To think I don't have an eating disorder?

[NotAlwaysHungry]

I make myself sick about 2-3 times a week. I know it's not the greatest habit and is no doubt very unhealthy but I only do it when I've eaten too much junk. My weight is fine and I'm otherwise very healthy.

My sister recently found out about it (long story!) and she was horrified. She now has it in her head that I have some sort of eating disorder and will die at any minute.

She told me I need to see a doctor but I've been doing this for nearly eight years now and considering I'm still healthy then I'm hardly going to suddenly drop down dead because of making myself sick a few times a week.

An eating disorder is disordered eating.

Purging after eating is disordered eating. I did it for a short while during an intensely stressful period of my life and I know now it was a mechanism for feeling control over a spiralling situation.

Whatever your reasons for doing it, please look for help. All the best xxx.

The fact you can't not even won't admit it. Just proves you do have an eating disorder.

You have an eating disorder. Please listen to your sister who is rightly concerned.

I'm not judging you by the way. I get it. I was in denial about my ED for years. And for years it was mild and "Manageable". And then it wasn't. It spiraled into binge/purge cycles of up to 10 times a day. Or not eating at all for 4 days. And I almost died because of it. I'm in recovery now, but it took passing out from dehydration/malnutrition/anaemia at my childs school and almost under acar to make me see that I was sick.

But I don't think I'm fat. In fact I know I'm not fat. I don't have any body image issues.

I don't even know why I do it myself tbh. It's just when I feel too full and feel too bloated from eating too much junk.

There's far more to an eating disorder that whether or not you think you're fat. Its more about control.

Its a myth that EDs are about thinking you're fat always.
Can you stop yourself eating so much when you binge? And be honest with yourself. Can you just not do the overeating? If the answer is no, what does that tell you?

I was bulimic for years, and my teeth are fine. Some of us are just lucky to have strong teeth. It doesn't mean I wasn't bulimic, and it doesn't mean you're not. Bulimia has a whole number of risks, including heart problems and liver damage. Being normal weight doesn't mitigate those risks.

Look, you're purging twice a week. That is serious but it does still mean (presumably) that most days of the week you are eating normally and retaining your food. The time to tackle this is now, while you are still relatively strong and healthy.

Eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia, compulsive eating) have dominated my life for too many years and I so wish I had got good help early. You have an opportunity here to act before this gets more serious. Please see your GP or contact beat - at least to hear what they say.

Eating disorders are mental illnesses centered around control. Nothing to do with believing that you are fat.

So you eat so much food you feel you need to be sick..Does this sounds normal.

Weight has nothing to do with ED. .You don't have anorexia are usually low weight.

Oh, and you can have ED while fat, thin or a healthy weight. It's a myth that people with ED can't see what weight they really are (anorexics often claim they're fat, but that doesn't necessarily mean they really think they are).

Disordered eating isn't always to do with body image.

Absolutely agree, eating disorders are not about weight. It's about control. And that's why you need help now.

You have a serious illness. See a doctor.

What exactly am I supposed to say to my GP?

"Oh I make myself sick three times a week but apart from that I'm perfectly fine"

I'm horrified that you have such a nonchalant attitude to something so disturbing. I can't imagine putting myself through something like that 2-3 times a week. It doesn't matter that you don't think you're fat, it doesn't matter that you have good teeth. What matters is that you are making yourself sick. You describe it as a habit that is not healthy so please get help to stop it.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh OP but I want you to understand that this isn't OK.

You're not perfectly fine. You wouldn't be making yourself sick if you were perfectly fine.

Tell your GP that a family member thinks you have an eating disorder. You make yourself sick 2-3 a week and it's probably not healthy. So you want his/her advice on what to do.

That is all you need to say. Please do it OP.

Yes, op, why don't you say just that and see what the GP says?

Stop eating so much junk then, surely that's preferable to having to make yourself sick?

I guess you want the pleasure of eating the junk, but not the consequences (feeling too full, becoming overweight), and see making yourself sick as a way to have both.

But it's not a good idea. Just stop the junk binge.

But to me it is normal. It's just something I do.

Then just stop.

Maybe then you'll realise that you can't.

May I ask how much " junk" you eat before you feel the need to purge?

It seems normal to you as it's part of your routine... how did you end up making yourself sick? Like what prompted you to do so?

But I've tried stopping and I can't .

There have been a few times where I've told myself I won't make myself sick this time like I usually do but I just end up getting all panicked and teary so I make myself sick and then I feel better.

Doesn't everybody have bad habits that they can't stop? Whether that's drinking too much, smoking, eating too much chocolate...

What advice are you looking for?

How about trying to cut out the junk so you don't feel the need to vomit.

Plenty of advice out there for tackling eating disorders. I hope you can find some supportive ones and not those that 'idolise' the condition.