I'm a long time lurker on GBCN but I finally made a sn to post now that this board is available.
I've been struggling with binge eating for almost a decade now. I've gained well over 100 lbs and lost over 50-75 lbs twice during that time only to put it back on and more. Prior to this I maintained a very healthy weight and lifestyle. I finally started ED therapy this summer and went over 6 weeks binge free before relapsing. I'm up and down now, but I've gained back the weight I lost during those 6 weeks, which of course only made things worse on me emotionally. I've struggled with depression since I was a teen, which isn't much of a help during all of this. We're also dealing with a lot of financial issues which is a huge stress - so suffice it to say my life is a mess right now.
So, I'm hoping with continued therapy I can make progress on my issues (except the financial ones, therapy won't fix them) and relearn a healthy relationship with food and focus on making myself a healthier person in every sense of the term.
Thanks for having this board. I am looking forward to supporting others & receiving some support as well.
I'm here because I'm trying to learn to manage my depression/anxiety as well as my unhealthy relationship with food and alcohol and interpersonal communication problems.
It sounds like you have a lot of stress on your shoulders right now, so try not to be too hard on yourself. (I hate it when people say that to me, but it's true.) The important thing is that you're confronting your unhealthy behaviors. My therapist has told me that doing that is extremely difficult for most people (and impossible for some). Give yourself credit for the hard work you've been putting in. Reassure yourself that you're not defined by a single moment. And give yourself a break!
Are there relaxing things you like to do that don't involve food? I have recently rediscovered a love for writing and crafting. I always feel so much better if I can get away from everything for an hour or so to play with paper and decompress.
I'm actually working on "do 3 things" when I want to eat - find 3 different things to do when what I want to do is go to the fridge. They include walking, reading, TV, cleaning, napping - whatever 3 things I can think of to do to keep me away from it.
I'm actually working on "do 3 things" when I want to eat - find 3 different things to do when what I want to do is go to the fridge. They include walking, reading, TV, cleaning, napping - whatever 3 things I can think of to do to keep me away from it.
I like this, and I've also put it into practice (though for a slightly different reason). I can tell you that when I first started trying to change my habits in that way, it was difficult, but I can also tell you from experience that it does get easier.
Now, instead of facing a stressful situation and immediately turning to my coping crutch, I can look at my list (yes, I've written it out and I keep it where I can easily get to it) of other things to do that will help me calm down. My hope is that at some point I won't have to look at my list.
Isn't napping wonderful? I'm being serious...growing up I would basically babysit while my mom napped, so I still feel a lot of anxiety when I feel like I need to sleep midday...but I always feel SO much better when I wake up.
I live to nap. The only problem that I have is when I use that as a coping mechanism, it screws me up in the evening when I'm trying to go to sleep and often ends up with binges happening if I can't control them. But yes. Naps. Awesome.
I live to nap. The only problem that I have is when I use that as a coping mechanism, it screws me up in the evening when I'm trying to go to sleep and often ends up with binges happening if I can't control them. But yes. Naps. Awesome.
My H has this problem too...he's just now waking up from a very relaxing hour-long nap, and I know he won't be ready for bed before midnight. Still, naps are awesome!
Post by phoenixrising on Sept 4, 2014 17:36:23 GMT -5
Even though I just posted my own intro post last week, I wanted to say that I am glad you are here! I am well aware of the pain of the struggle with binge eating that you describe. I have been seeing my therapist for almost three years, and although I still am very engaged in eating disorder behaviors, I do feel like things could be so much worse if I had not started seeing her.
I love my therapist. It took a while to find someone who was a good fit, and she is perfect. While I still struggle daily, she has given me tools to keep it from being so much worse, just like you said.