Small Victories
Happy Recovery Month! As part of our celebrations, let's share some small victories here and in the feed!
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In eating disorder recovery, sometimes it's the little, day-to-day victories that mean the most, so I wanted to create a thread for us to share those.
I'll start. Yesterday at a football watch party, I let go of my hang-up about cream-cheese based dips (I know, weirdly specific, but there it is) and ate some delicious cheesecake dip that a friend made that normally I wouldn't have let myself have. Yum!
@Anomalia
I have not used or bought any Laxatives for a fair bit of time now. I was big in abusing laxatives for quite a long time, the pain that came with it for hours is something I feel subconsciously to this day. but more so the addicting factor was something difficult to stay away from. I remember starting with one pill, and next day I would add another, and another and another. I got a laxative abuse scare once, I thought I almost damaged by stomach functioning. I still don't understand why pharmacies sell them as over the counter drugs. Easy access is the reason I got in this mess in the first place. Thankfully, I managed to get out before it was too late.
@MimiBliss I am so glad you were able to overcome this as well. Congratulations! I have many friends who have sustained permanent damage from laxative abuse and it is a terrible thing. Good for you 
@beautifulKoala49
I understand the struggles your friends must be facing.. I'm so sorry to hear that. But thank you I am glad It wasn't for too long... but I know how it feels to get hooked onto such a slowly damaging substance.
@MimiBliss - I'm really proud of you! I know that took immense strength to break away from the habit, but doing so means such positive things for your health. Well done! You are a warrior!
@MimiBliss
Not quite sure what you
I am finally one year clean. It has been a battle, but i made it through
@Bringmetolife102 - That's incredible! I'm really proud of you. What was the most helpful thing in your recovery?
@Anomalia Just knowing that one day, i will make the world a better place. I write songs to make the world dance and happy. I write songs to make everyone know what can we do to work as one piece, and im hopeful for peace around the world.
I asked someone to eat lunch with me, and I actually ate in front of them.
@DancingAlong - Good for you! That can feel pretty overwhelming sometimes, but breaking past the barrier and doing it is great! How did it feel?
I'm gonna *bump* this thread up so we can celebrate together again!
A small victory for me yesterday was sorting out the difference between real hunger and emotional hunger and waiting to eat dinner until I had actual hunger :)
Celebrating the small victories is important. Even though I had an awful day with my anxiety, I finished 100% of my breakfast this morning. It's the small steps that count.
@Jedaws61 - That's fantastic! Well done at breakfast today *hugs*
i havent purged in over a year and a half i think about it alot though i almost did purge a few days ago but i didnt i used to have anorexia but i kinda have been getting better im not underweight now im actually overweight and it kills me i hate it but i havent starved in a few months i think 2 months
@imsorryitry - I am incredibly proud of you! Even if you are still thinking about purging, being able to have the strength to stop yourself from doing it is HUGE! What has been the most helpful thing so far in helping you with recovery? What do you think is the thing you need most now to be able to keep moving forward?
*hugs*
@Anomaliawell what really helped me was a hospital i was in ..they would watch me eat and make sure i didnt go to the bathroon after i ate for a while like an hour then when i went to the bathroom they would watch me with my 1-1 and i just feel like i cant get over starving honestly because ive been doing that since i was 10 or 11 im now 16 and its generally when i feel fat or ugly when i starve as a punishment for being fat or ugly or when i get weighed i starve or i cry because im so scared to get weighed and i beg my doctor (pysciatrist ) to not make me get weighed she makes me so ... plus im on a lot of meds or meds that will make you gain weight too so it doesnt help ... my doctors say just exercise and eat less i said ok but i dont want to i dont like it ... i usually keep how much i eat and how many calories i eat so but i havent been doing it lately
@imsorryitry - It sounds like there have been a lot of steps taken on helping your body recover physically by making sure you're eating and not purging, but are you also taking steps to work on the emotional side of things? Are you talking to anyone about these feelings around your body or around what makes you want to restrict?
@Anomalia
my therapist knows but we are working on my suicide attempts ad thoughts and my cutting and burning first plus im in a therapy for bpd and it teaches me skills i just started it 2 weeks ago i think
@imsorryitry - I'm glad to hear you're working with a therapist, and hopefully working on any of your struggles will also help with the eating disorder thoughts. In the meantime, if you would ever like some extra support, there are lots of great listeners here who take chats on EDs and would be happy to support! <3
Ive been gaining weight since November, and as much as I am proud of myself for beginning to eat more Im really struggling to accept the weight gain and I was wondering if anyone has any tips for accepting it
many thanks x
@greenGrapes4347 - Congratulations on your success so far! It is definitely a challenge to accept the weight, even as you recognize that you need to gain it, but there are some things that might help. For me, one of the most powerful ones was to reframe things about strength instead of size - so gaining weight meant that my body was getting stronger, and a stronger body would let me dance, hold my cousin, etc. and being able to eat more normally would let me spend time with friends, build stronger relationships, enjoy holidays and birthdays, etc. What does recovery give you?
@Anomalia thanks for the advice, I guess it gives me more freedom, I can go out with friends and worry less about what I eat and then seeing me eat. I also have more energy for art which I enjoy doing
Last week I was stuck at home (due to snow) and the local shop didn't have any bread in all week. Toast is one of my regular safe foods so that even if I can't eat a meal, I can have toast (or beans on toast if I'm in the mood). I made myself eat soup and other proper foods instead of just eating nothing.
@LittleLotte - That is fantastic! I'm really proud of you for recognizing that even when your usual go-to wasn't around, it was still important to make sure you ate and adapting / trying something a little new and a little scary. Well done!
@Anomalia Thanks! Now just dealing with the physical feelings and horrible thoughts that come with eating different meals!
I've now got some bread in my freezer so if it happens again, I'll still have some available and won't need to panic so much!
I'm trying my best not to fall back into bulimia, and although dificult, it's going well.
@greenbby - That's great to hear and I'm really proud of you! What has been the most helpful thing in staying on track with recovery? What is the hardest part?
This weekend ill be In 2 parties and Im worried about controlling my binge triggers, what do you recommend?
@Mirni Just don't try to restrict anything. Get away from that Mindset. The more you let your body feel it can eat anything it wants and when it wants, the more it is gonna trust you. And you won't have that binge urge. Hope it helps. :)
@Mirni - How did it go?