Introduce yourself to the 7 Cups Eating Disorder Community!
hello, i'm sarah. i'm 16 and have struggled with my weight and eating disorders since i was 12. over the last year i have gotten to basically a healthy weight, but recently ive been slipping back into not eating for days. eating is one of the biggest ways that i feel in control of my life, if that makes sense. the feeling of restricting makes me feel good about myself, almost powerful, i think. i rarely ever throw up, but i used to a lot. it has been such a rocky road, i hope i learn better ways to deal with all this...
@trashgf - I can definitely relate to that need for the control you feel by restricting, and I understand the appeal of slipping back. But it sounds like you really are looking for alternate way to cope and to move forward with the progress that you have made in recovery and I applaud you for that. If you ever need to chat about it or want help brainstorming alternatives, you can PM me any time. Take care and stay strong - you can beat this!
Hi my name is Paige and I'm 21 and I was diagnosed with anorexia purging type 4 years ago. Right now in doing really well in recovery; I've been behavior free for over a year and a half and it feels really good. I never thought I'd get this far but the hard work paid off. I'm struggling mentally with just depression and not feeling like I'm where I'm supposed to be for my age and I can seem to figure out what I want to do with my life/career and it's been really hard on me lately. Any advice, or anything would be greatly appreciated I just feel stuck and lost. I hope to those struggling find peace soon and those doing well I'm proud of you. Keep working hard and kicking butt! :)
@Paige294 - First and foremost, congratulations on all your successes in recovery! It sounds like you've made and maintained such progress and that is so inspiring to hear!!!
And I definitely know what you mean by feeling like you're behind for where you should be at your age (I've for sure felt that at various stages), but I truly think that everyone moves at different paces and in different ways. It's not necessarily that you're behind, so much as on a different path. Since I'm not sure what areas you feel like you're behind in, I can't address them specifically, but look at the ways you are ahead of others!
You have the strength of knowing you can go through hell and come out the other side stronger - most 21 year olds haven't figured out how to survive the tough things yet. You have coping mechanisms you've developed to deal with stress - most 21 year olds haven't experienced anything that intense yet and thus aren't prepared when it comes. You have the courage that comes with facing something as intense as recover - most 21 year old fear much smaller things. There are so many things you have learned and ways you have grown that will make you stronger and more prepared going forward and you can move leaps and bounds! And at the end of the day, if you can say you're healthy and happy, that is more important than anything else.
Take care of yourself, feel free to reach out if you want to chat about this, and stay strong!
Hi I'm Sarah and I am 20. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety at age 15. I have not spoken before to anybody about my relationship with food. I just want to talk to somebody because I do not want to see any doctors right now.
@incenseburning - Hi Sarah, I'm really glad you reached out. It can definitely be overwhelming to think about talking to doctors at first, and it can help to talk to someone else first to get more comfortable. If you want to connect, you can feel free to PM me anytime. Take care!
@incenseburning
Hey Sarah,
If you want to talk to someone, this is the right place!:) feel free to contact me we can talk :)
Hi I joined this forum awhile ago as this year in particular i developed a really unhealthy relationship with food and trying to be too health.Over the last few months its ust gotten worse and i avoid certain foods and when i indulge often binge eat till im sick and this is something cant seen to resolve it on my own and would like before i lose more weight , get sick and also as i know i have friends and family really worried including myself about me
@purplegreen - I'm glad you're reaching out. It sounds like you've hit a point where you might be ready to get some help and have realized that this isn't something you can go through on your own, and you're right. Talking here, whether in forums of 1-1 chats, is a really good start. To get more direct support, it might help to see a doctor or therapist who can really dig in deeper with you on what's going on - does that sound like something you might be able to do? Other options are support groups, nutritionists, group therapy, etc., all of which have different things to offer.
At the end of the day, this is a big batter to fight, and the larger your support network and resources, the better. But you are strong and capable and you absolutely can beat this. And you've taken the first big step. Keep fighting, stay strong, and reach out anytime. Take care
@Anomalia thanks for your reply , It was really helpful as i am only starting to get help so Ill definitely take some of the advice on board and will try looking for a few things online for the moment suits the most to have the time . But i am also looking in my area for help its just a bit harder to commit to it and I did recently go to a doctor which is what spurred me onto seeking something online and hopefully ill start to get better but it is really hard as this has become so much of a habit for me
@purplegreen - Hey, I just wanted to check in and see how things were going and if you've had any luck with some of the resources you're looking into. Take care!
@Anomalia Thanks for checking in :)
I feel i havent used the forum as much as i thought i would but i did look locally for help in my area and went to a councelling session which sort of helped as i didnt like it at ALL but i made me realise maybe i do need more help so i have finally been able to admit to two close friend si have a real problem and ask them for help and make them aware i need then more even just chatting more even about nothing important stuff has really improved my mood and therefore made me feel better about myself and im starting to eat better and try harder to get better
@purplegreen - I'm really glad to hear that you're doing a little better and have been able to open up to a couple of friends - having that kind of support around you can make a HUGE difference! Don't hesitate to reach out if I can help in any way, and stay strong! You can absolutely beat this!
@purplegreen
I am sorry you have to go through this. Thankfully, you are finding solutions and 7 Cups is a great way to start!:)
Hi there,
My name is Brieanna. I'm a 24 year old female living in Texas in the US. I have suffered from severe depression since I was diagnosed at the age of 11, and I also suffer from severe anxiety.
I have been struggling to cope with my depression since I have chosen to go unmediated for the past 10 years, and a friend of mine suggested this app, as it has helped her deal with many issues she has faced.
I am excited to be here. Thank you in advance for your kindness.
Sincerely,
Brieanna
@briebrie09 - Welcome, Brieanna! I'm glad you've found this community and I hope that it's able to provide you the support you're looking for. :)
@briebrie09
Brieanna
Great to have you on 7 Cups, we are here for you when you need someone to talk!:)
Hi, I'm Ian, and I'm in high school currently. Although I've never been diagnosed with an eating disorder, I had a close call with what I believe to be anorexia (I dropped [edited for weight specifics / triggers by forum mentor] lbs in 3 months and limited myself to [edited] calories per day). I starved myself because I believed I wasn't thin enough. Although I pulled out of my starvation habits and I'm slowly gaining weight back, I'm now super insecure about my body; I absolutely hate my body and I constantly feel too fat, and those feelings are becoming constant. Recently I began eating less again and I'm noticing that I've started counting calories again, and I'm worried I'll fall back into my old habits and I'll develop a full blown eating disorder. So yeah, that's my story.
@Goog - Hi Ian. I'm really glad you reached out here - I know that can take a lot of courage, but it's a huge step towards not falling back into your eating disorder. You're admitting what's going on to yourself and to us, and that counts for a lot.
Unfortunately, I know all too well how hard it is to change body image, and I'm so sorry that you're struggling with it so much right now. One thing that really helped me in my recovery was to try to change my focus away from appearance or weight and over to function. Are there things that you can do now when you are stronger that you couldn't do before? Are there goals that you can achieve that focus on strength or stamina or something other than weight? Take care, and please reach out if you need any support.
@OpenFire
Hello Ian,
I am sorry you are going through this. Fortunately you are reaching out by talking about it, this is a good step. Take care and good luck!:) We are here for you!
@OpenFire silverchair.
I have binged and overeaten as long as I can remember. I crave sweets and fast food. I binge daily and eat foods that end up making me sick. I feel like compulsions control me and I'm punishing myself with food and I don't know why. I need help I want to change. I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and since being labeled with that it has sent me into a tale spin.
@morethanthis - I'm sorry things are feeling out of control right now - a diagnosis can be really scary and overwhelming, but I hope that it will also ultimately help you get the support you need to feel stronger.
In terms of binging, the biggest thing I can say is to be kind to yourself and forgiving. It's hard not to beat yourself up when you're feeling guilty about a binge, but if instead you can be gentle and talk to yourself as if you were a dear friend, it takes a little of the pressure away. And take it one day at a time. It's probably not realistic to say you will never binge again, but I bet there are some times when you feel the urge and resist it, and those are big victories!
Take care and don't hesitate to reach out if you need some extra support from a listener here.
@morethanthis
Morethanthis. What you describe is a very strong situation to go through and I am sorry you feel guilty about binging... It is a strong emotion to cope with. guilt is a strong feeling it can make us lose our self confidence in what we can control. please now we are here if you need to talk, take care and be safe.
Hi everyone. I'm Nat. I have had an eating disorder for the last 15 years, transitioning from anorexia to now bulimia in the last 5 years. Nobody knows, not even my husband and I really want to change and become normal. My life is pretty happy except for this multiple-times-a-day battle with overeating and purging. :(
@optimisticFarm8029 - I'm sorry that you've had to struggle with this for so long and without any support. But recovery absolutely is possible, and you've already taken two of the most important steps - you've decided you want recovery and you've reached out here. Please feel free to message me or any other listener if you want some extra support on your journey - I've taken the same steps you are now, and I know how hard they can be to take alone.
Take care and stay strong - you can beat this!
@Anomalia thanks for replying to my post, it's the first time I've admitted it either anonymously or in person. I'm not doing great, I've purged every day that I've tried not to. any advice?
@optimiaticfarm8209 - it's tough. It really is. And it's a long slow road with lots of stumbles. But it's possible.
One of the biggest things that heled me was just to give myself a time requirement. If I wanted to purge, I was allowed to, but first I had to wait 20 or 30 minutes. And during that time I would find a distraction, even if it was just tv, to try to get myself to not feel that need so strongly. It didn't always work, but sometimes just knowing I had permission helped me to calm down and be able to wait and distract. You can use 7 cups as that distraction, too, and talk to a listener while you wait it out.
When you do purge, I think it's important to be able to understand your biggest triggers to try to avoid them, but then to forgive yourself and move forward. You cannot change what has already happened, but you can focus on the next decision you have to make and do your best there.
And my last thing is something that I was told in a support group once that blew my mind at the time. A girl there said that she had a jar of pebbles and each day she didn't purge, she put a new one in to visualize her recovery. I asked if she emptied it when she slipped and she didn't. I was shocked because to me, slipping back felt like starting all over. But she said, and I now believe, that slipping today does not discount the progress from before. Each day you don't purge is still good for your body and makes you stronger, no matter what happens the next day. Slips are normal and expected, but you can keep moving forward from them. If a day is too much right now, maybe it's celebrating each meal you get through at first. Each one is a victory and each one counts towards recovery.
You are so much stronger than you know, and you can beat this. Please reach out if I can help support you in any way.
@Anomalia wow, that makes so much sense! thank you so much for your message, I'm still working towards my first day purge free but I'm going to try what you said and keep working on this. thank you. I didn't know what to expect when I signed up with this site, but I'm learning new and useful tools every day. I never knew this kind of help was out there. I wish i'd found this site years ago. x
@Anomalia
I DID IT!! TODAY WAS MY FIRST DAY!!! YOU ARE A MIRACLE WORKER! I'm goingto hope for a 2 day streak but I'm not going to be too hard on myself if I don't. If I can do 1 day, then there's proof, I can do this.
Hi, I'm Laura. I'm 18, I've been suffering from anxiety and depression on and off for most of my teenage years, but finally got diagnosed with anxiety and depression back in July. I was taking (edited for medication specifics by forum mentor), but it wasn't doing anything so I stopped. I have Binge Eating Disorder, and I'm really starting to struggle with it. I just want to talk to someone who I can relate myself to.
@Lauralisa - First of all, welcome to 7 Cups and thanks for reaching out. I know it can be hard to open up, so I'm very proud of you for doing that. It's so tough when you feel alone in your struggles, but I can promise you that you are not alone and that there are many people here who are or have struggled with the same things and want to support you. If you ever need to talk, feel free to reach out to me or any other listener here. Take care
@Anomalia Thankyou x
Hi! I have binge eating disorder as well. If you want to talk about it, I'd be happy to.
Hi, My name is Abby, Im 16 years old. I have been diagnosed with anorexia for a few months now, but have been dealing with a problem with eating for a few years now. I dont like talking to people i know about it because they always tell my mom and she doesnt believe any of it is true and just gets angry at me... i thought id give this a try.
@BroadwayBaby24 - I'm glad you've found us and are reaching out! It can definitely be hard to talk to people in your life about this when they don't understand or can't relate, but there is a huge community of people here who have been where you are and who get it. Please reach out to me or anyone else here if we can help support you in your recovery! Stay strong