Compulsive overeater, here.

[Granny M]

It's been a life long addiction. I have tried every diet in the book, from Adkins to the Zone. I go to meetings every week. My drinking was bad and I went to AA for help - that was almost 9 years ago, and I haven't had a drink. So I know it works. The food addiction is trickier for me, deeper and more persistent. I still have 40 pounds to release, and it just gets so tough as I get older. At least I know what foods trigger the obsession - sugar and flour combinations like pastries are the worst. And I am a happier person from the spiritual growth. But it's tough.

Thanks for starting this group. I hope there are more of us.

[sarisataka]

1. I am married

to a person with COE. She says imagine being a heroin addict but you cannot ever quit cold turkey; you must still take some every day.

She is in a program that tackles life issues more than food, trying to fix the trigger rather than the habit. It has been very informitive accompanying her and learning about ED.

Keep taking care of yourself

[qwlauren35]

2. Me!

We probably aren't the only two, but this topic is hard to find.

[Granny M]

3. I am definitely sure we are not the only ones.

I live in Ireland and attend OA meetings. My meeting is very small here, too. But at least it's helpful to me and the handful of others there.

That irresistible pull toward the latest "diet" or quick fix draws people in. Anne Lamott recently wrote about the dieting failure. When she announced that she'd be going on a diet, her therapist always said, "Great, honey. How much weight are you planning to gain?"

[Stuart G]

4. Recovery is often not even seen as a possibility with this disease.

Why? because eating disorders, such as overeating, binging, vomiting, anorexia, (that is.. real thinness from the addicts point of view....He/She does not think there is a problem....he/she is just "thin"...

So? if there is no problem, then why go into recovery?...??? Oh..one more thing..there are only about 110 million obese people in the U.S.A....5 and one half times the number of alcoholics .., and this is the largest preventable health problem in this country that leads to heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and many others..

[Granny M]

5. Even if a sufferer does perceive a "problem",

there is a multi-billion dollar business for quick fixes. Diets are almost always unsuccessful. In my own history I repeatedly tried many diets, spent thousands, and nothing worked in the long term. 12-step recovery has brought me the only long-term answer. It's slow and has involved a few relapses along the way. The only thing I have done right is not leave the program. It's given me physical, emotional and spiritual recovery, and is an ongoing process. There just are no quick fixes to this problem.

[Stuart G]

6. I agree with you completely.."ongoing process"

Spiritual too, and emotional...These words are written at 7:05am my time.. Without the program, I'd be dead and couldn't write these words. I am greateful in ways I cannot say or know. Great to be here..thanks for posting Granny M
Stuart

[susan-3_.]

7. Even I got something to say on this.

I was like this months before. I was not ready to accept myself with a disorder of this sort. I was addicted to chocolates and it was something that I would love to have where ever I go. I had a habit of taking more food when I am tensed or worried. This was a normal thing as I have heard my friends saying this. But my condition was getting worse. Moreover, I was not ready to accept myself being in this situation.
It was a treatment that helped me in this situation.
During the treatment, I researched the reasons and facts of eating disorder. I found following things:
-ED is a mental illness where the relation between the person with ED and food won't be healthy.
-Three main eating disorders include
Anorexia Nervosa is a situation where an individual got the fear of becoming fat
Bulimia Nervosa is the act of binge eating then vomiting
Binge eating disorder is a situation eating until uncomfortably full in one sitting.
-Ed can be caused due to psychological issues like control issues, coping issues etc.
- Approximately 24 million people in the US struggle with this. Almost 50% of these people is under the chains of depression.
-ED have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
-Scientist suggests that some girls develop anorexia as they are afraid to separate from their parent's and they develop an ED to halt their sexual developments as a way to avoid leaving childhood.
- Tumors and lesions in the brain have been associated with the development of abnormal eating pattern and symptoms of ED.
- Testosterone may play a significant role in the origins of ED in males.
These were some of the things that I found during my research.

[Granny M]

8. I am a work in progress,

but much better than I was. It's one day at a time. Grateful to be healthy and not bingeing anymore.

Welcome to DU!

[rami999]

9. good

Good for youu

[Stuart G]

10. There are no "quick fixes" for eating disorders...I have been in Overeaters Anonymous

for more than 35 years..OA saved my life. Now if anyone knows of quick fixes, they are scams. Controlling one's weight is a life long process. I have read a lot about it, but it takes patience and time. For some of us, spirituality helps, but not necessary. ....But what is most important could be those 3 words.

..........................................................."But its tough"......................................

...............................That is totally true. In the United States right now..12/16/2018....there are
..................................over 100,000,000..million of us with varying degrees of Eating Disorders..

Some are underweight, overweight, anorexia., grossly overweight, starving to death, and so on. Of course, most of us think we are alone, but yes, that number is correct..100 million in the U.S are struggling with
Eating Disorders.. And most important..We must never give up...We can win this, One day at a time...

[Granny M]

11. Truth.

It is a lifelong process. I love the 12 steps, but recovery from alcohol was more straightforward. I still keep working it, one day at a time. Whatever life throws at me, I know the answer is not in any substance.
May we have a sane and sober Holiday Season.