Eating disorder - how to get help?

i have been binging and purging my food for about a year now, for the last six months at least once every day, and it is getting me severely depressed. its a miserable existance, as though i live only to eat everything in the house, feel intensely guilty and worried about putting on weight, so throw up as much as i can. i've told my mum who is very upset by it all and wants me to go to the doctors about it but i don't really see what this would do or how they could help me, and i'm an incredibly shy person and i am absolutely useless at talking about personal things to people. i also hate people looking at me, i always feel as though i look different to everyone else, it might sound stupid but i feel so hideous its as though i have some kind of physical deformity and i am paranoid everyone is staring at me. i don't know what to do, but has anyone been in a similar situation and what is the best thing i can do to try and recover from this?

Hi,

I have been bulimic for about 3 years now.. currently trying to recover and have been in the same boat as you. Firstly well done in telling your mother. mine didn't take it very well either, infact I felt very let down by her. Finding help for mental issues is not always easy. I became severly depressed and suicidal during my eating disorder. I went and seen my doctor who unfortunately was not very helpful..but sent me to a nurse about my suicidal state..she was not helpful either.. I don't mean this to put you off seeking help but to let you know that sometimes you dont always find the right help straight away, which can be a bit of a knock back...but i have went to see a counsellor (self refered) at my uni and she has been absolutely fantastic. There is probably reasons behind your emotional state and eating... and a counsellor can really help you explore these. I felt exactly the same way as you and asked myself "what can any of these people do? What difference will it make?" but honestly, having the support helps so much and also letting out the secret, lets out the shame. I am a quiet person too, it was soo hard and so scary for me to get help, i still find it that way someyimes, as I do it without very little support unfortunately but once you find the right help it will feel great...and also you will get so use to telling your story it will begin to seem normal! Eating disorders are so hard to get away from, they emotionally consume you, please seek help, you deserve it and you will get support and I hope your mum is going to support you too...it's an illness and your doctor will appreciate that it's not an easy thing to open up about at all.

Be strong, you have done so well to come out about this before letting it go on for years upon years..I hope you get help, i know what your going through! best wishes! And feel free to email me!
x Source(s): Bulimic for 3 years..now trying to recover.

Jon Kabat-Zinn has an excellent book, called: "Coming to Our Senses",
which would greatly help, and it is encouraging as well.
you have already taken the first step which is accepting you have a food disorder.

Now read this in order to understand a few things,

Bulimia, also known as bulimia nervosa, is an eating disorder in which people "binge" and then "purge" their food.

A "binge" occurs when people eat much more food that they need, or would normally eat.

A "purge" occurs when people use inappropriate and unhealthy ways to "get rid" of the food or burn off the excessive calories. Methods include vomiting, using laxatives, fasting, exercising compulsively, using diuretics, and using enemas.

Unlike anorexia, in which people look very thin and usually sickly, people with bulimia can look rather normal and maintain a normal body weight.

So, on a visual basis alone, it can be difficult to determine who is suffering from bulimia.

Additionally, the binging and purging are usually done in private, thus making it even more difficult to know who is suffering from bulimia.

As with anorexics, bulimics suffer from low self-esteem.

They also usually suffer from other psychological issues also.

And food is a way that they seek "comfort."

Bulimia is a serious health problem and requires immediate treatment.

Please become familiar with the symptoms and medical complications of bulimia.

Here are some of the symptoms and medical complications of bulimia:

Binge eating
Vomiting
Dizziness
Headaches
Hair loss
Erosion of teeth enamel (occurs becasue the vomit eats away the enamel of the teeth)
Sore throat
Frequent bathroom visits, particularly after meals
Laxative abuse
Diuretic abuse
Substance abuse
Bodyweight fluctuations
Swollen glands
Shortness of breath
Irregular heartbeats
Broken blood vessels
Abrasions on back of hands and knuckles
Compulsive exercising
Fasting
Mood swings
Clinical Depression
Anxiety
Severe self-criticism
Fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily
Self-deprecating thoughts following eating
Fatigue
Anemia
Electrolyte imbalance
Edama (swelling)
Dehydration
Constipation
Diarrhea
Chest pain
Abdominal pain
Low blood pressure
Irregular heartbeat
Muscle weakness
Irregular heartbeats
Avoidance of restaurants
Loss of menstruation
Irregular menstruation
Peptic ulcers
Pancreatitis
Cathartic colon
Parotid gland enlargement
Gastric dilation and rupture
Kidney damage
Liver Damage
Cardiac arrest
Death
Remember, if you have bulimia you MUST get help now.
Hey jen... This is one of the worlds worst diseases. And its not your fault.. Things are easily addictive.. Your weight for example. Are you binging and purging because you think your not pretty.. or you need to lose weight? If soo.. dont worry about it. You are who you are. But my words cannot help you stop doing what your doing. Its very serious.. and its not easy to stop.. especailly since youve been doing it for a year. You need to go to rehab.. yes they have rehab for that. Jen.. Its very serious and could seriously harm you. Good luck and God Bless!
go to a heath store and ask some one works there if there is anything u can take to not have such a big appitite or craving for food. i've seen them before ..yesterday to be exact ..lol
You need to seek professional help. You need to find a counselor that specializes in eating disorders and a nutritionist that will put you on track with eating healthy so you don't need to worry about weight gain.

I've had family members with eating disorders, so I know that the only way to heal is see a professional. They will help you get in touch with your issues and deal with them so that you can lead a normal life without the need to binge. It will be hard at first, but there's no shame in admitting you have a problem. Everyone does at some point in their lives, whether it's over or under eating, anxiety, depression, etc.

Once you make that first step, you'll feel relieved that you did. Then take it step by step. It will be a long process, but you sound like you want to change, and that's important.

You could also join eating disorder message boards online. That will provide you with support without having to talk to people face to face. You can post questions about the process of healing, concerns you have, experiences, etc. It will help to know that you're not the only one.

Best of luck hun.