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Need some Help

Hello all-

Just a simple question- I've been posting on the substance abuse forum for a bit trying to straighten out some addictions I've been battling; I found it helpful so I wanted to post here too.  I'm about 25 years old and starting a bulimic trend about exactly 1 year ago- i'd say on average I throw up 2/3 times a day.  I've stopped for a few periods of week or so, but am really getting worried now that it's been a year and I am having real trouble stopping.  This is ridiculous- i mean it's not like I'm addicted to some chemical- i just can't f*cking stop.  I know it stems from my desire to be in better shape- so I'll often not eat all morning or afternoon and then I'm starving so instead of eating something normal i just go crazy, eat way more than I should and feel guilty about it and make myself throw up.  It's terrible- I just wanted to ask if there are ways or people with experience how stop this cycle.  I'm at the point where I can admit i need help and I need to stop.  Plz let me know if you have any advice....thanks


Jc7
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Avatar universal
Hi, as I was reading your post I couldn't help but think of my own experience because you are pretty much exactly describing what I am going through right now.  (At least from what you disclosed :) ).  What's ironic is my eating disorder has gone on for 11 years now and has morphed itself into different ways of coping with life and right now is really just and addiction of b/p (binge/purge).  I'm not a doctor.  However, I've studied eating disorders pretty much religiously for the duration of my own struggles (it's fun when you know more than the med students at starts quoting medical journals - HA!).  That said,

please see a doctor to get help.

I could go on about cognative behaviours you could try or what is going on in your brain when you go through a b/p or starve yourself during they day, but at this point...have you seen a doctor at all?  I've tried stopping soo many times telling myself, "this is the last time," or, "Ok, I'll slowly wane myself off this," or, "Ok, just once  a week, then once a month, then not at all."  It's never worked.  That's not to say you can't do it.  It's just that the longer you battle it, the more difficult it become to break.  Very akin to smoking or any other habit.  The problem is, and you'll hear this alot, you can't give up food completely.  
Helpful - 0
424549 tn?1308515502
Hi,

As with all addictions, you have to start with admitting that it is a problem. I'm sure you have read a few of my previous posts and see that my way to answer is:

1. Always admit that it does bother you
2. Do something with it - be honest with yourself!
3. It is no shame to eat little and often. If that is what you need to not purge then you do so. You can eat 6 times a day, but that requires smaller servings.
4. Educate yourself on healthy ways to break the behavior.
5. Remember that if you eat normal servings, you will not get the instant cravings and the over-eating will stop. The more hours between the meals, the more you'll attempt to over-eat.
6. If you need to over-eat, do so on "mind-softeners" - that be fruit and other things instead of chocolate or other sweets.
7. Remember that us human beings NEED sweeter foods, but only once a week.

Practice "SAFE EATING". Food isn't dangerous when intake is "normal amounts".

Florena
Helpful - 0
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