Why do during stress times my eating disorder behaviors come back?
June 25th, 2009 | by The Doc |
sammygine asked:
Ive had treatment[hospitalization, therapy, meds, dietians] for a eating disorder [anorexia and bulimia] but my dad is going back over seas again to Iraq and i starting to do my over exercising and sticking to only safe foods..why is this happening?..yes im still in therapy..should i bring this up?
Ive had treatment[hospitalization, therapy, meds, dietians] for a eating disorder [anorexia and bulimia] but my dad is going back over seas again to Iraq and i starting to do my over exercising and sticking to only safe foods..why is this happening?..yes im still in therapy..should i bring this up?
3 Responses to “Why do during stress times my eating disorder behaviors come back?”
By ang_ro on Jun 28, 2009 | Reply
i have the same problem. i have been in recovery for over a year now, but every time i get stressed out or sad i retreat to the old behaviours (or want to– sometimes i fight it and stop myself). this was true even before i wanted to recover. whenever i broke up with a guy or was overly stressed with work i would start starving myself without even realizing it, or make myself vomit and so on.
it’s a cycle that is hard to break because the ED is your coping mechanism. it provides you with some sort of comfort, the feeling of being in control of your body while your life and your mind may be overwhelmed. it gives you something to focus on, give you relief.
EDs are much harder to overcome than people think. i have had one for over 10 years and i still can’t figure out how to completely get over it.
figuring out the patterns of why you do things is definitely a very good step.
good luck to you & be strong & fight this.
By Ariel on Jun 30, 2009 | Reply
Hey there…you aren’t alone. The same thing happens to me when I get stressed out or sad about something. I find that emotional triggers are the worst for me. Eating disorders are a real b**** to get over completely. Honestly I wonder if I will ever be 100% normal in that way. All you can do is keep trying. Well, also I find it really helps to pinpoint exactly what is causing me to slip, and once I know that, it gives me the strength to choose rather than simply be affected by the situation.
I wish you all the best, and hope I helped a little
By Hope on Jul 1, 2009 | Reply
Yes, stay in therapy, and yes you should bring it up in therapy.
This is how to make your therapy relevant to your life.
You have difficulty in knowing and practicing healthy ways to deal with your personal stress. In the past you have “relied on” your eating disorder as a means of dealing with stress. When the stress level goes down, it bothers you less, but now your stress level is rising due to family circumstances, and so the eating disorder is the “easiest” and most practiced way you know to deal with the stress of it all. BUT…you have the opportunity in your therapy to learn new stress techniques that are safer and healthier.