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.
I joined this group mostly because I want to get this off my chest. I've recently noticed some habits that are concerning me. I had a really rough time last year, family stuff and work stuff combined and there was a period of about five months where I just couldn't catch a break. I didn't notice it at the time, but I think I started using eating/exercise as a way of maintaining control over something in my life. I have a strict work out routine (I work one to two times a day 7 days a week) and the thought of missing a work out causes me massive anxiety (it's really fun considering I'm in an ongoing battle with social and mild general anxiety); I actually rearrange my life and activities so that I can exercise and I won't participate in anything that disrupts my work out routine. Exercise is a form of punishment for me. If I do happen to eat something outside my usual routine for whatever reason, I'll puncish myself by doing extra reps or something like that. I also follow a strict routine with food - I have a set of meals that I eat each week and I don't deviate from it at all. This includes measuring out each component of my meals and never cooking with fats. I should probably add here that I'm not an athlete or anything, it's just a routine I follow.
I've noticed that my eating habits are directly related to my stress/anxiety levels. As my anxiety increases, the control I exert over my eating and exercise habits increases. On top of this I can't get passed the imperfections in my body. My roommate is always telling me that I'm tiny and skinny, but all I see is the rolls on my stomach and the fat on my legs and this only motivates me to continue doing what I'm doing so that I don't gain weight (something I'm insanely afraid of). I've only recently noticed this and I was only mildly concerned about it all until the previous weekend when I caught myself seriously considering skipping dinner because I was stressed out over a family argument and I felt like I was drowning.
This was a bit of a long spiel, but I guess I want to know if this is something to be concerned about? Is it something I should seek help for? (I have experience as a mental health professional, so I want to make sure that I'm not overreacting and just playing at diagnosing myself).
I'm not a professional so I'm definitely not qualified to diagnose or make a determination about whether or not you officially have an ED, but it does sound like you are developing some unhealthy habits that could at least lead to an ED. I would suggest seeking help from a therapist now, before things get worse. ED's can be incredibly hard to manage, so the sooner you get help and support the better.
Wishing you all the best...
I too think that this is definitely a way to an ED. Anxiety and stress are the leading cause in so many cases. You can't control certain situations in your life at the moment, so you mentally seek that feeling by controlling other things in your life (food and exercise). Yes...seek help. It's never too early or not worth worrying about, and you will be fine :)
ED is like a slide, once you give it the first push, it's hard to stop.
So I say, avoid that push.
Wish you health and happiness.