I've had mine for 30 years and after healing from a childhood trauma I am finally on a path to permanently healing the ED as well. I'm very close to having it healed. Don't give up on healing. ED's can be permanently healed.

Thank you so much LuckyEmpath. This made me feel so much better. I wonder how you got started on that, it came from the trauma healing? So proud of you!!

LOL, nope you're definitely not a freak, bluerain...
Like Lucky I've had mine for 30+ years, also as a result from childhood trauma.
Some wounds take a LONG time to heal.
We'll all get there, no matter how long it takes:)

Yes it did come from the trauma healing. I learned that my ED was a coping mechanism I used to prevent myself from feeling overwhelming feelings. During the healing process you allow yourself to feel them all, process them and heal. It was only once I was through that process that I could work on feeling my feelings instead of pushing them down with a binge.

It was a long difficult process but really worth it in the end. If you have a trauma in your past I'd recommend healing it so you can move forward.

Thank you both. I do have trauma, but it's a different kind than maybe others expect. I had a parent leave suddenly. I never thought of it as trauma, but friends are now pointing out that this could in fact be trauma. I know others have gone through worse. Either way, thanks so much. I really need to just look at some past stuff.

I don't think traumas can be compared as one being worse than another. It really is measured on how it makes you feel and I think a parent leaving suddenly can be very traumatic to a child. Parents create stability for us and for one to leave it shatters a child's world. But you can heal from it so I hope you will look into working with a therapist if you are not already. It really is worth it to heal....life is so much better after.

Thank you so much LuckyEmpath. I have a therapist, but I have been so focused on the NOW, as it seems I have, over the past decade, recreated many forms of other traumas in order to distract myself from my eating disorder. I'm now really ready to make it better.

But a lot of family has given up..

That is too bad family has given up. As long as you don't you will find your path to healing. ((Hugs))

I am 40 and have been dealing with this for about 20 years....you are definitely not alone and ED is definitely not just a kids issue. Like others, my ED stems from trauma and I am working on healing that trauma, and as I do my ED behaviors lessen.

There is a lot of great support here....welcome to the group!

Thanks so much snnycamehome. Just went on a rant in another post.

I have been dealing with Ed since age 12 and I'm 33. Only the last 5 years have been not very bad but I still engage in behaviors. Ugh it seems like an uphill battle. But there is a light at the end of the journey.

Hi~
I'm truly an "old-timer", 55. I've battled with an eating disorder for a very long time. Just recently I was in a treatment center. I've done well since out--1 slip and the urge to do it again but have resisted. It's never ending for me. My family is horribly critical and skeptical. I guess I have given them reason to not trust me but now I seek their support. It doesn't seem to go that way.
Yes, I feel old too. It just seems to odd to me to have an eating disorder at this stage of my life. With work and the silencing of that ED voice, maybe I'll get out of this completely. Here's hoping!
Lisa

I still may be on the younger side, but I'm 30 and have been dealing with it since I was 12 technically. But when looking back it started well before then....that's just when it got bad.

I feel once you've battled it for a certain length of time that it's never going to leave us. At least that's how I feel. I feel trapped for life. And, I don't remember life without it....I honestly truly don't.

I'm 30 and it started when I was 14 w some intermittent years of quasi recovery. Hope you realize you're definitely not alone being an adult and not a teen as is stereotypical. I am frustrated because currently the only ED group here is for teens and I know there's many more women like me/us. As far as type of trauma- I was never abused, neglected. I have fantastic parents w a good upbringing. But they were emotionally distant and couldn't process what I was going through and that is valid trauma for me because it destroyed me. Intentional or not that was traumatic. Don't judge against anyone else's story because it will make you feel invalidated in your feelings. Your perception is truth to you. Welcome to the group :)