i'm new, is there anywhere i can go to get help?

hi
i'm a 24 year old new mum, and i am scared that i am going to pass on my eating issues to my daughter. i have been binging on and off since i was 11, right now i am in a downward spiral where i am binging daily

a binge would be:
an entire cake
2 jam and cream filled scones
2 large bags of crisps
an entire lemon meringue pie
5 bags of sweets
2 french sticks and fillings of entire packs of brie

i could go on

what is scaring me the most is that its getting progressivley worse,
i'm not sure where this ends, i dont enjoy any of the process.
has anyone got any tips for trying to regain control? i need to break this for myself and for my child.

many thanks
ella
x

Hi, ella! We'll do our best to give you support and I think this is a good step. You could try writing in a diary about why you want to stop and how important your daughter is to you. Maybe you could see if you can find a therapist or support group, but it's ok if you can't, you still have this forum.
Please post here when you feel like binging or do something to distract yourself, that has nothing to do with food.

hi jasmin,
thanks for your speedy response, i have organised a drs appointment for next wed so hopefully i can get some professional help. i'm going to start a diary too.
will let you know how i get on
i have tried to go to drs before but have never managed to go through with it, my main concern is that they wont think that i have a problem or wont understand just how much it takes over my life

ella
x

If they don't understand, it is not your fault. You don't have to see a doc you don't feel comfortable with. Try to explain it to them as well as you can. I hope it works out.

Hi vintella

hope the dr thing is working out ok for you?
I hope it is going ok. I just wanted to post and let you know that it may or may not take a bit of time for things to come out with ur dr, depending on how quickly you work up a relationship with them. I hope you can stick it out. You most definitly have a right to get help, I hope you are getting it.

Perhaps seeing a dietitian may help as well? While BED usually stems from unresolved and suppressed feelings, I find it helpful to have a structured meal plan around that. That doesn't always mean I am successful at sticking to it, but its a guideline for when I am unsure of what to do.

I'm not a parent myself, but my fingers are crossed for you with your daughter. Perhaps if you're interested, I am currently reading a book called 'healing your emotional self' (bought from borders) which talks about the effect our parents have on us as children, how they affect our self esteem and how we can change our perspectives on our self esteem and body image, and stop ourselves from passing it on to our children. Might be worth a read, both for your own benfit and to learn more about the way to interact with your daughter in a positive way relating to food and body image. Again, just a suggestion - I don't know your story, and I'm not a parent myself, just thought you might find it of use. In my attempts at recovery I've found it's useful to have an open mind. The more I read and learn the more I learn about myself, why I behave the way I do and how to combat it. I definitly relate to your list of foods eaten in binges, and your feelings about.

my fingers are crossed for you . goodluck!

http://www.beverlyengel.com/books/heali ... alself.htm

this review of the book doesn't make it sound as good as it is, i think, but check it out if you like.
I know it refers to abuse as a child (all kinds of), and i was never abused but i still have found it so,so useful. It does actually make note in the book that it may be helpful to anyone with low self esteem and negative coping behaviours, not just sufferes of abuse. hope it may be of some use!

hi porkchop
thanks for the advice am going to order book. i have been suffering with this illness for so long i think i now have to take some time to try and understand it. i am currently waiting for a referral from an eating disorders unit but you have inspired me to do some work myself right now.
thanks
any further advice greatly appreciated
x

hey
I'm so glad that you're looking to try and help yourself further while waiting for a referral, good for you!

i don't know if its something you're interested in/already know about, but there are forums similar to this one which perhaps you would like to visit.

http://fishyvb.something-fishy.org/
is specifically for ed's and is very good in terms of it has a COE/BED section, but also a recovery section too. it is quite censored, no numbers, it gives warning signs if something could be potentially triggering.
www.mindsupport.co.uk
is not so censored, might be worth checking out.

i am members of both and find myself often visiting to see what others have to say.

If i think of anything else i will let you know.
I don't know if any of these will help, but in my mind i just love to try as much as possible. i read so much and am always shopping for new books and looking for new websites...just always keeping my eyes peeled in case i should stumble across something which really 'speaks' to me as such and helps me take steps in recovery.

goodluck!