Eating Disorders Support Group

Eating disorders are marked by an obsessive need to control the intake and/or purging of food. This community is dedicated to those struggling on the road to recovery. Join to discuss your experience with others and find support. Get advice, ask questions, and meet others who are going through similar struggles.

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wildflowers44 05/19/2015

I'm recovering from a restrictive eating disorder and also have anxiety and depression, but for the past year or so, have been having problems sleeping. I wake up between 1 and 3AM every night, which is about 4 hours after I go to sleep. Sometimes I fall back asleep for an hour or so after being up a few hours, but sometimes, I do not.

Recently, when I awake early in the morning, I feel like I need to eat something. I am working with a dietitian to gain weight, as I am at an unhealthy weight for my body. Usually, I will get up and get something healthy to eat. This morning I woke at 1AM, laid in bed for 20 or so minutes and couldn't fall back asleep, so made myself a bowl of cereal with nuts and a banana. I feel so much guilt over eating at this time of day, but I feel sort of hungry and just like I need to eat something (my hunger cues are messed up since I have restricted for so long). I usually count this snack as part of my meal plan I am supposed to eat.

I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this particular sleep problem of waking very early in the morning, and if so, if you have found any solutions. Also, I am wondering if anyone wakes up feeling like they need to eat. Should I allow myself to eat something, even if it's 2AM? Thank you so much for reading all this.

Fig4 05/19/2015

By all means, allow yourself to eat! Your body is telling you it needs nutrition. It doesn't matter if it's 1 or 2am.

I have similar sleep issues. It's difficult.

kathywonders 05/19/2015

I have had sleep pattern problems. Nowadays eating is fine for me so theyre not directly related. However if, for some extraordinary reason I have to go to bed when Im a little hungry then its almost impossible to get to sleep. Getting up and having something to eat is then the best fix to get to sleep. If I can sleep as long as I need to then I dont have a great rush to have breakfast but if I have to wake up particularly early I feel as though my blood sugar is really low and I have to have something sweet immediately.

Obviously it would be ideal to sleep all night long but if you wake up hungry I think its fine to have cereal, nuts and a banana or a sandwich or something similar. As your recovery proceeds and you are able to nourish yourself better during the day your hunger cues should get back in sync and allow you to sleep better.

sarasota34233 05/19/2015

I have the exact same situation you are in. I wake up between 12:30 and 1:00 and am hungry. I also restrict and am in the process of gaining weight. For the first few months I felt so guilty about it but my nutritionist assured me it was ok. It has not impacted my weight even though I am not restricting during the day. It must be my body really telling me that it is hungry. I eat things like cereal with milk, a turkey sandwich, a hot pocket...sometimes even a cookie or two. It's ok to listen to your body...but I can relate to how bad that feels.

wildflowers44 05/21/2015

Thank you so much for all of your replies. I am sorry you all deal with similar sleep issues, though. Thank you for reassuring me that it is okay to eat. I am working on getting over the guilt and looking at this as a challenge that I can overcome rather than something negative.

kathywonders 05/22/2015

Well done Wildflower. All the best with your snacking!

ann54 05/26/2015

I am fortunate to not have sleep problems but I was thinking that now that you are getting help with eating and getting healthy your bodies senses are awakening. your body is getting used to being fed again and it just cant get enough and waking up and feeling hungry is your body telling you it wants more. eating what you are is very healthy and I say go for it. I so understand the guilt and fear, I am struggling myself andit is easy to give advice, as we all know what we should do. I am at a ok weight but still struggle with eating to much. I wish you the very best of luck in your journey and hopes for a healthy body and mind.

wildflowers44 05/27/2015

Ann,

Thank you so much for your encouragement. It is so very much appreciated. I am sorry to hear you're struggling, but I truly believe that if you keep fighting and refuse to give up, there are much better times ahead for you. Don't give up!

eshaw 06/02/2015

I woke up the other day to a half eaten fiber bar. Even in my sleep I have gotten up and somehow managed to listen to my inner hunger. I don't remember waking up and doing this so it is somewhat frightening, but regardless, the body will fight to get its needs met. I see no shame in this. I hope you will allow yourself to snack when you're hungry. I am working on this, and as hard as it may seem it is good to know I'm not alone. Keep listening to your body and allow yourself to eat when you are hungry.

kpsurfersfan 06/02/2015

If your body needs extra fuel and not eating would cause insomnia (which I've found in the past), it's smart to listen to your body.
For example, last night before I went to bed I had some extra protein because my tummy was acidy. It felt "weird" to do this (night eating can feel triggering for me still sometimes...) but my "wise mind" said it's okay. Re-educating our minds takes lots of practice, small steps... over and over. Well done with looking after yourself! :)

wildflowers44 06/03/2015

eshaw - That's wonderful you are listening to your body when it tells you it needs fuel at night. Thank you for sharing this with me - your courage is very inspiring! Hopefully as we continue to recover and eat well, we will be better able to sleep through the night. But for now, cheers to nighttime snacking :)

kpsurfersfan - Well done for listening to your "wise mind"! That is a wonderful reminder to listen to our "wise mind" or "healthy selves"...we just have to trust that part of us!

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