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 have been struggling w/dual addictive disorders (bulimia and alcoholism) for over 20 years. I have not had a drink in over three years, but still struggle w/the bulimia. A strong incentive for not drinking has been the fact that I am in a state monitoring program because I am in a high public risk health profession (in other words, if I relapse on mind altering substances, I could be a risk to the public). I accept the monitoring program and find it generally helpful, and think I have grown and become much happier as a person without the alcohol, but the food is still such a struggle. I am not a big fan of twelve step programs, and although I find aspects of their content very helpful (a lot of parallels w/Buddhism), I disagree w/ a lot of OAs philosphies and approaches (more so than AA) although I find the comraderie helpful. I was wondering if anyone has found alternatives that worked for them that they could contribute to a discussion topic. I realize I will likely struggle w/these impulses for the rest of my life, but really need to start working HARDER on the food aspect of my illness, as I know it is just another poor substitute for truly coping w/issues in a healthy manner. Thanks!
deleted_user
I don't struggle with alcoholism but I do have bulimia and am a cutter. I fond this site and the people here to be a great support and help, as well as finding the right counselor and even seeing a nutritionist... You just need to start building on your wall of support and take every advice you get, some will work and some won't! Just find what works for you. I've actually been doing well with my e.d. and part of it is I like the control so I measure out small amounts of everything and build up on it til i'm at a full meal...you don't have to be super woman and start huge, just take baby steps and eat alittle at a time then go do something else...walk,drive,tv,read,call a friend. It is VERY hard but if you set your mind to it and know you are human and will mess up sometimes, just find the strength to get right back up and try again. I hope that helped alittle. Take care.
deleted_user
I think OA and AA work for some people but not all of us. I attended this route and I have to say that although it contributed to my leaving the insane bulimic world for the most part, it wasn't the core to my recovery. It's so personal! But when you ask about alternatives I guess I'm stumped. 6 years of therapy, but that doesn't sound very hopeful does it? I also sort of used the "one second at a time" rule. When the cravings to stuff things into my mouth that weren't out of hunger hit, I'd make the decision to do it or not to do it for just this one second. Sometimes I do, but mostly I don't. What struck me was when you said you need to work HARDER. For me, the harder I tried, the worse I got. From an OA principal, when I "let go" and just held my hand through the tough times, the food issue subsided. So, for me, not working so hard helped. Weird, I know!
deleted_user
Atay,thanks for your advice--it makes sense re:the working harder part--I guess I should clarify that when I mean working harder, I mean just doing SOMETHING when the impulse is there--be it a healthier distraction i.e., exercise, prayer or calling to talk to someone--vs just carrying through w/the behavior (bingeing). For me anything is harder than just going through w/the binge. At this point I at least feel BADLY when I do it (more at the process than angry w/myself)--I used to just dismiss it and carry through, "blank out" and stuff (literally and figuratively). Now I feel remorse during, and actually find myself asking God for help in the middle of it--which is a step in awareness, at any rate!!
deleted_user
Hi. I have found that Yoga for me has helped me the most. Especially when I do Yoga I actually appreciate my body and don't judge it. It lasts if I keep practicing. It worked so much for me I went to school and now teach it. Finding something where you can become one with your body instead of dissociating from it or hurting it is crucial. Even a massage can help. Nurturing vs harming your body.
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