I am just starting to get help for an eating disorder that I have had since I was 5, 32 years old now so I guess it's time.

Do any of you also suffer from an eating disorder? I am wondering about the relationship between the two. I have suffered from anorexia since I was 5 and started showing symptoms of bipolar and psychosis from near the same age. My dad also had Bipolar and seemed to suffer from anorexic behaviors on and off. At 5 I wasn't concerned with body image but maybe a means of control since I had very little control in any thing else. Just wondering if anyone else is dealing with both. I feel really alone in that, and saying I have anorexia is much harder for me than saying I have bipolar ( and I have a hard time with that as well ).

I can't help think there is a correlation between the two. I have read that anorexia as one of the comorbid illness of bipolar ( sorry if worded wrong ) I'm just tring to gain some insight. Also I don't really care what form the eating disorder comes in. To me they seem kinda the same, just coming out in different behaviors, but maybe I'm wrong.

Thanks, Anika

[mgran]

I'm not sure if I have an eating disorder. I've always turned to food for comfort, but there are days on end where I just don't feel hungry at all. Having said which, since I've been on meds my appetite has increased, and there are times when I would just sit and eat, and eat, and keep on eating. I've managed to lose over a stone and a half, and still have over a stone to go, but it's been very hard.

I'm not sure if overeating counts as an eating disorder though. I might just be greedy.

[dragonfly2]

I have somewhat of an eating disorder history. I wasn't technically bulimic, because I didn't binge, but I did have periods where I would need to purge. It could have been the smallest amount of food, but I had to get rid of it. Then I would be almost afraid to eat because I was afraid that I would have to purge afterward. I'm not sure if it's related to the bipolar, although it begins again when I become depressed and anxious. I have been overweight since I was a child and my mother was always sort of mean about it (buying me clothing I liked, but in a smaller size to "motivate" me to lose weight...gee..thanks mom). One time I was eating an apple - an apple! - and she ripped it out of my hand because she didn't think I should be eating at all. So that sort of followed me and in my 20's I started to feel like I shouldn't be eating. I also could not eat in a room with other people (like a cafeteria) because I felt like people were watching me, thinking I shouldn't be eating. Ugh. So, yeah...I guess I had an eating disorder.

[Forgive77]

I have disordered eating which is a form. I wont eat....then I'll eat. Kinda like a snake.

[ScooterBug]

I can see how some people with BP can lean towards Anorexia. When I have anxiety, I can't help but puke at least 1x a day and food is just not my friend. When I'm manic I forget to eat, but when I do eat I indulge BIG TIME!! Then when I'm depressed I don't have an appetite and food will make me nauseus. It's not like I'm thinking "I want to stay skinny." it's just the way my body reacts to my moods.

I do know of some girls that are BP and have either bulimia or anorexia because they feel like since something is wrong mentally, they need to outshine with their slim bodies. (which also goes hand in hand with the hypersexuality) ...

I guess from just what I've experienced and what I've seen with BP friends, I guess it can develop because of BP but not connected medically. It's not like if you're BP you will have an eating disorder ....

Do I make sense? I hope I do ...

[Forgive77]

Originally Posted by ScooterBug

I can see how some people with BP can lean towards Anorexia. When I have anxiety, I can't help but puke at least 1x a day and food is just not my friend. When I'm manic I forget to eat, but when I do eat I indulge BIG TIME!! Then when I'm depressed I don't have an appetite and food will make me nauseus. It's not like I'm thinking "I want to stay skinny." it's just the way my body reacts to my moods.

I do know of some girls that are BP and have either bulimia or anorexia because they feel like since something is wrong mentally, they need to outshine with their slim bodies. (which also goes hand in hand with the hypersexuality) ...

I guess from just what I've experienced and what I've seen with BP friends, I guess it can develop because of BP but not connected medically. It's not like if you're BP you will have an eating disorder ....

Do I make sense? I hope I do ...

Exactly!!!!!!

Forgive, Ya I agree, I don't think because you have bipolar you'll have an eating disorder. You said just what I was thinking.

I just wonder for myself if some of my eating disorder comes from bipolar and some obviously does not. I was just thinking about since getting help. I have never given it a lot of thought. My moods do effect my eating. It started out as a coping skill for control but has grown into a self image problem over the years. I definitely get satisfaction from not eating when I loose control if my mood or other stressful circumstances appear. I don't know if I'm even ready to give it up or work on it.
My pdoc thinks my medications don't work because I'm not metabolizing them properly because of my diet. That is the only motivator for me right now.

[palemoss]

i have bulimia (non-purging type). whenever i get thin and start to feel confident enough to go out, meet new people, have sex... my mania is triggered. it will last for a few months, then i'll just crash and get depressed - eat alot - then eat normally. i'll start to feel trapped, and then begin the food restriction/anorexic eating/rigorous exercise in order to loose weight so i could be "happy" (a.k.a manic) all over again.

i should probably stop this. try to eat healthy and exercise so i can maintain my weight... um ya. will do eventually

[Forgive77]

Originally Posted by Anika

Forgive, Ya I agree, I don't think because you have bipolar you'll have an eating disorder. You said just what I was thinking.

I just wonder for myself if some of my eating disorder comes from bipolar and some obviously does not. I was just thinking about since getting help. I have never given it a lot of thought. My moods do effect my eating. It started out as a coping skill for control but has grown into a self image problem over the years. I definitely get satisfaction from not eating when I loose control if my mood or other stressful circumstances appear. I don't know if I'm even ready to give it up or work on it.
My pdoc thinks my medications don't work because I'm not metabolizing them properly because of my diet. That is the only motivator for me right now.

I know my Geadon needs to be taken with food or it wont work. So what your psychiatrist is saying is very true. =)

Damn!!! You know the dietitian said he's right too.
Dr-3 points Anika-0

[Forgive77]

Originally Posted by anika

damn!!! You know the dietitian said he's right too.
Dr-3 points anika-0

lol lol lol

[BlackPup]

anorexia is a comorbidity/symptom of borderline personality disorder,
maybe there is also a correlation of eating disorders with BP, I binge eat

[Trippin2.0]

I'm a binger too :-( it doesn't affect my weight (yet) and its n0t about c0ntrol,but it definitly IS mood related. I should try to eat n0rmal regular meals...

[blueoctober]

Anika, I had an abusive childhood and began dieting at 9. I couldn't restrict calories (I used food as a comfort), but I started over-exercising in high school and did that until I was diagnosed at 30. During exercise was the only time my mind shut off, so that's what started it. After my diagnosis I started therapy and I learned to cope more healthy with feelings instead of stuffing them with constant activity (work, exercising, etc. etc.) I still workout, but it's not obsessive like it was before my diagnosis.

[Direction]

I binge and comfort eat...I see it more a symptom of BPD

[madisgram]

By Jessica Ward Jones, MD, MPH Associate News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on August 5, 2010
Eating disorders appear to occur more frequently in individuals with bipolar disorder.
According to a recent study, more than 14 percent of patients with bipolar disorder also suffer from an eating disorder, and these individuals are likely to have a more severe course of illness.
http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/08...nts/16424.html

Thanks for sharing guys, I find it kinda if interesting that its not mentioned much aside from change in appetite with depression.

Madisgram, thanks for those articles. I knew had read about this once somewhere. The second article I found really interesting. I rapid cycle with more mixed episodes than any other mood. Psychosis and anxiety are huge for me. So hit the nail on the head. Severe form of bipolar meh I don't like that. But child abuse and neglect low income god, all right. That makes me feel a lil less screwed up somehow.
Also in the second article binge eating disorder came first which seems accurate to this thread, I think .. I didn't count tho.

[balance]

Originally Posted by ScooterBug

I do know of some girls that are BP and have either bulimia or anorexia because they feel like since something is wrong mentally, they need to outshine with their slim bodies. (which also goes hand in hand with the hypersexuality) ...

Do I make sense? I hope I do ...

Hello ScooterBug,

I'm one of these girls...when I am hypomanic I follow a strict diet and exercise daily to lose weight, I can lose 10kg in 3 months without effort (I mean, without feeling any effort). In the meanwhile, I'm hipersexual, and it's also a bit embarassing to me, because I find out myself always flirting with boys, always, in any kind of circumstance and especially with people I slightly know. During these periods, which last max 4 months, I just want to be skinny, perfect, and go to bed with anyone, it doesn't matter who, what matters is charming them and let them desire me.
Afterwards, I suddenly stop to be interested in sex and start to binge, because I'm feeling down and at the same time I'm not interested in going to bed with anyone....
In this period I'm just studying, dieting and isolating...I don't feel any interest towards the outer world, because I almost have no emotions...no pain, no pleasure, just anxiety, which I dominate through diet and study and good marks....I don't know how long it will last before I get depressed again....now it seems to me I will be like that forever (I'm feeling very good and in control, despite isolating and spending my days in front of a book)....

[palemoss]

Originally Posted by balance

Hello ScooterBug,

I'm one of these girls...when I am hypomanic I follow a strict diet and exercise daily to lose weight, I can lose 10kg in 3 months without effort (I mean, without feeling any effort). In the meanwhile, I'm hipersexual, and it's also a bit embarassing to me, because I find out myself always flirting with boys, always, in any kind of circumstance and especially with people I slightly know. During these periods, which last max 4 months, I just want to be skinny, perfect, and go to bed with anyone, it doesn't matter who, what matters is charming them and let them desire me.
Afterwards, I suddenly stop to be interested in sex and start to binge, because I'm feeling down and at the same time I'm not interested in going to bed with anyone....
In this period I'm just studying, dieting and isolating...I don't feel any interest towards the outer world, because I almost have no emotions...no pain, no pleasure, just anxiety, which I dominate through diet and study and good marks....I don't know how long it will last before I get depressed again....now it seems to me I will be like that forever (I'm feeling very good and in control, despite isolating and spending my days in front of a book)....

WOW i am exactly the same way. i slim down right before i peak with my mania. and become a party animal. 4 months max too before i start to feel empty and isolate myself - it's getting on my friends' nerves. yes i still have some left. anyway, YES i am the same way. oh gosh in those 4 months do i make a fool of myself with men...

[buttrfli42481]

I have BP and anorexic tendencies. I have been depressed since about 5th grade, but dx in 07. Started watching my weight in high school when I joined the swim team. My symptoms for each got worse when I went to college. Instead of gaining the "freshman 15", I lost 15lbs. My depression was worse due to my feelings of not fitting in with the rest of the crowd. I wasn't dx with BP until late last year, early this year. I still have the tendencies, I don't like to be weighed, I don't like to eat much, I eat only if I want to. If I didn't have my daughter, I probably wouldn't eat at all on some days.

Well I think I've decided to take this whole eating debacle one day at a time. I'm not really up to working on it. Instead of worrying over what the dietician will say when I disappoint her with my food log, I'm just going to take the approach that she can't really expect me to just get through this with flying colours.

I ate breakfast one day out of the five days so far. Even if I get in one more in the next two days. That's still more than zero. Percentage wise it's a big fail. I hate disappointing people, but decided I will be honest with her.

I know that the eating probably effects my mood but I just can't help it right now. I'm a lot more worried about getting this episode under control than taking on another huge task.

Thanks everyone for sharingGlad I'm not alone in this, and on the other hand that sounds wrong, I don't wish any of you eating problems