Has ANYONE recovered from Bulimia WITHOUT therapy?

Mental Health Eating Disorders & Body Dysmorphia
1

hi everyone...

just wondering if Has ANYONE recovered from Bulimia WITHOUT therapy? if so, how did you do it?

please help!
caroline...

2

Hi Caroline, for me it took therapy and treatment to fully recover. Otherwise, you have to have a very strong support system that will work with you on recovery and help you through your urges. Remember that an ED goes deeper than just the act of the ED, it's a serious psychological issue as well, that's why I feel that therapy and/or treatment is so important, most especially to beat it for the long-term.

3

thanks puppydoglvr,

yes, i keep hearing ED is so much more than food but for me, after years on and off of therapy, i haven't been able to pin point what the issue is. one therapist said right now, it could simply be a HABIT for me to want to b/p -- part of my daily routine... i think that is somewhat accurate.

its almost like i plan on doing it or expect to do it.

thanks,
caroline

4

Caroline, I don't think its possible or recomended to try and cure yourself of an ed on your own. I mean think about it, if it were possible it wouldn't be a struggle, would it? Just my opinion.

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i agree gina... but my options are so limited now... i'd like to see how/if i can do anything to minimize it until i can find a workable solution. i'm a single mom with 2 small kiddos and am on the road a lot...

thanks for listening and sharing your opinion.

caroline :)

6

Caroline, maybe there's an option where you can work with a therapist over the phone or online, until you are able to see on in person. As well, there could be support groups in your area that you could attend when you are in town and available. Do you have family and/or friends close by? If so, can they help you through this and help you with the kids so that you can attend meetings and/or outpatient treatment?

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thanks so much puppydoglvr. yes, i actually started using the most recent therapist via phone and email and believe it or not she didnt' pick up occasionally and wasn't as responsive to my emails as i needed. i just need to find someone else in my insurance plan which has been extremely difficult. everyone is out of network (my insurance must suck).

no, family in town unfortunately. no support system at all. i agree i need to go to group meetings though and have looked into some already for when i am in town. i'll ask the children's father to watch them as he knows about my situation and is somewhat supportive.

thanks so much.

p.s. i went 1 day without B/P!! i almost can't believe it. i feel so relieved and rested and proud. here starts day 2 and hopefully i can continue.

i'm just concerned what will happen when i've felt i've "overeaten" or eaten the wrong foods -- how to keep it down?

caroline

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Hi Caroline, how are you doing and feeling today? I am so proud of you for making it through one day b/p free. That's such a great start. If you can get the treatment you need, with the support of your ex, then that would be so fantastic. As well, any additional support from local groups, is a great way to also stay on track.

Try to avoid any and all trigger to b/p, such as over-eating and eating foods that make you feel badly about yourself. Try to eat a healthy well-rounded diet if you can.

Please keep sharing and let me know how you are doing. We are here to support you and help you through this.

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I thought I recovered without therapy. I started when I was 19 and I stopped when I was 28 or 29. I'm 32 now. I just got so tired of feeling like crap all the time. It was really affecting my life in so many negative ways. So, I just started purging less and less and then I just didn't do it anymore. Well, now I'm 32. I just moved across the country and I've had a lot of stressful situations. Now I'm back on the negative cycle. I'm so disappointed in myself. I know that when I stopped I just quit the response, but never cured the underlying issues. I can't afford to go to a therapist. I feel so helpless. I'm tired of it affecting my life and I'm tired of being powerless. I don't know what to do. :( so, I thought it was possible, but now I'm not so sure. I just want to be healthy again.

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WOW luyuana23 - Thank you so much for posting! I'm both ENCOURAGED and impressed that you were able to stop for 10 years on your own!! You should be proud. I realize now you seem to be having a little setback but just think of the years of health you've added by stopping for that amount of time.

I hope you are able to stop purging again little by little. Do you recall specifically how you were able to begin doing it less and less. I kNOW it must take MASSIVE amounts of discipline!!

You are right that it affects our lives in such NEGATIVE ways -- why on earth should we continue this horrible behavior. Its not even logical.

I don't know what underlying issues I may have - several therapist have said they think its now simply morphed into a BAD HABIT that i'm addicted to...a weird sort of lifestyle. i wasn't abused as a child or have any of the other triggers that typically start ED.

Please keep in touch and take care..

caroline

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hi puppydoglvr,

in response to your post, i'm ok but i purged last night. i felt it coming on earlier in the day -- i had a pretty big lunch at work that i couldn't control and immediately felt guilty and thereafter planned on what i was going to b/p later in the night. grrrrrrrrrrr.

i am going to try to see IF i can go without b/p today. breakfast went well so only 2 more meals. :)

thanks for checking in.. how are you?

caroline

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Thanks, Caroline. I didn't stop for 10 years tho. I was bulimic from 19-28 or 29. I stopped for 3 years. I would do it once in a great while but now I'm doing it every day, more than once a day :( today is a new day.tho. I think it will help to have you guys to talk to. I will do my best to get through today. My thoughts are with all of you. :)

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I have dealt with ED (Anorexia with acompanying bulimic tendencies) since i was 11 years old and am now 36. I stopped bp when i was 22 with ip, op, and medical help because i was no longer able to eat anything without having it come back. I have not bp in over 14 years, but my underlying issues and poor body image have continued. I do not believe that pure will power can cure anyone of ED. I know that behavior patterns can be stopped or altered with will power, but the torment of ED requires serious help to overcome. I have not bp in. A very long time, but i still restrict anytime i am stressed and still do not go a day without thinking i need to be thinner at ay cost. For a while i replaced purging with pills of all types and lots of dietary supplements. I am now working very hard to become stronger than these terrible thrust that always make me believe there is something wrong with me. I am dedicated to breaking this cycle in my family that started two generations ago, because as the mother of a seven year old daughter i want her to be free of these issues. I am strongly in favor of good therapy and good support groups. We all deserve to be free of ED and we deserve the needed love and support to do it fully. I do not believe that any of us can fully heal ourselves and become totally whole without some help and a lot of support from somewhere. We can fix the behavioral symptoms but the deeper body image issues and other core issues require much more major inner work and help from others.

Love and light!

14

thanks everyone for your posts. i agree that therapy would be the best option but right now its not a possiblity - i'm on the road overseas every few weeks and had tried online/phone therapy but that therapist was USELESS and i can't find another one on my insurance (still looking).

having said that, i am REALLY trying hard to make some changes in my life. i don't have the "usual story" of childhood abuse or other trauma -- for me i believe it may have started w/ diets and suddently erupted into a horrible addition habit that i've been unable to break.

i am currently happy with my physique right now so i'm CLUELESS why i can't stop this behavior. my last therapist said its turned in a predictable habit now...

anyways, just wanted to share and hear your feedback.

i appreciate it so much, as always. u all r great.

xoxo,
me trying to break F R E E