know when enough was enough from them because I was lonely and they were my sisters friends. If I didn’t have them I had nobody I felt. Soon there was a desire to loose even more because of how powerful I felt. And it spiraled really deep without me even realizing it. I had a couple er trips before everything really started to get bad. My parents had hired transportation to take me out of my bed at night without my acknowledgment to restrain me and send me to a treatment center states away. I had gotten out after a couple of weeks because they couldn’t handle the SH I was doing. I went home tried to eat normally for a week but went of the scale and spiraled so I went back to restricting. I had been in the hospital a couple times after that before my first real stay. Prior to the stay I was waking up at 3 in the morning to exercise untill afternoon. If everything didn’t align under my routine I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night and I felt extreme guilt. I was forced out of the home by police to take me to the er. Where I had stayed for 3 months, I didn’t realize how bad it was until I had found out I had given myself SMA sydrome and had to be tube fed for a month when all I really wanted was to eat. I was dying they had to wake me up because they were afraid my heart would stop in my sleep. I came out feeling better and decided to give recovery a shot. And I was okay for a year just thoughts here and there but then I relapsed and was in the hospital for another month this year. I got let out a couple of weeks ago, I really do want recovery for myself but it sounds impossible.  I’m struggling to find motivation to live my life to as full as possible. 
amicableFriend4883 profile picture
atypical anorexia?
by amicableFriend4883
Last post
 January 28th
...See more id been eating less and less but just today i literally ate to the point of sickness. i have no idea why. and now im freaking out thinking i gained a *shiitake mushrooms* ton of weight
Sadie121162 profile picture
I am a 63 year old female, and I believe I have an eating disorder
by Sadie121162
Last post
 January 11th
...See more In the last 3 years I lost 120 pounds on Mounjaro. Now, I’m completely terrified of gaining weight back. Stopped taking Mounjaro once per week, but probably take it more than I should. I weighed 100.1 pounds today and I am 5 feet 4 inches. I’m scared.
clayyzu profile picture
food.
by clayyzu
Last post
 November 14th, 2025
...See more whys it so hard to even look at food?
paleconstellations profile picture
vent . no numbers mentioned
by paleconstellations
Last post
 October 29th, 2025
...See more i dont fit the usual ‘look’ people expect for anorexia, i eat under my maintenance but i look like i eat because i’m strategic about choosing food that are good for my energy, i’ve lost weight but i don’t look sick. i hate that. my own parents claimed i dont have an ed just because i eat infront of them and ‘arent anorexic people supposed to never eat??¿¿!!’ which is ridiculous. i wish i looked sick so people would believe me/worry. i need help with someone who’ll atleast listen because i don’t want to recover (please don’t suggest it i’ll literally panic.) and i’m so scared to tell anyone. only one friend knows and he doesn’t know a lot about this and i feel like a burden constantly bringing up random things about my struggles only to him. today i almost cried bec we had a reading passage about eds and my thin friend w a fast metabolism was so shocked that people did this and said she felt so much pity for people going through that but she said it in such a joking way while i literally had to dig my nails into my palm not to cry while the professor said people with eating disorders are weak because they can’t deal with life’s struggles. i’m sorry for the long post but i’m just so tired of being invisible. i’m scared to tell my friends because they might force me to eat or react badly and i think i told my parents about three times and they shrug it off everytime. i’m scared but i’d do anything to be seen because i’m tired of jumping through imaginary hoops my mind set for me that’ll somehow make people realize something’s wrong with me. also, i feel invalid when i see someone like the friend i mentioned with the fast metabolism look sicker than i am even though she eats regularly while i don’t eat at all. how come i look like i eat three breakfasts when i dont eat at all? this has been going on for so long i don’t understand what i’m supposed to do to make it real anymore. i’m tired i just want someone to see me 
paleconstellations profile picture
vent update i guess
by paleconstellations
Last post
 October 29th, 2025
...See more had a fight with my mom and it didn’t get me anywhere at all. she was finally convinced to read about eds but made all the wrong connections. she thought of how i refused to hang out with my friends as a child because i’d be offered vegetables (which i hated) to now willingly eating them as me recovering (mind you i force myself to eat vegetables so there’s actually something to consume instead of eating nothing at all.) she blamed it on bullying and genetics and didn’t even notice that the diets she put me on from age 8 were a factor. she automatically looked for a treatment plan and is convinced ‘taking up a sport and eating healthy food’ is going to fix me. going by that logic wouldn’t i already be better? she didn’t even finally admit to me this was an ed she just said i have ‘bad symptoms’. this whole thing made me so angry. i wish i were skeletal enough for people to worry because even my mom didn’t. that’s how much no one cares. i wish i atleast had the courage to hurt myself in some noticeable way instead of doing nothing. i don’t feel valid at all because i’m supposed to have this disorder to lose weight. i had one job and i can’t do it right. 

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