Bulimia Help

Recently, I read a blog that proposed the idea of a text circle and I thought it sounded great. If you are interested in forming a text circle, please email me at conniehong@mail.utexas.edu
with your name, cell #, and country you are currently residing in. I will compile a list and send it out to those who submit their info so that everyone can have the numbers. If you want to add anything else to the email, feel free to. I think this can be a wonderful way to have direct support, seeing as how many of us have our phones with us all the time! This can be a particularly helpful outlet for those of you who do not have many people or any people you can talk to about what is going on in your life. You are definitely not alone in this. I hope this really picks up and is successful! Best wishes to all =

Recently, I read a blog that proposed the idea of a text circle and I thought it sounded great. If you are interested in forming a text circle, please email me at conniehong@mail.utexas.edu
with your name, cell #, and country you are currently residing in. I will compile a list and send it out to those who submit their info so that everyone can have the numbers. If you want to add anything else to the email, feel free to. I think this can be a wonderful way to have direct support, seeing as how many of us have our phones with us all the time! This can be a particularly helpful outlet for those of you who do not have many people or any people you can talk to about what is going on in your life. You are definitely not alone in this. I hope this really picks up and is successful! Best wishes to all =]

I've read that therapy can be extremely helpful in the recovery process. I can't picture myself talking to anyone about my bulimia..

Have any of you tried therapy or currently going through therapy? How is it? What goes on during it and do you feel it has been significantly beneficial in your recovery?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. =)

I was wondering, for those of you who binge, but can sometimes refrain from purging, how do you convince yourself not to purge?? After reading some blogs, it seems that some of you are able to stop before further doing yourself harm. I only binge when I know for sure that I can purge right away afterwards. It's a horrible feeling, because once I start bingeing I know that I will have to purge. I can't stand having any of the food stay... =[

I haven't told my parents or older brother about my bulimia. It's not something I can even imagine doing, but I sometimes wonder if it would be for the best. I know they would be extremely surprised because I am very health conscious and I exercise regularly. I just don't think I could disappoint them like that. I was wondering if any of you have told your family members and how they reacted?

My other older brother knows and he has been supportive when I bring it up. Once in awhile he will ask how I am doing with it, but I get embarrassed and end up telling him that I am well. I know he means well, but I can't find it in me to tell him that I'm worse than ever. He has no idea just how bad things were/are. I feel like he would check up on me more often if he did, but to be held accountable just to fail would be so shameful.

I was wondering if people actually lost weight while b/p or did their weight stay relatively the same throughout? It seems to me that I actually feel thinner when I don't b/p, but somehow the nasty cycle reoccurs..Anyone else??

I am new to this site, but after reading several posts I feel comforted that I am not the only one going through this. I was surprised that I could often identify with several of the other members, which makes me feel less alone but sad that so many of you are also in this very same predicament.

I wanted to say thank you for the support you have given each other. You may not be aware, but the uplifting words you have written on other members' posts have also encouraged me to try harder to live a better life. I feel hope for the first time and the overwhelming sense of community and strength is refreshing.

I hope everyone finds the strength in their resolve.

I don't know what I expect from this..I have tried to quit too many times to count and obviously it has been a losing battle.

For roughly four years now, I have been bulimic. In the beginning (age 18) I was aware that my behavior was not normal or healthy, but I dismissed it because I did not binge, I only purged. Perhaps I also condoned my behavior because I did not engage in purging on a regular basis and I felt "in control."

Over the years, I discovered that bingeing made purging easier. I also figured, "Why not binge if I'm going to throw it up later? This way, I can enjoy the foods I want to eat (mostly sweets) without having to worry about the weight gain." I learned that some foods are easier to force back up and overindulged in those on a regular basis. Needless to say, my bingeing and purging only increased in frequency and intensity.

It feels as if everyday is a struggle to do what is right and healthy for myself. At night, I either feel proud for doing something good for myself and hope that my optimism can carry on through the next day or I feel disappointed that my self-discipline did not endure and tell myself that tomorrow will be different.

During the time spans that I did try to quit, I would be successful for the first 2-3 days. Even then it was difficult. By day 4 or 5 though, it would be too much to ask of myself. I tried weaning myself off of it by setting numbers of days I had to be "clean" and would "reward" myself by allowing one b/p session. Then, I would slowly increase the number of days. So much for that method...I remember actually looking forward to my "reward" day, which is pretty embarrassing and a clear indicator of just how deep I was and still am.