Just some thoughts

[digmusic]

Has anyone ever heard of binge eating disorder leading to anorexia or vice versa? Or do people with eating disorders tend to have just one eating disorder that they suffer from? The reason I ask is because I used to have issues when I was much younger with extreme dieting and fasting and now I am struggling with binge eating, I want to get help for my binging but I feel like I am incapable of eating like a normal person and I will just either binge or starve myself, I am an all or nothing person in these areas. I wish I could just eat like a normal person and have food not be such a part of my life.

[Jonistyle2]

i think that it is VERY common for people to "cross the lines" of eating disorders and have symptoms of more than one or move from one to another. i'd say many, many people battling ed's are not just strictly "anorexic" or strictly "bulimic." some are, some aren't, you know? i, for example, am currently working on recovery from anorexia. however, i was strictly anorexic for about a year and a half and then binge ate almost daily for about 9 months before realizing i REALLY needed therapy. so i'd strictly restrict during the day (the anorexia stuff was still there) but binge horribly nearly every night. shortly after beginning therapy, i overcame the binge eating, but i'm still struggling with anorexia.

i really think you should see a therapist. what you're experiencing is VERY common and normal for someone with an ED, but it's deep rooted. you need therapy to overcome it. hope this helps.

[Hannie]

Hey - first of all, im sorry to hear that you are having some problems at the moment.

Second of all - Im pretty much certain that alot of people suffer from more than one eating disorder - wheather it be anorexia, binging eating or bulimia.

I have an eating disorder called ED-NOS which is - eating disorder not otherwise specified. It basically means that I have a bit of anorexia, a bit of bulimia, some disordered eating problems thrown in, mixed with maybe a bit of binge eating and depression - oh *chuckles* what a mix!!

So as far as I know alot of people dont just suffer and stick with one disorder.

From the sounds of it your'e body has been so used to extreme dieting when you are younger that it has been in starvation mode for a long period of time. So when you started eating normally - or try to eat normally - it will automatically think...."FOOD FOOD FOOD" and want to eat as much as possible because it doesnt know when it will be fed again...does that make any sence?

Obviously this isn't very helpful with the emotional side of things because you wish your body didn't binge and so you try to starve again - but you cant tell your stomach "Hey you'll get fed again tomorrow if you stop binging!" because it wont understand.

I think therapy would be really good for you! You can address some problems that you might have been going through in your childhood to make you extreme diet, and problems you are going through now.
Never think that you are a "helpless case" - this is you eating disorder talking! With some good therapy, and some great support you WILL be able to fight this
Good Luck
X Hannie X