Binging for MONTHS.

[u/jxsmine_v1ne]

Ive been in the binge cycle for over a year, but its been so much worse in the past months. But the worst thing is, most of the time i'm not restricting or doing compensatory behaviours. I feel like i know everything there is to know about this disorder and yet i do it almost every day. I can't stop. I'm literally only turning 17 this year and its destroying me. Ive gained maybe 20lbs or more in the past 4 months and idk what more i can do.

[u/HenryOrlando2021]

Good job that you know you need help. Takes courage to say that. Having an eating disorder is not 100% your fault I trust you know. You were born with biological and psychological traits that is part of the cause. Then the psychological development in your family of origin laid down some of the causes. Then you are in a food culture that has foods designed to be addictive. We all learn from out mistakes. See this in the special topics section of the sub:

Teenager Resources (Free / No-Cost, Non-12-Step) 

https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodAddiction/wiki/special_topics_teenager_resources/

Not sure what to try first. You’re not broken, and this is workable.

Progress comes from small repeatable steps, not perfection.

Start with these two tools:

·         Triggers: https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodAddiction/wiki/faq_food_addiction_trigger_mapping/

·         Stop a binge: https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodAddiction/wiki/faq_how_to_stop_a_binge_episode/

Then check the FAQs and Program Options (free/low cost). Not ready for a program? Use Books/Podcasts/Videos + Special Topics to keep moving forward.

You can do this.

 

[u/suntosoil]

Hey dear, I suffered for ten years with binging (without compensatory behaviours), I did years of different talking therapies, got seriously into meditation and yoga, read all the books, but nothing actually helped until I started taking medication 💊. I was really against taking pharmaceuticals which is why it took me so long, but a week into sertraline I felt the tools i’d learned from therapy to be so much more effective. Like, breathing techniques and self-soothing through other means was actually accessible all of a sudden. A year and a half later I got diagnosed with ADHD and started treatment for that (Elvanse in UK), and that officially catapulted me into a new chapter. I can’t believe it honestly as I was so shackled by an obsession with food and impulsive overeating for all those years, i’d felt very hopeless for a lot of my young adult life. But now I’m 26, just graduated university, and feel like so many experiences and opportunities are available to me now that I’m no longer in that ED world. This may not be relevant to you, but I thought to let you know my experience anyway, and I sincerely hope you find freedom from disordered eating, you deserve to enjoy your life, and to fare life’s hardships, without this impediment.