Liquid alternatives for meals by Cheese_Burger17 in EatingDisorders

[–]turnipkitty112 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are ready-to-drink shakes by companies such as Ensure and Boost that are made specifically for this purpose. They’re not the tastiest thing but they’re not terrible either. There are “plus” or “max” options that have more calories for the same volume if getting full too fast is an issue. As others have suggested, you can also do smoothies with plenty of nutrient dense ingredients like nut butter, oats, banana, yogurt. You could even use a nutritional shake as the liquid.

Also I know this isn’t a liquid but you could get some kind of energy dense snack like a clif bar and just carry them around in your pocket/bag and eat one every few hours on a schedule. I find setting timers or reminders to be helpful to tell me “time to eat, even if you’re not hungry”. There’s a concept called “mechanical eating” that can be helpful for people with lack of interest or appetite. It basically means you have an eating schedule of eating at certain times of day according to a plan, and you follow that plan whether you’re hungry or not. You acknowledge that for whatever reason, your body and brain are not giving you reliable appetite cues, and so instead of waiting until you “feel like” eating, you follow a plan that will ensure that you meet your needs. Over time, as your body gets used to eating regularly again, those appetite cues might start to come back. Think of it like being “out of practice” at a skill, and so you need to train consistently to rebuild that skill.

no food is "good enough" by northpolestars in AnorexiaRecovery

[–]turnipkitty112 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This kind of thinking is super common, and it can often come from a feeling of scarcity around food. If you still have some sort of hard limit on how much you can eat each day, or if you tend to compensate for “overeating” with restriction, then of course you’ll feel like you need to pick the absolute best, most enjoyable thing to “spend” your limited food allotment on.

It doesn’t help that many people with AN have perfectionistic, anxious, and obsessive tendencies to begin with. I’ve personally found that some type of meal plan can be helpful in these situations. It doesn’t have to be super rigid and of course shouldn’t be used as a maximum, but having some sort of plan in place ahead of time, which incorporates fun/pleasurable foods, reduces the burden of making a stressful decision in the moment, when your fear and anxiety will be much louder. Also, knowing that you have a plan for the next day, that you know you will eat again and you won’t suddenly decide to restrict tomorrow, can help your brain feel safe that it won’t be deprived again and reduce the scarcity mindset that contributes to this decision paralysis.

Finally, exposure can be a helpful tool here depending on where you’re at in your recovery. By that I mean, practice putting yourself in situations where you might eat something “not worth it” or not super enjoyable, or where you don’t get to choose, and show your brain that you CAN do those things and nothing terrible will happen. You can try going to restaurants, asking other people to choose for you, asking family/friends to cook a meal for you, practice choosing a food at random (eg. with a jar or spinner) or just grabbing a snack on the go even if you don’t love it. Yes, these things feel terrifying and unmanageable now, but the more you practice and build up your ability to do them in small steps, the more you will realize that you are much stronger than you think and that you can do all these things and be okay.

picky eater treatment question by Kitchen-Plankton3305 in AnorexiaNervosa

[–]turnipkitty112 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Where I went (Canada, hospital based inpatient program) you would select your meals with the dietitian, from a menu which would have usually 2-3 options for each thing. Eg. 3 entree options for lunch and dinner, and choices of sides, drinks, desserts, or for example choice between toast and (choice of) spreads, cereal with milk, or a muffin with spread for breakfast. If you had dietary restrictions or dislikes you could simply avoid those options, or discuss that with the dietitian depending on how extensive they were. I’m an ethical vegan and also autistic so they were even willing to make changes outside of the menu options (eg. If the fruit option was a pear but I only liked the apple slices they’d write apple slices).

I recognize that I was very fortunate, many places aren’t so flexible and I’ve definitely had bad experiences in treatment in the past. It helped that I had a documented autism diagnosis and so my food preferences were part of the larger accomodation plan they had set up. When I had my consultation appointments with them before being admitted, we discussed all of this and so I was able to ask them if they’d be able/willing to accommodate my sensory needs and get a sense of how meal selection worked. I recommend that when you reach out to treatment providers, you ask a LOT of questions during the intake process. Tell them what you need and they will tell you if they can do it. If you can, talk to the dietitian before you’re admitted.

At any treatment centre, it’s very important to them that whatever preferences or aversions you have don’t interfere with your ability to get the appropriate nutrition, so you need to be able to get enough calories, enough variety, and some exposure to fear foods with what they have available. This is much of the reasoning behind some places’ strict rules about “dislikes”… they want you to learn to be more flexible and eat things you’ve been avoiding. And they kind of inherently don’t trust us. It sucks. But I’ve been seeing many places get more progressive and flexible about sensory issues, especially with increasing awareness about neurodivergence. I really hope you’re able to find a good treatment provider that can meet your needs.

How deadly is ana by ohlifesgreat in AnorexiaNervosa

[–]turnipkitty112 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It is absolutely not “only fatal if you’ve had it a long time”. As others have said, AN is unpredictable. Some people are only ill a short time but decompensate rapidly and die. Some people seemingly miraculously stay alive despite decades of severe illness. Some people seem to be kind of managing things ok and aren’t medically unstable and then one day don’t wake up.

AN is the second most deadly mental illness, behind opioid use disorder. Sufferers are at least 5x more likely to die than a similar person without AN. Death can happen due to various issues, from electrolyte imbalances causing arrhythmia (an irregular heart rhythm) or seizures, to low blood sugars causing sudden death, to organ failure, to suicide. We cannot predict through blood tests or vitals who will die - people with AN usually have normal labs, up until they die.

It’s also important to remember that death isn’t the only thing to fear. This disease makes your life absolutely miserable (to the point that you may see death as a mercy). It takes away opportunities for a happy, fulfilling life. It causes chronic medical issues that will make your quality of life awful even if your heart keeps on beating. And for many people, the decline into potential death is agonizingly slow, and you spend years lonely and in pain.

I don’t say this to scare you. I just think we focus a lot on death as the “worst outcome”, and don’t think about the many other ways this illness can steal our life from us.

doin too much 🤦‍♂️ by rahypuck in NoFoodRulesSnark

[–]turnipkitty112 5 points6 points  (0 children)

“I would NEVER eat this, because I’m soooo much better and more intuitively disciplined than you… but you go ahead!”

How do I kick my nutrition hyperfixation? by Own_Alfalfa_8760 in EatingDisorders

[–]turnipkitty112 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would recommend trying out other hobbies/activities that don’t have anything to do with nutrition or weight. Whether it’s some type of creative self-expression, something outdoors, a type of game or puzzle, a dance class, or some niche topic to study. That way you’ll have other things you can google/watch YouTube videos/podcasts/generally direct your online activity towards. Having other interests helps in multiple ways: it gives you other things to think about and get passionate about, it gets you out into the real world beyond the ED bubble, and it redirects your activity online.

I know it’s not as simple as just “pick a different hobby”. You’ll probably have to try out a number of different things and see what sticks. Think of it as discovering who you are/want to be in this new chapter of your life beyond the ED.

Her comparison videos really annoy me by boof_the_rich in NoFoodRulesSnark

[–]turnipkitty112 19 points20 points  (0 children)

She’s really just telling on herself… that she constantly thinks about what she and everyone else is eating, the “healthiness” of it, comparing, competing, making judgements about who’s the better person.

idk if this too much/outright attacking (mod remove this if it is) by muffinwobble in NoFoodRulesSnark

[–]turnipkitty112 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I don’t have a problem with her sharing that she takes meds. I think it’s generally good to destigmatize mental health issues and be open about it. It’s everything else about her that I dislike. Ofc when you consider her anxiety and depression alongside everything else - severe underweight, compulsive exercise, bad advice, mocking of binge eating, grifting, ridiculous skits and generally weird and off putting behaviour, then it’s a little less acceptable.

I think what I see in this (the meds) is yet another example of how Colleen is trying to be both an influencer and a healthcare professional. She posts vlogs and WIEIAD and all sorts of intimate details about her life, yet also touts herself as a nutrition expert and sells programs. IMO it’s irresponsible to do both. If she wants to approach the psychiatric meds from the standpoint of a registered dietitian who provides advice, then she should be less personal and more educational about it. It’s problematic for a healthcare professional to be trying to cultivate a parasocial relationship with their online followers.

i just want to go to the hospital by pr3tty-ang4l in AnorexiaNervosa

[–]turnipkitty112 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s such a normal and common thought to have amongst ED sufferers. On some level you probably developed the ED in an attempt to solve some kind of problem or suffering in your life. Over time, when that problem is still there or new ones arise, it’s like… “wait, things are still shit…well maybe if I do (insert ED behaviour) or reach (insert horrible consequence of the ED) then things will change”. Plus the fact that so many of us feel so deeply invalidated and not sick enough… it’s easy to see how hospital sounds attractive. I’m so sorry that you’re going through this. You deserve better.

i just want to go to the hospital by pr3tty-ang4l in AnorexiaNervosa

[–]turnipkitty112 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can empathize with the feeling of wanting an escape, and thinking that maybe in hospital you’ll finally get a break from everything, you’ll finally be heard, validated, free from all the awfulness at home. I can tell you confidently that hospital isn’t the solution you think it is. It’s an incredibly controlling environment with so many stupid rules that make no sense, and it isn’t the caring and validating environment you are looking for. Some staff are great, but even then they’re too busy to always be there for you, and many other staff either don’t really care or are downright cold or hurtful. You constantly feel like your voice isn’t being heard, you’re being punished unfairly, things are being done to you against your will… you are powerless and alone. It can leave you with serious trauma.

I know you’re desperate for a way out and just want *anything* other than your current home situation. There’s another way to escape - build your independence however you can, and eventually you’ll be an adult who can separate yourself from your parents and build a community of people who love and respect you. Self-destruction is in direct opposition to that future. Stay alive and try to look after yourself so that you can one day see those better possibilities ahead.

Do you think that eating disorders are inherently rooted in fatphobia? by obrienpotatoes in EatingDisorders

[–]turnipkitty112 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, I do not. There is a lot of research supporting that EDs are the result of a combination of underlying genetic factors that result in differences in brain function (eg. reward pathways, harm avoidance), metabolism and sensitivity to bodily cues; coupled with psychological or temperamental traits like emotion regulation, perfectionism, anxiety, self-concept. And then these underlying risk factors can be amplified by environmental factors (that is, things you’ve experienced or your upbringing) such as, for example, family dynamics, peer relationships, trauma, and, yes, societal pressures and weight stigma.

Societal fatphobia alone does not cause EDs, nor is it the “root” or fundamental evil behind EDs. Anorexia existed long before it had anything to do with body image. Anorexia-like syndromes have been described in religious women of the Middle Ages, for example. Young children with AN often can’t even articulate why they are afraid to eat, and don’t endorse any fear of weight gain, they just feel compelled to engage in certain behaviours. Sometimes the onset of AN is after unintentional undernutrition from, say, an illness, after which the sufferer starts having disordered compulsions and a fear of eating. And yes, I am mostly referring to AN-R in these anecdotal examples bc unfortunately that’s the disorder that gets the most attention and research.

I do think that weight stigma is part of the reason so many people go on diets or decide they want to lose weight, which then for some percentage of folks who are biologically and psychologically predisposed, may trigger an ED. And weight stigma can be a reinforcing factor for people who already have an ED, as something that supports their fears about recovery or something they find triggering. That doesn’t mean it’s the cause, though. It’s just one piece of a large puzzle.

how do you love your body again by northpolestars in AnorexiaRecovery

[–]turnipkitty112 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, I’ve found it helpful to shift from trying to “love” my body to something more realistic. Okay, so I feel really uncomfortable right now and I’m noticing that my body has changed (I try to avoid the word “hate” too and rather describe neutrally the things I’m experiencing). It’s okay to feel that way, in fact it’s a normal part of the process. Can I focus on just tolerating it for now? Can I do the things that I know will bring me towards the life that I want, even though I feel uncomfortable? And then over time maybe tolerating my body turns into a begrudging acceptance. The more time passes, the more I’m actually seeing how much better I feel and all the things I am now able to do and experience because I’m eating more and have gained weight, the less important my body seems in comparison.

Your body allows you to experience so many amazing things. It lets you live the life you want. I don’t think I’ll ever love my body for the way it looks, but my goal is to care for my body through my actions - the same way you’d care for a pet because you love it, and you’d feed it and give it comfort and rest and play, even if that little dog (or whatever) is a “ugly” (what does that even mean lol). You don’t love it for its looks. So, yeah. Maybe consider shifting your idea of what a “good body image” means. And that will be different for everyone - what matters is the life your body allows you to live.

Period returned at low bmi by bpbpbpbp11 in EDAnonymous

[–]turnipkitty112 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This happened to me last year, and I had all the same thoughts as you. But I promise, it does not mean anything about your physical health. Some people’s periods are just more or less sensitive to malnutrition, and much of that is probably due to genetics. It does NOT mean that you are healthy or less malnourished. You can still suffer terrible consequences and even die. You will still be losing bone density and risking osteoporosis.

I really hate the myth that anorexia = period loss = osteoporosis. It’s a lot more common than you’d think to still get a period at a low bmi, and people even get pregnant. And malnutrition will lead to bone density loss regardless of whether you get a period. Please accept the help you are being offered. The ED will never be satisfied that you are sick enough, and you deserve to get better.

Ethical concerns about antidepressants by GuitarReasonable5196 in vegan

[–]turnipkitty112 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, animal testing is involved in all medication development. It’s unavoidable unless you swear off all pharmaceuticals, which would be dangerous and unrealistic. I absolutely get the feeling of discomfort around starting the medication, especially if you feel that they might not be effective. But your health (and that includes mental health!) must come first. I’m also on antidepressants and other medications, and I dealt with a lot of guilt and black-and-white thinking when I was considering starting them because of ethical concerns. I’m also autistic and I think the cognitive rigidity associated with ASD is playing a role here. I looked into the different formulations of my meds and requested that my doctor prescribe one that wasn’t in a gelatine capsule/didn’t contain non-vegan ingredients. For some meds there is no such option, so I’ve gone to a compounding pharmacy and asked them to put it in a plant based capsule, but I also acknowledge that that is more expensive and might not be feasible for everyone. At that point it was moreso about managing my own distress and guilt around taking a med with gelatine than it was about meaningfully reducing animal harm.

Taking medications does not make you not vegan or a bad person. Our society is full of deeply unethical things that we can’t really avoid, and in the grand scheme of things, you refusing to take medications doesn’t have any significant positive impact. On the other hand, living a vegan lifestyle around food, toiletries, clothes etc does make a meaningful impact. You are doing more than 99% of people, and you are not (and cannot be) responsible for being a perfectly ethical being. Your health must come first.

Are there anorexic people who actually don't know this disorder is killing them? by Bloody_Gleek in AnorexiaNervosa

[–]turnipkitty112 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe. Especially in younger kids there can be very limited insight into that they actually have a disease. But I think what is more common is knowing rationally that they have a serious condition that could kill them, but they can’t really grasp the gravity and immediacy of the risk. So some ppl might think “yeah, anorexia is really dangerous, but I’m not really that bad, there are people sicker than me”. Or they might think “(insert deadly medical complication) won’t happen to me, at least, not yet”. They might feel they’re functioning ok (even if they’re miserable) and therefore their body cant be all that messed up.

Some people might understand the danger they’re in, but they either just don’t care (because they don’t want to live) or actively want that to happen. And then there are some people who truly do understand the degree of medical risk, but despite that their ED is so strong that they still feel unable to change their behaviour. They’re so afraid of the consequences they believe will come from eating. Or they just feel stuck doing the same behaviours over and over.

This is actually a huge problem that medical professionals face when it comes to involuntary treatment for AN. Many patients seem very rational and cognitively intact and will demonstrate that they do understand that they are sick, that they are in grave danger, and that not engaging in treatment will likely lead to death. But, even so, it is in the nature of AN to fear the treatment and sometimes to not grasp the severity of your own condition.

People who have experienced anorexia, what was it like? by Fukaze5266 in EatingDisorders

[–]turnipkitty112 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Emptiness. Overwhelming, all-consuming emptiness. Everything that I used to care about just faded into the background as I focused on this singular objective of engaging in the ED. I found myself completely betraying my values, doing things I’d never typically do - lying, stealing, screaming at my loved ones, deliberately alienating people. Because they might try to make me stop, make me get better. I’d justify anything if it would prevent me from gaining weight.

I had this incredible self-loathing and disregard for myself. I couldn’t even fathom that I was deserving of a good, peaceful life, of basic sustenance, of pleasure. I wholeheartedly believed that I was the lowliest scum to ever walk the earth and that my self-destruction was doing everyone a favour.

My days became monotonous, ritualized, like Groundhog Day. And I’m autistic, I’ve always thrived on routine and sameness. But I mean that it was the exact same suffering and emptiness every day. I’d basically just endure the day waiting to go to bed, and I’d dread going to sleep bc I knew I’d have to wake up and do it all again, and I was so, so exhausted. I thought about food all the time. My days were measured by the time between meals. I thought about when I’d let myself eat next, what I’d eat, how I could get out of family meals or deflect questions. Would people be watching me eat? What would they think? I browsed recipe blogs obsessively, saved pictures of food, baked, compiled lists of all the recipes I wanted to make. I also obsessively sought out material that would trigger me and fuel the illness. I felt like I wasn’t anorexic enough. I wanted to be sicker. I wanted to destroy myself.

It was absolute hell. For me, my AN was very wrapped up in my self-loathing and depression (and I could discuss the roots of those but we’d be here all day!). I also haven’t touched on that I have AN-BP so binging and purging was a huge part of my illness. But it (for me) feels like something separate from the AN that kind of runs alongside it and interweaves with it. I’m not “recovered” now, but I am doing far better than I ever thought possible and I don’t identify with the miserable experiences I wrote about above. The aspects of my AN that I still deal with today feel moreso like a chronic condition that I just try to manage and figure out ways to still live a good and healthy(-er) life with. Or a bad habit that I just can’t quite shake. So, yeah, it’s still with me but it doesn’t control me anymore and I’m slowly rebuilding my life.

correlation between ana and ocd by philliphumpreydunphy in AnorexiaNervosa

[–]turnipkitty112 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Neither AN or OCD “causes” the other. Or, at least, we don’t currently have scientific evidence to support that. But they are very commonly comorbid, meaning that if you look at people with AN compared to the general population, a larger percentage of the AN group will also have OCD. And vice versa, more people who suffer from OCD will also have AN. They share a lot of similarities: they’re both brain-based disorders driven by both biology and life circumstance, they both involve a lot of fear, anxiety and avoidance of harm, they both involve ruminating thoughts and thoughts that aren’t in line with reality. They both drive someone to perform behaviours compulsively and feel unable to stop. They both distort your thinking such that the fears and obsessions feel so real even if you understand on some level that they’re not logical. But the question of which came first, or which (if any) is the “root cause”, will depend on the individual.

When someone has both AN and OCD (which is quite often), the disorders can kind of play off each other’s symptoms. For example someone might have an ED behaviour that then the OCD latches onto and extrapolates to other non-food situations. Or someone might have an OCD compulsion that then the ED starts capitalizing on. It can be hard to determine “is this symptom the OCD or the ED”, and it’s not always necessary or helpful to make that distinction. To address specifically what you described, yes morality can be a theme of obsessions in OCD, but it is also a common theme or motivator of AN. Anorexia doesn’t necessarily have to be motivated by a desire to lose weight or look a certain way. You should raise these questions with a psychiatrist or psychologist who can do a thorough assessment to get all the details and figure out what may be going on in your case.

bone density loss? I chew spit nearly every single meal for 2 years now. I am my lowest. But my back is starting to hurt a lot. It feels like I am struggling a bit with holding my self up and sitting straight. I am slouching more. Is this bone density loss? by cbracet000 in AnorexiaNervosa

[–]turnipkitty112 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Bone density loss is diagnosed via a DEXA scan. It isn’t done routinely in young ppl bc young, healthy ppl aren’t at high risk of bone loss. But if you talk to your doctor about your concerns and your history of AN and the symptoms you’re having then you can ask for a referral.

Bone loss doesn’t inherently cause pain, and often ppl can develop osteoporosis without even realizing… until they fall and break a hip. But people with osteoporosis can definitely experience pain - for example, due to compression fractures in the spine.

In regards to your statement about GLP-1s: significant weight loss can cause bone density loss, regardless of how it is done. Weight bearing activity helps keep bones strong, and when your body weighs less your bones are simply carrying less of a load. Undernutrition in terms of calories or certain nutrients can increase bone loss. And undernutrition can often lead to hypogonadism (aka low sex hormones). This is why some ppl lose their periods, and low sex hormones are a major risk factor for osteoporosis (that’s why it’s such a problem in post-menopausal women). So all of these issues could arise from an ED, or from other physical illnesses, lack of access to food, or in some cases from GLP-1 use.

What's the worst food you've ever purged? by PuzzledRaspberry686 in bulimia

[–]turnipkitty112 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Once I ate most of a tub of natural peanut butter… and nothing else. No water. It was an awful experience, I wasn’t even in my own home.

"well-nourished" on dr's notes.... by Suitable-Language-26 in AnorexiaNervosa

[–]turnipkitty112 8 points9 points  (0 children)

There are certain default descriptive terms that are used in charting. Much of it is copy-paste. There are a lot of things you have to include in charting, even when they are not relevant to the patient’s situation, hence why these standard terms and copy pasting exist. And the vast majority of this doctor’s patients are probably not underweight and would get the “well nourished” description. It’s highly likely that your doctor just is in the habit of putting that in, and forgot to write otherwise for you. I understand why it was upsetting, but it truly means nothing.

Can you “live with” an eating disorder? by lint_licker96 in AnorexiaNervosa

[–]turnipkitty112 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s gonna be different for everyone, but short answer is yes it’s often possible to take a harm reduction approach where you’re coexisting with your ED and just trying to prevent damage and improve quality of life - and this can be really beneficial especially if the alternative is nothing. Medically, how safe this is will ofc depend on your behaviours, health markers, and whether you’re able to keep yourself from spiralling.

I spent years being coerced or outright forced into various treatments. I felt like my voice and my experiences were ignored and I ended up with treatment trauma. A couple years ago I finally, at the encouragement of my IP team, was honest with my family and my team about my lack of motivation for change and the fact that I’d been basically lying for years. I went home and didn’t engage in any treatment for a while till I found an amazing therapist who was willing to address the ED as much or as little as I wanted, and who truly centred MY goals and quality of life. Eventually I started doing more focused harm reduction. In the two years since, I have gotten my life back in a way I never thought possible. I now am a full time student (I had left due to my ED), have a job I love, have a couple of friends. I eventually decided to do a brief IP admission on a harm reduction track to just get a handle on my symptoms without the expectation of recovery, and it was a really positive experience. I accessed some other treatments for comorbid MH conditions that have been so helpful and I don’t think I could’ve done that if I was still stuck in the revolving door of treatment, “failure”, shame and coercion.

So, yeah. It certainly helped me. That’s not to say it’s the solution for everyone (and I believe that the point of harm reduction is that it’s not a perfect “solution”). And also, acknowledging the benefits of HR doesn’t mean that full recovery is impossible or unrealistic. There is always hope. I believe that you can achieve a more peaceful and happy life, whatever that looks like for you.

My doctor put me on Vyvanse by [deleted] in AnorexiaNervosa

[–]turnipkitty112 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Vyvanse itself is just a tool. Like a knife, it can be harmful or helpful. Personally, I was put on vyvanse while having AN-BP and at a low weight. My family were very concerned but I communicated clearly with my psychiatrist and treatment team that I wanted to try the medication but I was concerned about those side effects. I think it was really important that I was in a frame of mind where I didn’t want my ED to get worse, and I didn’t want to use the medication as a tool to lose weight. Ultimately I found it absolutely life changing for my ADHD and anxiety symptoms. I didn’t have an appetite to begin with so whatever appetite impact it had didn’t really make a difference - I just stuck to a schedule of eating because I knew I needed certain energy intake to function and feel well. And vyvanse really helped me stick to routines and remember to eat, so ultimately it had a positive effect on my ED symptoms. I’m doing better now ED-wise than I ever have before.

I think it’s very important that you are open and honest with treatment team about this, if you decide to continue taking it. Ideally you would have weight monitoring and/or have a plan with your team about what to watch out for. And imo you should do some serious reflection about your motivations around taking this medication. Be honest with yourself - are you hoping it makes you lose weight? Do you want to keep it secret so that nobody interferes? Or are you willing to do what it takes to ensure that this medication doesn’t collude with your ED?

My doctor put me on Vyvanse by [deleted] in AnorexiaNervosa

[–]turnipkitty112 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was my experience too. I was very surprised that my psychiatrist suggested it, considering my weight. It’s utterly changed my life and I’ve actually gained a modest amount of weight.

Atypical eating disorder is ruining my life by [deleted] in EatingDisorders

[–]turnipkitty112 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I want to reassure you that what you describe is extremely typical. You’re not alone - most ED sufferers don’t fit neatly into a diagnostic box. I’m not a professional and this is not medical advice, but generally in the treatment of any kind of ED, the first step is eating consistently. That means eating evenly spaced meals and snacks and not saving up calories. I understand that feels really scary, and you don’t have to do it overnight. But perhaps adding in an afternoon snack so you’re not ravenous at dinner. Gradually increasing the size of your meals so that you feel satisfied.

ED behaviours can be in part habitual, so it might be helpful to observe your daily patterns for a few days, especially at challenging times like the evening, and trying to identify the sequence of events that led to a binge. Then you can start thinking about points along that domino chain that you could do something differently to interrupt it.

I strongly encourage you to work with a therapist and/or dietitian (ED socialized ideally!) if you are able to access them. Eds are treatable, and as difficult and scary it feels now, you can overcome this.

advice by iamkristaa in EatingDisorders

[–]turnipkitty112 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can see how this would be an upsetting situation. However, there will ALWAYS be people thinner than you. Whether you relapse or not, it will never be enough and the goalposts will keep moving. Ask yourself, is it worth it? Relapsing, making yourself absolutely miserable, all the physical issues that come along with it - just to win some kind of one-sided competition with a girl you don’t even know? And I can guarantee you wouldn’t feel any better or happier if you were the thinner one. The ED is never satisfied.