What do you find helpful when there are people in your life that trigger obsessive behaviors

Mental Health Eating Disorders & Body Dysmorphia
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I can't simply just avoid some of these people either. This week has been tough because my sister is home, and she is a BIG trigger to me. There is also a girl at the gym that I find it hard to be around. I find myself competing with her because in some ways I feel like she is competing with me. She works out a lot, and she is around my age, doesn't seem to really know or have limits. She is one of those hardcore types that I feel could push beyond healthy limits like me... However since I don't exactly know what a healthy limit is in terms of exercise, and there doesn't seem to be a clear cut answer, it all depends on the individual...I find myself feeling the need to work out more than she does, or more intensely or whatever...

She also has some disordered looking eating, and is trying to lose weight and eat healthier, and recently she has lost quite a bit of weight, and talks about food and stuff, what she is cutting out, or whatever, and I just have a hard time being around her. However she is a friend...

I just don't know what to with people who "trigger" me to want to be more obsessive with the eating/exercising when I'm trying to back off...but then I second guess if it's the right thing for me to do. I fear the extremes. I'd rather be obsessive about exercise, which helps keep my binges in control, than have my binge eating be out of control, extremely depressed, and not wanting to move at all because that's not healthy either. And I find myself going back and forth between the two sometimes...

Thanks for reading...

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Hey I'm sorry to hear about your struggles with your sister and this girl at the gym. I don't think people trigger me into obsessive behavior... more like emotions I guess. I'm still having trouble control my emotions and not letting people getting to me but what does help is focusing on myself. And focusing on something or things that are good and positive: about me, about what I'm doing until it block out all of the negatives. I also spend a lot of time reassuring myself that I am ok and things are ok until I calm down. I hope this helps you, thank you for sharing your story.

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needing...while I realize she is a friend, perhaps you need to explain to her what it is that is triggering, and tell her that for now, you need to take a break from being around her so much. You must do what is necessary to protect yourself, and if she is a true friend, she should accept that and also want that for you. If you think she may also have a real problem with this, tell her your concerns. A break from the gym may be a good step for you as well.
This type of thing plays into the extreme comparisons that we make with others. Are you seeing an therapist who might be able to help you set these limits? Doing it on your own is very very difficult. Knowing what triggers you in one step, the next is avoiding those things. Take care..Jan ♥