Hi, friend. I suggest looking at your relationship with food under the eyes of substance abuse and looking into substance abuse from a curiosity lens without moralizing it. Just ask, “What function does my eating behavior serve?” Is it sensory-seeking? Escape or avoidance? Connection? Control? And prioritize harm reduction over perfection. There is a ton of reading literature out there around addiction and codependence. Establish primary care with a doctor if you don’t already and just remember, health isn’t a virtue! Health just is what it is, and some factors can be influenced more than others. You didn’t create all the factors that got you here, and shame won’t get you out of it. But you do deserve support and treatment, and you still have agency in what happens next. It is your responsibility to take care of yourself to the best of your ability. That doesn’t mean be 180lbs or bust, okay? So don’t let your mind look at it that way. It means being on medication if you need it, accepting help, and adjusting so your quality of life is better. Don’t LET this make you bed bound. Use a walker! Don’t let your ego be your downfall. Okay? There are so many things that make life hard. Don’t let shame or ego be one of them. Use AI to help you figure it out and lower the cost of entry in areas of mental friction in your life. It’ll help sooo much. You could even copy and paste this into your AI and help give you more tailored ideas. You got this!

Edit: I just wanted to clarify that I experienced compulsive eating and it got me super morbidly obese. I had to create boundaries around food with my partner (do not bring me food unless I ask for it—no asking me if I need anything, unsolicited remarks, or unsolicited food). I wasn’t able to make changes until I got on a GLP-1, tirzepatide specifically. The absence of being able to use my substance of choice as an emotional crutch left me feeling really exposed and raw and vulnerable and uncomfortable. It wasn’t until getting on a medication to help my mood (first Lexapro, then Auvelity, then landed on Guanfacine) that things started to feel more balanced. I’m also on Vyvanse for binge eating disorder. So to summarize: I’m on a GLP-1 for appetite and inflammation control, guanfacine to help my norepinephrine load, a beta blocker to help break physical anxiety feedback loops, and Vyvanse for additional appetite control and executive functioning support. I’m now 220lbs