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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Kward 01/30/2017

I have struggled with Bulimia for over a decade and it ebbs and flows, sometimes I do well, othertimes I relapse. The problem right now (well always really) is that I have such strong triggers. I work with and am friends with several women that are younger and thinner and constantly talking about thier weight and diets and being skinny. This sets me off and I get angy, and jealous and revert to bulimia. Then I get very mad at myself because I know better and want to be above all of that. In a perfect world, they wouldn't talk about that constantly and I wouldn't have to deal with it, but since that is not an option . . . what can I do? I want to be social and be able to be with these people without feeling angry or competative all the time.

LuckyEmpath 01/30/2017

Hi KWard, welcome to the group. I'm sorry you are struggling right now. It is very difficult to be around others who constantly talk about weight and size. I always had a difficult time with "thin" people who talk about how fat they are because they gained 2 pounds when I was struggling to lose 100 pounds. Its so very hard.

If you are not already working with a therapist I would ask you to consider it. A good therapist can help you heal from anything in your past and can help you work toward having a good body image, self esteem and eating habits. You can heal and you deserve to heal. You deserve to live a life free from the ED.

((Hugs))

CeeCee4 01/31/2017

Be honest too. I have told my friends " I don't really want to talk about weight right now. I have struggled with an eating disorder for many years and it bothers me skmetimes. I hope that's ok." 99% of people back off and don't talk about it because they are respectful. Or you can politely change the subject. I feel being honest is best

blueraincoat123 02/01/2017

I agree with CeeCee. Also, you might be surprised: maybe one of these other girls, like you, doesn't want to talk about weight--she just feels she has to in order to fit in. No one actually really LIKES talking about it, they just feel they should. RElieve yourself and THEM of the burden of that kind of chitchat. Not worth your health.

Kward 02/01/2017

Thank you for the advice y'all. I worry that I am being rude asking others to not talk about what they are interested in because I have a problem. I am envious that they can talk about that and that they can do dieting and such and have success and not get into unhealthy habits like I do. Do you, like me, often wish the world could just develop amnesia and not have ever been so body image conscious and this wouldn't be so hard. I feel like nowhere is safe from triggers.

CeeCee4 02/02/2017

I guess the question is how to handle triggers. You'll never escape them but how to react to them healthfully is the answer. It's hard. I avoid certain actives or things still due to triggers. One step at a time.

grace4352 02/02/2017

Sometimes when my friends bring up their diets or exercise I gently change the subject to something that is slightly related but just enough to start moving off the topic.
My psychologist always used to tell me to face my feelings- while this is painful and not fun, our emotions are always trying to communicate something to us/tell us something. In the moments of your friends talking about diet and weight, maybe create a mantra for you to repeat in your head for times like this. Maybe saying to yourself "I am enough just as I am" or "a number does not define me" or "I'm full of light, I'm confident, I'm enough"--- pick a phrase that brings you peace and repeat it to yourself in moments like that with your friends :) I hope this idea helps you<3 Thank you for posting and keep posting<3

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