Introduce yourself to the 7 Cups Eating Disorder Community!
I'm 23 and have been struggling with disordered eating since the age of 8. I've had quite a few traumatic events happen recently which has resulted in an upswing in E.D. symptoms that's scaring me.
@IndubitableSunflowers - It sounds like you've been struggling for a really long time on your own and things are getting worse right now. I'm so sorry to hear that, and I think that reaching out here is a great first step towards getting the help and support that you need. Have you tried talking to anyone about what's going on? That can be enormously helpful in starting to get on the path to recovery. I know it's hard, but I also know it's possible and I want you to have that chance. Take care, and let me know if there's any way I can support you.
Hey All -- I attempting to recover from anorexia on my own. I feel comfortable in, and am struggle to want to let go of, a brain fog which numbs my "energizer-bunny" struggle with existentialism, meaning, and purity. I am a seemingly healthy, happy, successful individual struggling with self acceptance of trust and love in my life so to feel I deserve the warmth of those who most care for me.
@Mypaperface - Welcome to the community here - I'm glad you're reaching out. It can be so tough when you appear so put together on the outside and are struggling so much inside. I will say, you are 100% deserving of the love and care of those around you, even when you don't feel it. One of the truest things I've ever seen applies here - you are worth so much more than the value you place on yourself.
Thank you deeply. It feels weak for someone so self-identified as untouchable... to reach out. I almost feel selfish and egocentric demanding anonymous attention on a forum, but the kinship of humanity helps aid the disassociation of myself the creature to myself the feeling, deserving human. I always find, in my most anxiety ridden times, aid here.
Im 28 and Ive been bulimic since I was sixteen. Ive also struggled a little with anorexia. I had been doing great for months, not binging and purging regularly, but I have recently relapsed. I havent told anyone about this because everyone has been so happy for me.
Im trying very hard not to purge after eating, but my digestion is completely off and Im constantly nauseous. Even though I know the food wont make me fat, I get sick every time I eat, regardless of my emotions attached to eating. Im afraid Ive ruined my body. I just want to eat a bowl of cereal without throwing up a little in my mouth.
@WindowSeat4477 - I can completely relate to the hesitation to tell people you are relapsing when they are so happy you have recovered. That was an enormous struggle for me, as well. It helped me to keep reminding myself that a) if the situation were reversed, I would want to be able to support them and to know their pain, and so likely they would want to know as well and b) if it keeps getting worse, it will be harder to tell them later.
The other thing I found a lot of inspiration in was the song 'Starting Over' by Macklemore. It addresses the same idea from the side of drug addiction - that his recovery had inspired a lot of people, and when he relapsed, he was really scared to tell anyone. The two lines that stood out to me were:
"But Id rather live telling the truth and be judged for my mistakes / Than falsely held up, given props, loved and praised"
and
"If I can be an example of getting sober / Then I can be an example of starting over"
Hope that helps, and please reach out if I can support you in any way.
Im Aimee and i am 17. I have suffered from binge eating disorder for about 7 years and started when i was getting bullied. I will either eat and not be able to stop until i throw up or i will not eat at all. My weight is difficult to manage and i hate myself because of it.
@DistantMemory123 - I am so sorry that you have been struggling so much and for so long. You are not alone, and as you can see in these forums, there are a lot of people struggling with the same things you are. I know for me, it helped a lot to talk to others about how I was feeling and to be really honest with myself and others. If you think that would help you, too, you can always reach out to a listener here and they would be happy to talk and to support you. Take care, sweetie. You can get through this.
I'm 13, and I have binge eating disorder. I can eat a bag of chips/crisps, jello, and ice cream and still feel like eating more. I am naturally skinny, but I should be obese because of how I eat.
@Firepenguin711 - It can be tough to feel like you can't control the urges to just keep eating, but it's great that you have identified that it's an issue for you and opened up here. Keep being open and honest, both with yourself and others, and you can get through this!
I'm 15, and I have been bulimic for just over a year now. I'm currently taking 40mg of Fluoxetine a day to help the urges to binge, and it's really helping. I have lost quite a bit of weight, but I'm determined to put it back on
@sophisnotonfire - I'm really proud of and impressed by your determination and your strength to keep fighting. That's amazing! You can do this and you are doing so well! Take care, and please reach out for any support you need.
Hello out there. I'm on here because I've been struggling a lot this summer with my eating. In times of stress I tend to revert to a sort of bulimia like existence without the binge eating. I'm in a role where I help others with their emotional troubles yet still struggle myself. I'm so good at helping others yet often neglect to take care of myself because it never feels "that bad." Mostly I'm on here to start admitting to myself (through admitting to others) that everything isn't fine and that's okay.
@LimeGreenTalker2625 - I think admitting to yourself (and others) that you aren't fine and that's okay is an ENORMOUS step and I'm really proud of you for posting here! It is definitely easier sometimes to focus on other people than on yourself, but know that you deserve that focus, that support, and that path to recovery, too. If you ever need to chat, feel free to reach out. And until then, stay strong, friend!
Thanks for the kind words
Hi i'm kelly and i'm 18. i have been diagnosed with Anorexia when i was a little younger. i started losing weight to get ahead in dance and when i started to jump higher and look better my dance teacher praised me. since then i've find it difficult for me to gain enough weight for me to be in a healthy weight.
@KellyLeon - I responded to your other post, but wanted to respond here as well. I'm really glad you're reaching out. That, to me, is the first and most important step in recovering. I know that reactions like that of your dance teacher can make everything so much harder, but I hope that you are hearing other messages, as well, that are encouraging health and body image. Take care
It's going to be a long road I know but I know in the long run I will one day be healthy
Hello! I am a woman at 21 who suffers from GAD and depression. I have been struggling with this for at least 8 years now and it is really tearing on me. I have increasing suicidal thoughts and my boyfriend and my friends doesn't really get it so I can't talk to them about it. Currently waiting for care since my doctor has sent my case to some other psychologist to look at so I have no help from them at the moment. All I can do is drug myself with medicines and hope that tomorrow will be better. Really needed this app!
@GirlOnFire93 - I'm really glad you've found this community - it sounds like you could use some people to talk to who get it, and there are a lot here who do. Hopefully you'll hear back from the new psychologist soon, but in the meantime, if you ever need to chat, you can grab a listener here and talk about whatever you need to. This is a safe space, and we want to support you. Take care, and stay strong. You can survive this.
Hey guys,
My name is Jelle, I've also got an eating disorder.
I'm a listener on this website and would like to invite people to message me in case they want to talk :)
Thanks for offering help in the middle of your own situation. :)