Introduce yourself to the 7 Cups Eating Disorder Community!
Hi guys. I just want to ask a few questions.
My eating disorder is so unstable, is that notmal? Like somedays id really count calories and restrict them and somedays i purge whether i binge or not. Other days i binge and id feel reeaallyyy guilty. But nowadays its really weird cuz i stopped overthinking whetever i eat and i just eat huge amouts of food and i just dont give a crap. I dont want any accurate scale measurements, like id meausure my weight with my shoe. I dieted a couple of times since my
@N16 - Hi there! I think it is absolutely normal to find yourself struggling with different things on different days. All forms of eating disorders sit on the same spectrum, even if the behaviors vary, and working on the underlying issues for any of them can be helpful for all. As for the idea of your brain not really connecting what you're eating to the fact that it might be unhealthy or make you gain weight, I think sometimes our brains decide that a coping mechanism (in this case food), is more important than whatever impact it might have, even if later you feel differently. Do you notice patterns in when you binge or restrict? Are there certain thoughts or feelings that come first? What purpose does the eating disorder serve in your life right now and what else might be able to fill that need?
Hey Im anna and Im a listener here. I had an ed many years ago. I know a lot about all eds. If you ever need to talk about those issues, Im here.
@Annasear - Hi Anna, and thanks for offering support to other members of this community! :)
Hey I'm Willow and I want to be skinnier. When I was really young I was always the skinniest because I never ate much but when I hit puberty I started to gain weight so I was normal and healthy but because that was so different to what I was before, I perceived that as being fat. I'm 16 and I weigh [edited by Anomalia to remove weight specifics] kg and I still feel massive and sometimes I eat loads and loads and end up feeling horrible and starving myself the next day. I don't really know what to do anymore I know this isn't healthy but I just don't want to stop
@charmingWillow7516 - I think one of the hardest things about recovering from an eating disorder is deciding that you want to, and I can definitely relate to that feeling that you know it's not healthy, but you don't want to stop. One thing that might be a good place to start is to think about all the things that are good about recovery vs. what's good about the eating disorder. The eating disorder side tends to be pretty short (getting to feel skinny), but what are some of the things for you that you get out of recovery if you were to do it? These can be physical things (thicker hair, ability to do activities that you don't have the strength or energy for when you're starving, etc.), mental things (feeling good about yourself, ability to concentrate and do better in school, etc.), emotional things (better relationships with people when you don't have to hide how you feel, etc.), or anything else. What does that list look like for you? How do all of those benefits compare to feeling skinny?
Hey, so recently I've been falling back into my habit of starving myself. I used to go days without eating but then I was put in a mental hospital because of a failed suicide attempt. When I was in the hospital, I slowly started to eat more. But then I started to gain weight and I hated it. So now, I've been keeping a journal tracking calories and the hours I go without food. I feel so fat. I just want to be skinny again. So I am trying to work out more and not eat. I feel so bad about my body, I just wan't to be skinny again. I really don't want too keep starving myself, but it seems like the only way to get skinny and punish myself. I don't know what to do or who to talk too. :(
@SadPuppy01 -First of all. I wanted to say that if you need someone to talk to about this, you're always welcome to message me. I have been in that place before and I can relate to how you're feeling. Just above your post I responded to someone and talked about thinking about the benefits to recovery vs. the benefits to starving yourself and what feels worth it, and I think that's a good thing to think about for you, too. You also mentioned in there that starving yourself is a way to punish yourself, and I think that's an important thing to talk about. Why do you think you need to punish yourself? What would happen if instead of punishing yourself you showed yourself some kindness and forgiveness?
Hi, I'm Oakhenge (that self name is packed with meaning for me). I am much older than most of you but I am just now, at age 60, admitting to myself that I have an eating disorder. I use food to comfort me and so as things in life become more uncomfortable I eat more and more. I eat too much of the wrong things. Although I've never admitted it before, I have used laxative teas and other pills to flush away my excess eating. I have lost the excess before so know I can do it again, although having to face that mountain again at this stage in my life, is not comforting or fun. The last time I regained the weight was just this past year when I was recovering from a broken ankle and badly sprained ankle. For two weeks I could not walk and was fed by others. Suddenly, my nutritious, filling diet of mostly raw and cooked vegetables was out the window. All I had to eat was what was prepared for me - lots of grains and sugars. The vegetables, sad to say, were canned. I quickly became depressed and weak and excess pounds reasserted themselves.
It's not being fat physically that upsets me so much. It is how my body feels - weak muscles, inflamed cells, slower circulatory system. Tired all the time and, worse, hungry. Voracious. Never being satisfied.
That's over now. My appetite is back under control with healthy foods - raw veggies and cooked veggies. I follow the nutritarian plan by Dr. Fuhrman. It is strict but it fills me up without feeding my addiction to sugars. I'm still in sugar detox mode and so am being kind to myself in other ways (there is NO compromise with food or activity or daily 7 cups check ins) - like getting a foot massage, completing 7 cups exercises, hanging with a friend once in a while.
Thank you for reading about such an "oldster". lol I dared post my picture on my profile and a person in a forum commented "Wow, you're old". When I called him out on it, he replied funnily, "No, I meant you're young." Well, I'm old enough to realize that labels like "young" and "old", black or white, rich or poor, wild or tame are nothing but judgements that serve only one purpose - to create an unnatural separation between the speaker and the object. Folks, while each of us are unique in our own rights, we are more alike than different. Get that? The blood in our veins is red. We all breathe. As for ageism, there are so many other harmful things that come to those not looking at the natural progression of a long life, and seeing it for what it is - beautiful and vital. Yes, vital. I know this to be true from experience. I know that I have the same thoughts and desires and expressions as I did in my younger years but I learned something nice yesterday. Do you know what the terms is called for one in their 60s? It is sexagenarian. I love those first three letters. They did not and do no escape me. ;-) So, lose the stereotypes and the fear. There really is no place for either of those things is too great a quantity.
@oakhenge - Welcome! I'm glad you're here and definitely have met people of all ages who struggle with eating disorders or unhealthy relationships with food (the last support group I attended had a range in ages from 12 to 72). It is definitely tough when circumstances make food feel more out of control or you have a sudden change in what you're used to eating, but it sounds like you are feeling more comfortable with what you are able to prepare for yourself now. I am glad you are working with a doctor on your diet because it's easy to take things too far in the other direction and over-restrict your foods, and it's important to make sure to still get all the nutrients and energy that your body needs! If you ever need some extra support, don't hesitate to reach out, and keep up the awesome self-kindness work! :)
Hello, I have struggled with my eating disorder for over a year tried recovery and feeling the urge to relapse, I actually don't know what to do and hope I can decide wisely before it being to late
@honestPine2598 - I can definitely relate to that feeling of temptation to relapse even when doing well in recovery, and I'm proud of you for reaching out here. When I've felt the urge to fall back into those habits, it's often because there is something else going on in my life that feels out of control or overwhelming and the eating disorder is a comfortable coping mechanism. What do you think might be sitting beneath this urge? What are you feeling? Are there other coping mechanisms you can try to work through those feelings without hurting yourself?
@monbon
Heei! I'm Aria, 18 years old and I've been diagnosed with anorexia (bulimic subtype) and depression a little more than 1 1/2 years ago - though all that "started" when I was between the age of 13 and 14. I also have problems with sleeping - quite a few actually :> - and panic attacks (and difficulties with social interactions...)
I actually wouldn't say I'm currently in recovery as I'm struggeling quite a lot with my weight, body image and eating in general while my depression also has a pretty tight grab around me.
Well, a lot has happened since I got diagnosed. A lot of tears, blood and sweat - literally. Though not only my tears and that breaks my heart...
Anyways I'm willing to listen to you and try to be there and understand and maybe even give advices on how to deal with all of this, if it is within my abbilities. Take care!
@Ariaxxx - Hi there and a very belated welcome to the eating disorder support community! You said that you wouldn't necessarily say you were in recovery in January. How have things progressed since then? Do you have support around you with this? You're always welcome to reach out if you could use someone to talk to!
Hi Im Kelly. Im 16 and ive had anorexia for about 3 years now.Ive had those days were im able to eat something but the next three days i eat nothing.As if latly ive been getting better at eating and making sure im busy doing the things i love.I was diagnosed with anorexia and depression when i was 13 and 12.It was really hard for me and my family to actually relize that this was happening to me.We had lots of fights for the next 2 years.
Those fights would go on for months and i would stay locked in my room.As of last year (2k17) i wanted to change and i wanted to be better for me and my family.So thats when the i was able to eat but the next three days i wouldnt eat would take part.Im still struggling with eating and depression,but its a lot better than it used to be.
Im trying to stay competed to being better for my family and tey undertsand im trying but its been really hard.Im willing to keep trying and stay strong for them.
@KellyJoann It's really good you're trying to keep on fighting against your mental illnesses, but I do reccommend on trying to do this not "only" for the sake of your family but also for yourself. While family is very important they shouldn't be the one mere reason you are fighting. At the end it is your fight where the outcome might have an impact on them but the person it has the biggest effect on is you. Please don't get me wrong: It is good that your family gives you the strenght to keep going. It really is! But I had that too when I was "trying" to recover and at some point it just got so freaking hard that I couldn't keep on going. Maybe try and make a list with the things that motivate you and that you'll hopefully reach with recovery? Tha way on the thougher days you can look at it and know why you are doing this. Stay strong and take care. <3
Hi
I am 22 tears old and I have binge eating disorder. I look at food and eat it. I think about food all the time. I have no control over my eating habits. I eat food all the time.
I have serious fitness goals, like long runs and becoming very strong. But I can't seem to do it
Please help me get past this
@mahimabathla - Hi there - I'm glad you reached out and I'm sorry it took so long to get a response here! I find with struggles with binge eating, one really helpful first step can be figuring out when you tend to have the urge to binge the most and when things are easier. Is it a certain time of day, when you have a certain feeling, when you are stressed about a certain thing, etc.? Figuring out those patterns can help you set a plan for how to deal with those stressers in another way. If it would help to talk through, you're welcome to reach out! Take care
Hi Im brand new to this community!
Heres a summary to get to know me: Im 19, in my first year of uni studying psychology. I live in the uk ☺️ Most people view me as bubbly outgoing and very extroverted: I do very well in uni, I have friends, I dont feel socially awkward, I have a loving boyfriend and a nice family life- sounds pretty good right ? Except I have such a bad binge eating disorder which I feel has been around forever and it haunts me everyday. it is a weight on my whole existence and i feel like it will never go away and will drag me around forever.
Can anyone else relate ? I ironically feel alone...
Welcome to the community! Sorry for the late reply. I'm glad to hear you're doing well at Uni - I'm an American psychology student, so it seems we may having something in common. You are not alone, there are plenty of us here who struggle with EDs, including binge eating disorder. I hope to see you around the community :). Feel free to reach out for a chat in the future, should you feel you needo one. Many hugs 
