Subscribe To This Site

Lost in bulimia - is there hope?

by Hhelley
(St. Louis)

I have been bulimic since I was 15. I am now 40!

Is there really a way out of this hell? I have tried and tried... I'm waiting for something to click.

I desperately need some hope.

Shaye Says

Hi Shelley,

Yes, there definitely is hope - and there is a way out... But, it's not a quick journey... It's constant and persistent work... one step at a time...

Many people (me included, many times) give up on recovery because after a week they aren't seeing great change - and life is actually more difficult... It's pushing through these times and continuing to take action where you'll make the most change.

Recovering from bulimia is basically like re-wiring part of your brain... This is done through repetition over a reasonably long period of time...

The question is where on earth to start... I always suggest developing self kindness and working on structured eating... Both such key elements in bulimia recovery...

Self kindness is so important because - for example - how are you supposed to win a marathon if somebody kicks you whenever you're down... You need to uplift yourself, and be your own best friend. A good way to think of it is "How would you talk to your best friend, or a loved one, if they were in your position?" never underestimate the powers of persistently talking well to yourself!

Most importantly you need to know that recovery IS possible! I know a lady who recently recovered from bulimia after 20+ years - It wasn't due to something clicking... It was because she was persistent and took action. She started with structured eating.

I wish you believed in your own recovery as much as I believe it in :)

Keep in touch.

Shaye

Comments for
Lost in bulimia - is there hope?

Click here to add your own comments

Re: lost
by: Val

Hi there:
There is hope, and you can find yourself. For many years bulimia was a part of me, it was like the first thing I thought of when I asked myself "who am I?". I am bulimic. That's what I saw when I looked in the mirror. That's what I thought of whenever I looked at food. Now I am into about 65 days of recovery - I did slip up a few times after 50 days straight of no binging and purging - but it didn't have the same feeling as it used to. Something changed in me so that bulimia is no longer first and foremost in my mind. There are so many other things that are more important in my life. Now and then I do have moments of struggle, but not very often and it's pretty easy to win the struggle.
I DID start recovery by wanting it BAD, REAL BAD and setting up a game plan by - yes- structured eating and eating foods I enjoyed and felt safe eating. My stories are on Shaye's site - I had bulimia for about 25 years. I'm just an average person, didn't go to therapy, I have no degree in psychology or anything like that. What I'm trying to say is that ANYBODY can do this, and I didn't let the fact that I can't afford therapy or I'm in this by myself(my family still doesn't know!!) stop me. It was time for me and I let the power of my mind and will take over bulimia. It was hard at first, but as time went by got easier.

I wish you the best. Alot of people overcome this, and you can too!!! You are fortunate to post on Shaye's site. Everybody here is so supportive of each other and Shaye has such WONDERFUL advice and positive energy!
Take care of yourself.
Val.

I'm in the same boat
by: Lara

Hi there ^.^

We're "twins": I'm about the same age (41) and I started at 15.

I'm still in the early stages of re-training myself to eat: As I write this, i'm actually feeling nauseous (I over-ate at lunch & I'm trying to keep it down). I'm choosing to keep my food down. What works for me in moments like this (and please know that it took me lots of practice to get to the point of being ready to simply sit with whatever feelings & bodily sensations were coming up for me) is this:

I remind myself of what the outcomes of a bulimic rage are (for me, this means an overall swollen eyes, cheeks, ankles & knees -very painful; sore teeth due to one more round of stomach acid erosion; intense emotional insecurity -VERY unattractive). After reminding myself of all that, IF I still need to go ahead with it, then I do my best to binge & purge wisely. For me, this means: buying some antacid liquid (to swish my mouth out with between waves of induced vomitting & after I'm all done), prune juice (high in potassium & helps out the colon^.~) & low-sugar Gatorade (as a post-purge "cocktail"); if possible, choosing to binge on things that I would normally keep down; drinking my cocktail & water while distracting myself on the computer (to preevent any further bulimic attemts); AND getting rid of any left-over binge food (to prevent a possible "round 2").

The stuff Shaye writes about at this site actually works -and you WILL stop the insanity. Commitment & getting back up each time you slip are essential.

If I can do this, so can you.

-feel free to stay in email contact if you wish (I live in Seoul, South Korea)

laratosh@yahoo.com

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Bulimia questions.

Article by Shaye Boddington
Author of your-bulimia-recovery.com
and creator of The Bulimia Recovery Program and Community

Lost in bulimia - is there hope?

Shaye Says

Comments for Lost in bulimia - is there hope?

Comments for
Lost in bulimia - is there hope?