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.

To everyone with an eating disorder it's normal . This is not normal. Normal is being able to stop eating before the point you get so full you feel you need to purge. Although you say it's junk food so I think you are doing it to regulate your weight whether you admit it or not.

Stop eating too much junk then - then you won't need to make yourself sick?

I agree, if it's not a big deal then don't do it this week. Alcoholics can't stop drinking. People with bulimia can't stop binging and purging.

So if you're not bulimic, then stop doing it. Because you're not addicted to it are you?

You can't really believe this is normal, otherwise everyone would do it.

Is this post a joke? You ask whether it's unreasonable and don't want to hear that actually it's not. Yes, you need to go to the GP and tell them exactly what you told us here. They will advise you on the next steps. But do act now as other people have said, whilst you are still.strong enough to make a recovery.

If you've tried stopping and you can't, and you admit that yourself, then you have an eating disorder.

Do you see OP that that is a logical statement?

Binge and purge, what you are doing comes under a sub group of bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder.

I have also tried to lay off the junk to see if that helps but then I think why can't I eat the occasional pizza or have some pasta and cheese sometimes?

I'm only human and sometimes I get sick of eating vegetables and chicken/fish and soups.

OP you can eat some pizza like everyone else. But why do you need to make yourself sick over it?

Also pasta and cheese, or pizza, is not "junk food".

Um, no it's not a joke.

I asked because my sister now has me worried so I wanted reassurance that I was fine. Now all of the posts here are making me worried.

your user name, your purging - yep, totally normal.

oh wait, hang on a minute...

notalwayshungry

You are bulimic. I was bulimic for years after being anorexic. Your eating is not 'normal'. What would happen if you ate all the junk and didn't make yourself sick? 'Normal' people would be uncomfortable for a while, but it would pass. So why make yourself sick- what are your reasons? You don't have to write a reply- I just think you need to ask yourself these questions.

Your teeth will be getting damaged, regardless of what they are like now. The enamel will be getting thinner. Also, making yourself sick will be disrupting your potassium levels so yes you are in danger of dropping dead if you continue to abuse your body. Most bulimics are normal weight.

I think you have to ask yourself if you are happy to continue as you are. If you are not, I would see your GP.

You've just answered your own question. "I end up getting panicked and teary" does this sound normal? Usually you would expect Aibu to be full of differing opinions but interestingly no ones been by to say " Oh I do that it's fine ". It's not fine. It's not normal.

No this is not healthy behaviour at all. Telling yourself, 'but it's normal to me', doesn't make it so. It sounds like you have an compulsive urge to make yourself sick.

Also pasta and cheese, or pizza, is not "junk food".

Yes they are. They are full of carbs and fat.

You have the textbook definition of an eating disorder

Not just the purging but the totally denial and minimising

You need to see your doctor and say exactly that. You make yourself sick 3 times a week, you don't have any other problems but you recognise this is not normal and want some help

Why would anyone reassure you that being unable to stop yourself from making yourself vomit three times a week after eating something as innocuous as pasta?

It's not normal.

Okay so I go to the GP and say "I make myself sick two to three times a week and my sister now thinks I have an eating disorder."

Then what? What will they do?

Please seek help. My sister had bulimia and she thought she was ok. She kept it a secret until we went on holiday together and I could hear her making herself sick every night. It makes me shudder just thinking about it. It's not normal, and I mean this in the kindest possible way, but it can cause long term problems, both physically and psychologically. I was your sister once and I was terrified, please look after yourself

Doesn't everybody have bad habits that they can't stop?

Sorry, but no they don't. When you can't stop that makes it an addiction. The fact you get panicky when you try to stop confirms you have an eating disorder. Go to your GP, tell them what you have told us, and follow their advice.

Best wishes

If you are worried then that is a sign that deep down you know it's not right. Go and seek advice from your GP. Tell them the truth and let them make a diagnosis.

I know you won't want to because you'll think that means handing over control of what you're doing to yourself, but in reality you'll be taking control of the situation.

Good luck OP. Phone the Dr first thing tomorrow. Do it for love of your family and for yourself.

When you say you do this only after eating "too much junk", what exactly and what kind of amounts counts as junk? It is not normal to throw up after eating food AT ALL and certainly not on a regular basis as you are doing. From the sound of your later posts, junk counts as only some pizza or cheesy pasta so not even junk by most people's definition. Oh and just to reiterate what everyone else said, yes you do have a serious ED and you need to go to your GP quickly.

Deliberately making yourself sick every other day is an extremely disordered way of existing.

Your dentist may have other views about your health.

sometimes I get sick of eating vegetables
2 - 3 times a week is a little more than "sometimes"
You have an eating disorder.