Walking The Road Alone

I remember when I started being bulimic. It seemed to harmless, and yes, it was because I was struggling with losing weight with all the diets I was trying. They were actually making me gain weight!

It all started when I was the right weight, but my sister that was obsessed with weight told me I was 10 pounds overweight and wanted me to start a liquid diet to lose the weight for her wedding.

That’s where my not so great journey started.

I don’t want to get into all the particulars, but I will say that diets are not right. They are distructive. Bulimia is destructive.

I just wish I had had someone back then to tell me that they were there. No matter what, they would be there and help me through understanding that out there no one really cares. If you are seriously happy with yourself, no one cares. Your true friends are there for your heart, not your looks.

I remember being embarrassed having people over if my house was not clean enough. Who cares? They were they for me. And if a messy house bothers them? They are not true friends.

But I walked a lot of my 30 years as a bulimic alone. People didn’t know how to reach out, they didn’t know what to say, they didn’t know just how to ask. And strangely enough, I would have liked that. Ask me how I am feeling. Ask me why? Ask me!! I wouldn’t have ALL the answers, but I would have had many. And maybe one was that I felt alone.

I know there are several sayings that will state “it’s your road alone”, but you don’t have to walk it alone. Someone by your side sure feels less lonely on the journey to recovery. And like the saying above notes ” It’s your road, and yours alone. Others may walk with you, but no one can walk it for you.” This is true.

But you don’t have to walk it alone. I am asking. And you are welcome to share. Again, email me. It’s fully confidential, but I do understand, and I will ask. I will care. I will seriously understand. And I won’t ask for anything in return. I will pay this forward.

LaurieAnn

bulimiacoach@gmail.com.

Reaching Out

There is one thing that is really hard to do when you are bulimic, particularly if you are over 30. Reach out. Most of the time at this age, it is embarrassing to the person to admit that they have been struggling for some time.

I was 48 before I managed to recover from my bulimia. In my earlier years it seemed easier to reach out for help. It seemed more “natural” when I was in my 20’s. Once I reached over 30 I was too afraid to admit to the fact that I was still struggling. I had had some great periods of time of recovery, however, the maximum was 2 years. I couldn’t seem to really get on track. But the older I got, the harder it was for me to seek support due to my own shame and embarrassment.

At 48 it was not from me reaching out, but my sister reaching out to ME. That was so important. It was thanks to her that I did finally find the freedom and I haven’t looked back. 10 years of recovery.

With all the experience I have, I really wanted to pay it forward. I started my Bulimia Recovery Coaching and with it comes 24/7 contact with me. I am single, and this is my passion, to help others that are afraid to take the steps, whether it’s fear of ridicule, or feeling forced to quit right away, or having an accountability issue.

My coaching is none of that. I don’t judge. I can’t. I’ve been there. I don’t force. I can’t. I know the feeling. I guide, and am there for relief if you are on the edge and just need that voice to say “it’s okay” and change the mindset. I am there, not for you to be accountable to me, but to yourself. But I am there to help you do just that.

If you need to contact me by email, do so at bulimiacoach@gmail.com.

Don’t stay in a cage!! Reach out!

Pre-Holiday Jitters

I remember when I was bulimic, having quite sever holiday jitters. This was particularly an issue when I had been doing very well in my recovery and I just felt as if doom was lurking around the corner. There was the dread of all the food that would be laid out.

My mother is famous for her spreads. The layout is huge with all kinds of what was back then “trigger” foods. Things that I felt I shouldn’t have, and if I did, I had “cheated” somehow.

This jitter is gone. I look forward now to visiting my parents and having the family get together and enjoying my mom’s wonderful cooking. The difference today compared to 10 years ago, is that I don’t deny myself anything. I know how much to put on my plate that will satisfy my hunger. I eat slow, and truly enjoy and savour what is before me.

What freedom there is in having removed the dread from the holidays.

Although this season is a bit of an anomily, considering COVID19, there still will be the celebrations and the food out there. Just remember, if you are going through fear, jitters, or dread, reach out. Talk about it. And once you have completed the evening, or day, or whatever time it is that that “feast” will be presented, call out to someone when you have achieved what you wanted to – to enjoy the company, the food, and not consume your mind with the idea of having to find a place to dispose of what is in your stomach. You can do it and celebrate that achievement. But DO make sure you reach out!!

I am available 24/7 over the holidays if anyone needs to contact me for support. Just email me at bulimiacoach@gmail.com. I will be there.

LA

Incidentally, cibophobia is the fear of food, and to some degree, that is a part of being bulimic. Don’t fret. It is common and it is recoverable.

Dealing with Anxiety and Stress After Recovery

What was my go-to 10 years ago and for the 30 years before that when anxiety and stress kicked in? Food. Binge and purge the stress, but really it didn’t resolve anything. It was a momentary escape from reality. What a crazy world that was. It didn’t only NOT resolve the stress and anxiety (in fact causing more anxiety after the binge making sure I could purge before my time limit), but also cost me time and money. But back then, I didn’t think about that latter part much. I just wanted my escape. My pseudo antidote for those feelings of anxiety and tummy knots. I found this picture and love it. It speaks for itself.

For the past ten years I have been able to resolve my anxiety and stress through different ways. Mostly writing, being creative, and biggest of all, taking deep breaths and remembering to have FAITH. But I WON”T lie. I still have times where anxiety appears and I don’t even know why! So I start to overthink, which then brings to the forefront of my mind all the things that could possibly cause me anxiety and it increases the level. I have to stop. Anxiety does tell lies. It creates thoughts of things that “may happen” and quite often the “thoughts” are the worse case scenario. Again. I have to stop, breathe, and have faith. It’s not always easy, but it works for me. I am not one to meditate because my mind won’t sit still enough, so it’s the short pause that helps me. (Trust me I have tried. Only time I listen to meditation voices – I love Mel Zabel, his voice soothes me and puts me to sleep everytime.)

Today I had to deal with a customer service issue. A huge charge on my bank account that was NOT supposed to be charged! And my rent is due, so that was not the best notice on my text message notification telling me this was happening. I called the bank, then the vendor. Two hours later, it was resolved.

Prior to it being resolved, however, I could feel all those feelings of stomach knots and anxiety. I had all these thoughts. Worse case scenario thoughts. But I had the beautiful realization that food was the last thing on my mind. Resolving the issue was the first thing, and as I proceeded to do this I kept telling myself everything was going to work out. STOP worrying!!

ANXIETY IS BEST FRIENDS WITH OVERTHINK 🙂

During my phone conversation with the vendor, it was a bit hard to keep calm. I did escalate at one point, but then realized that poor soul on the other end of the phone was not responsible for the mess, only to try to correct it, so I apologized and asked for a few seconds to take deep breaths and relax. It really works.

The customer service representative was having a hard time listening to my explanation, as he repeated the same ridiculous excuse that made no sense. That’s when Faith came in. “Have faith, LaurieAnn”, I kept repeating to myself. Nothing is resolved with anger, and a solution will be found when he finally understands the error of his excuses. And it happened.

This is just one of many anxiety and stress related issues I have had to deal with in the past 10 years. But in 2020, the strength has become even greater to overcome these situations. My faith has become even stronger than in the past 9 years. The belief in myself has become even stronger! I suppose it has been growing, but the awareness of just how much really became apparent this year.

Recovery is a process. But it is absolutely doable. And once you learn the tools to deal with emotions that triggered a binging and purging episode, the journey becomes easier.

To that sentence, many people think that the type of food a bulimic eats can trigger an episode. I have learned that the mindset is a bigger issue behind that trigger. Changing your mindset will define how the “trigger” is dealt with.