That’s definitely a concern but I ache a lot since I haven’t been and have lost so much muscle tone. I have quit my old gym and plan to start at a new one with a friend - it doesn’t open early so hopefully I can get into new, healthier habits of going at a normal time and doing things at a slower pace!
New to Tattle Life? Click "Order Thread by Most Liked Posts" button below to get an idea of what the site is about:
That's a really good plan. Make a fresh start somewhere that doesn't rake up old memories of a toxic self-imposed regime.
Sounds as if 2025 is going to be a much happier and healthier year for you! You certainly deserve to get some enjoyment of life back again and I wish you all the very best xx
Wishing everybody a good new year - I know this time can be tough with all the diet culture chat. I’m happy to say that this is the first NY that I’ve not been on an diet (apart from during pregnancies), and it feels good! My only goal for this year is to sleep more.
TW bulimia - sorry I’m unsure how to do the ‘spoiler’ thing.
Hello everyone. Just checking in. It’s so nice to hear people’s successful recovery stories. It really does give me some hope. I have a lot of stress at the moment with family things and it has caused my ED to ramp up enormously. I haven’t managed to have a therapy session in a few weeks and it’s really began to affect me. On a positive note, I was unsure whether therapy was working for me but since I’ve not had an appointment I’m able to see that I feel much better in the days after a session that to what I do now which must mean therapy is helping albeit only slightly. I am doubled over in tummy pain this week after so much purging. I feel extremely anxious and despite calling my GP twice for some more medication they’ve yet to get back to me so I’m currently only on my anti depressants which are not helping much currently. This illness is so incredibly complicated, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Thank you for sharing your recovery journeys, I wish one day I can share the same!
Hello everyone. Just checking in. It’s so nice to hear people’s successful recovery stories. It really does give me some hope. I have a lot of stress at the moment with family things and it has caused my ED to ramp up enormously. I haven’t managed to have a therapy session in a few weeks and it’s really began to affect me. On a positive note, I was unsure whether therapy was working for me but since I’ve not had an appointment I’m able to see that I feel much better in the days after a session that to what I do now which must mean therapy is helping albeit only slightly. I am doubled over in tummy pain this week after so much purging. I feel extremely anxious and despite calling my GP twice for some more medication they’ve yet to get back to me so I’m currently only on my anti depressants which are not helping much currently. This illness is so incredibly complicated, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Thank you for sharing your recovery journeys, I wish one day I can share the same!
How are you doing, @Just having a nose?
I’m still in a deep relapse to be honest. Things improved slightly after a therapy session, I went a few days without purging. However, I’ve had two very judgmental reactions from dentists and doctors over the last few days. I am ashamed of my bulimia especially as a mother and the judgment I felt has really made me reconsider if recovering is worth the impact of shame that these two health professionals made me feel. I am trying to take each day as it comes, I will speak to my therapist next week but I’m going a long time in between sessions at the moment due to childcare issues. Anyway, I hope you’re well? Thank you for checking in. I really appreciate it.
That’s terrible. EDs are so misunderstood, even in the healthcare field. Is there a different GP you could see, explain how you are doing at the moment and perhaps they can offer some help. Or explain to your therapist, they maybe have additional support you could access. I’m sorry you are having such a hard time. I know it seems hard, but confiding to a loved one or friend really does help, if you haven’t already. Not an easy thing to do though, I know. Thinking of you.
Sadly I think you have come up against why a lot of us choose not to risk that element of shame, particularly if we don't fall within the "acceptable" age range for EDs..
I'm so sorry that you had this appalling treatment from health professionals. You risk a lot by courageously "admitting" to your ED and seeking help. Please don't give up due to ignorant medics? Talk to your therapist and say what has happened? xx
I'm so sorry that you had this appalling treatment from health professionals. You risk a lot by courageously "admitting" to your ED and seeking help. Please don't give up due to ignorant medics? Talk to your therapist and say what has happened? xx
I’m just looking for some advice as this is new territory for me. I have an appointment with my specialist today. Over the last few weeks I have began to realize that I use my bulimia and restriction to help me deal with many of my problems. If you’d of asked me pre therapy I would’ve just told you it was a body image thing however I have realized that is not the only reason behind this. A few years ago, I had a really traumatic event happen to me. It completely changed me as a person and it keeps me awake at night to be honest. During that time this was a crutch for me as I was unable to talk to anyone about it. At times, when I think about that period of my life I will purge. I’m not sure if it’s a comfort, habit or self harm or maybe all of them. My question is, is this something to talk to my ED therapist about? I’m not really sure about her role and what falls within her remit etc? I don’t want to open up about the event that broke me as a person to someone who cannot offer me anything or will signpost me to someone else. Sorry for this ramble, I don’t have a support system outside of this thread really so looking for some advice.
It is my belief that most EDs are not all about body image. A lot of it is a buffer to distract from other feelings. The ED is all consuming, if you are purging, for example, it keeps the mind occupied on that. I’m not an expert at all - just a lot of reading of people with experience. I would definitely raise it with your therapist. Without prying or asking about it, perhaps you could also find a specialist therapist to help with your past trauma?
Hi all, long history but very recently formally diagnosed. I have an appointment with a nutritionist this week. Any idea what to expect?
hi! Well done for reaching out and getting a diagnosis. It’s a really big step. So I can only speak from experience, meeting with the dietician will depend entirely on your diagnosis and eatigg by habits. They should tailor your support based on that so, for me the first session was a history of when my issues started, what I did, what my symptoms were what my triggers were and what I ate etc. After that we did some work on a meal plan that bc a fit with my lifestyle, I’m a nurse with three children so it had to be reasonable to align with my life. As the work went on we started to ‘challenge’ some things that I struggled with such as fear foods, social eating and letting others cook. In all honesty, my work with the dieticians has been much more beneficial than my work with the therapists. I find having them explain the science behind food, eating etc much more beneficial as it helps me rationalize things day to day. I wish you well on your recovery. It is the hardest thing that nobody other than other ED sufferers can ever understand, good luck 🩷
Thank you! I’m nervous, but looking forward to it
This is such excellent advice. The last sentence says it all and is something we all torment ourselves with because it's such a hard mindset to understand and challenge without support. Effective and insightful support from the right person/people.
I truly admire you all for all you have taken on and achieved. I'm old now and so wish my life had been untouched by this horrible illness.
Good luck with your appointment. I found getting a nutritionist did me the world of good. I learned to stop being scared of food and seeing it as fuel rather than a source of desire and dread.
Having said that, I've come here because my bulimia, dormant for years, has raised its head. I'm currently job hunting, really worried about the future and feeling utter despair. All I want to do is eat and I've put on a lot of weight which is making me miserable. Last night I ordered Deliveroo (which I can't afford) and threw it up almost as soon as I'd finished. I felt absolutely horrific today, exhausted and so sore everywhere I could barely move from the sofa.
I know why I do this. I wish I didn't. I wish I could stop thinking about food but it's my only comfort.
Having said that, I've come here because my bulimia, dormant for years, has raised its head. I'm currently job hunting, really worried about the future and feeling utter despair. All I want to do is eat and I've put on a lot of weight which is making me miserable. Last night I ordered Deliveroo (which I can't afford) and threw it up almost as soon as I'd finished. I felt absolutely horrific today, exhausted and so sore everywhere I could barely move from the sofa.
I know why I do this. I wish I didn't. I wish I could stop thinking about food but it's my only comfort.
Thank you. Appointment went well. It felt more like a casual therapy conversation /getting to know you, rather than lots of talk about specific foods and making meal plans. Another 2 weeks before I go back, so many that will come into it then. She was a dietician, but I called her a nutritionist in my first post. I don’t really understand what the difference is between those two things - I should probably google it.
Thinking of you. Sounds like you’re in a really hard spot. Do you have any supports around?
Dietician is a protected title - you need a specific degree and qualifications to say you are one. So that is who you see in the health service. Nutritionist is legally kinda meaningless - literally anyone can claim to be one. Thats why any old influencer or scammer is a nutritionist and is never a dietician!
Ahh, makes sense!!
Just reaching out to say I hope you are feeling better today. It really is a bugger isn’t it? You think you are in recovery and then something happens and it rears its head again.
I’m following an account on instagram about ED recovery at the moment and it resonates so much. It’s talks about quasi recovery- saying that you can go out for meals and not have MFP on but the behaviours are still there, safely keeping you from recovering fully (choosing certain foods, adding up in your head, doing an extra walk at night). That final bit to get you over the hurdle to full recovery is so scary, you don’t trust your mind or your body to live without the control or behaviours so you just continue in this hellish limbo.
I was ok for a while but I’m back in that limbo now. Lost tbh.
Thinking of you and hopefully you can be kind to yourself as your body recovers too
.Maybe "full recovery" isn't realistic when an ED has been an ever present in your life? Any improvement is such an achievement and a huge bonus.
Aren't we just setting ourselves up to "fail" if we forever crave that "final bit" and put so much pressure and importance on that ultimate "success"?
Aren't we just setting ourselves up to "fail" if we forever crave that "final bit" and put so much pressure and importance on that ultimate "success"?