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Original poster

What ae the long term effects of bullemia?

97 replies

juicychops · 20/04/2005 22:05

Does anyone know? im quite interested in eating disorders and what causes them (and being a previous sufferer or bullemia and compulsive eating)i was interested to know what the long term effects are. i was reading a thread about this and as i have been in the same position, i know how horrible it is and how hard it is to get out of this vicious circle. I know that eating disorders arn't good for your health, but what are the actual long term effects?

OP posts:

emmatom · 21/04/2005 22:02

Tortoiseshaell, please tell me you're not 'just'living on raw carrots.
Please look at my other post on that other thread when you can be asked.

No, those feelings don't seem mad to me. I know exactly what you mean.

I was equally bad with both and thinking about it, it started when I was 13/14 until I was 21 or so. That is such a long time.

This is why we must talk about it. As I said before I think, it was very secretive all that time ago, but teenagers, thankfully seem open to talk about anything. I wonder if a sufferer would admit more readily today though.

tortoiseshell · 21/04/2005 22:02

I mean as snacks!

emmatom · 21/04/2005 22:03

Thank the Lordy!!

Original poster

juicychops · 21/04/2005 22:04

bulimic and compulsive overeater. i don't think i've ever been anorexic. i've been very slim before but i don't think ive ever been anorexically skinny. Im 5'6 and the smallest weight i've ever been is 9st 6. at the moment i weigh 9st 8. i don't know what the correct weight for my height should be. I don't ever talk about it as no one knows about it.

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tortoiseshell · 21/04/2005 22:05

I think I started when I was about 17, and hit a really bad patch at uni, but have had problems on and off until I got pregnant with ds 4 years ago, so 6 or 7 years.

My flatmate was bulimic, so we did used to talk about things, but I know what you mean about it being secretive.

emmatom · 21/04/2005 22:08

Re the biscuit thing. You know you're really over all the crap when you can have biscuits in the house and it doesn't bother you.

You see you could eat the biscuits if you wanted to, no-one could stop you, but you choose not to because you know that would be putting rubbish in your body. Reward yourself with something good to eat.
Nairns, who do the oatcakes, by the way, now do a 'sweet' biscuit, which is made of oats and has currants in and no additives etc.

You could eat one of those in a 'sweet' moment and enjoy it for what it is without all the mind games that go 'shall I stuff the whole pack in?'

QueenEagle · 21/04/2005 22:08

I went through a couple of years of bulimia when i was a teenager and I had sores on the back of my first two fingers and also my eyelids would be speckled with pin prick bruising from the force of being sick.

Returned to it briefly in my early 20's but have been free ever since and I'm 35 nearly now.

Still have a few probs though with binge eating at times.

tortoiseshell · 21/04/2005 22:11

What I still don't get, is why a packet of biscuits for example can sit there, even be open on the shelf for days/weeks/months. And then you eat one, and have to eat the whole packet. It is just weird thinking. I could understand not being able to resist them at all. I've always put it down to being perfectionist - thinking 'well this day is ruined now, might as well ruin it big time' instead of thinking, one biscuit is ok, a packet is not!

emmatom · 21/04/2005 22:11

Those flippin' weight charts don't make any sense half the time anyway.

Try not to think of losing weight. Think of it as being good to yourself by eating healthily.
Excess weight will drop off and you'll find a natural weight for you.

Have you chucked up recently juicychops? Oh the beauty of this faceless site, being able to talk like this. Feel free to ignore my question if too painful.

emmatom · 21/04/2005 22:14

That's because in your mind you're dieting and therefore depriving yourself tortoiseshell.

Forbidden fruit and all that.

Tell yourself OK, if I want a biscuit I can bloody well have one, have it and make sure you go off and do something immediately.

Try doing something else that makes you feel good.

tortoiseshell · 21/04/2005 22:14

That sounds perfect anyway juicy chops!

Original poster

juicychops · 21/04/2005 22:21

Yeah i have recently. I stopped it all whilst i was pregnant as i didn't want to damage baby. I thought that was the turning point... but then right at the end of my pregnancy i found out that my dp had been having an affair. That was it and started it all off again. I just felt like nothing and so began the path of self destruction again. my ds is now 3 months but its still going on. really trying to stop but i just cant.

OP posts:

emmatom · 21/04/2005 22:27

That's how deep seated this bloody illness is, that it can be triggered by something when you've been well for a while.

You deserve better than this juicychops. Why should you be suffering.

If you're on the verge of stuffing the whole pack/loaf whatever in, in that split second before, try and transport yourself forwards to how you are going to feel when it's all in.

Remember that physical horrible bloated stomach feeling and the terrible guilt. Why subject yourself to that.
Think how relieved and good you will feel if you could walk away from it and occupy yourself with something else.

Quickly drink a large glass of water straight down. Get in a hot bubbly bath, do things which make yourself feel good.

That little baby needs his mum around for a long time in a fit state.

emmatom · 21/04/2005 22:29

What triggers you off Queeneagle?

Meant to ask that as well jc. Have you got triggers ie places or times of day that start you off?

Original poster

juicychops · 21/04/2005 22:34

Next time i get 'the urge' to stuff my face il try the water thing. The guilt and bloatedness is the worst feeling but the comfort that food gives me is such a 'relief'. You probably know what im talking about but its hard to explain to someone who hasn't been through all this. I probably find like a right sad cow getting comfort from food!

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tortoiseshell · 21/04/2005 22:34

juicychops - sorry to hear that. One thing I have found helpful to stop a binge before it starts is to brush your teeth, and then the fresh taste makes you not want to eat anything. Got to go now, but hope we can chat again.

emmatom · 21/04/2005 22:39

Night tortoiseshall and no, not at all juicychops, you're not mad.

Food is a comfort, your mind is just mixed up about it at the moment that's all. Thing is, it's not comforting you, it's doing the opposite because you have the illness.

Original poster

juicychops · 21/04/2005 22:39

Its mainly triggered off when dp is working late and im at home feeling lonely and down in the evening. or if i see the s**t my dp had an affair with or if i hear a certain song that reminds me of some of the bad stuff that happened or when i go into the shop i used to work in, or if i just generally think about the bad things which has been quite a lot lately for some reason. I think i need some kind of councelling just so that i can try and put some of this bad stuff behind me.

OP posts:

emmatom · 21/04/2005 22:39

I meant sad, not mad!

Original poster

juicychops · 21/04/2005 22:40

night TS

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emmatom · 21/04/2005 22:44

If you think that would help, then why not give it a go. Worse thing that could happen is it doesn't work for you and you can stop, but it's worth a go.

For the evening thing, try laying aside in your mind a couple of good snacks that are there, in reserve, if you want them. That way, you havn't got an 'empty' evening ahead, but you may not need them.

Try a piece of toast with a bit of jam, some fruit, cottage cheese and crackers, yoghurts, cupa soup, pick one or two things like that and know, in the back of your mind that if you need a snack they are there. Learn all these little ways to stop yourself feeling deprived and therefore needing to binge.

Original poster

juicychops · 21/04/2005 22:48

Ive tried not snacking which i can do for a while...a day or two but then i will crave chocolate or something sweet so i have a small biscuit or something. before i know it ive eaten 5 chocolate bars, 3 packets of crisps, cakes and whatever else i can find! and even when i don''t buy any biscuits and chocolate at shopping, i still end up going to the shops during the day just to get a chocolate fix for the evening. its an addiction!

OP posts:

emmatom · 21/04/2005 22:53

But you are allowed to snack. It's back to the deprivation thing. Don't do it my friend.

I'm constantly grazing througout the day on bits, but they are good bits so I havn;t got that feeling of deprivation anymore.

That sweet kick can be got from strawberries or lots of other fruits or even from one of those low-fat bars, some even have choccie on and a bit of choc is good for you.

Keep some good snacks in the house and allow yourself to know that you can have one if you want.

Try having a sweet snack just as you're leaving the house. That way you get the high of having a treat but are not going to be around the house to polish the lot off and later on when you're back, because you've had a sweet thing you won't feel the deprivation.

emmatom · 21/04/2005 22:55

Got to get to bed jc. You sleep tight. Thinking of you. You will get over this one day.

Original poster

juicychops · 21/04/2005 22:59

oh, the stress and pressure society causes... its crazy!! i wonder how many teenagers there are out there with eating disorders? i think the statistics are 1 in 3 girls. Thats so many. If only weight wasn't such a big issue (and if chocolate hadn't been invented!)
Gunna go to bed now cos ive got my grandad's funeral tomorrow but il keep you posted on how im doing... il seee if i can get through tomorrow without having a binge!
nite

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