[Stronger]

I recovered from bullimia 3 years ago, but today, because of various life circumstances, I got an insane urge. I kept trying to think of reasons not to.
Though it was not easy at all, I resisted the urge. But it got me thinking...What are some of the best reasons not to?

What are some of the reasons you have for not purging?
What do you tell yourself when you're trying to talk yourself out of it?

[pudica]

teeth though mine are already pretty bad so I don't really care.
sudden heart attack from electrolyte imbalance!

[ShaggyChic_1201]

Congrats on 3 years!!! That's awesome.

Reason #1 is your self esteem. You have learned how to be strong and deal with life as it comes. You (like everyone) deserves to be treated well and with kindness, INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY from you. Purging once doesn't mean a relapse is imminent, but it does mean that you're feeling something strong and should be looking at it. Do you have a T? Do you know what is triggering you? Do you have a self-care plan? (when I feel triggered I will ... take a bath and read a book with scented candles, put on my headphones and go for a walk, put on silly music and dance in clothes from the 1980s - whatever works)

Reason #2 is your health. Teeth, blood vessels, blood pressure, electrolytes, heart, bones - all are affected by b/p

I'm guessing in 3 years you've figured out a lot of tricks on how not to purge. My foolproof one is to take my (very expensive) medication when I want to binge. I will not throw it up (too expensive and for all I know, dangerous) and thus, my binge is halted b/c I won't binge if I can't purge.

[jay1997]

Originally Posted by Stronger

I recovered from bullimia 3 years ago, but today, because of various life circumstances, I got an insane urge. I kept trying to think of reasons not to.
Though it was not easy at all, I resisted the urge. But it got me thinking...What are some of the best reasons not to?

What are some of the reasons you have for not purging?
What do you tell yourself when you're trying to talk yourself out of it?

It's dangerous and unhealthy. Good job on going 3 years without it. Don't break your streak. Your stomach could rupture, you can get swollen cheeks, decaying teeth. Bulimia doesn't do anything good for people. Good luck with resisting the urge!

[crape]

Originally Posted by Stronger

I recovered from bullimia 3 years ago, but today, because of various life circumstances, I got an insane urge. I kept trying to think of reasons not to.
Though it was not easy at all, I resisted the urge. But it got me thinking...What are some of the best reasons not to?

What are some of the reasons you have for not purging?
What do you tell yourself when you're trying to talk yourself out of it?

Well- It wrecked my health. For instance, my salt and potassium was messed up and I had a heart attack three years ago that was part of it-being older and all! Also I tell myself to relax. I forgive myself for over eating, I make a decision to drink coffee and try water - it doesn't usually work. I am with you and you can stay strong. Usually I do not go too far and In a day I stop overeating when normal average stress comes my way. We can succeed.

[toloveinsanity]

Good for you on 3 years! I was only throwing up after meals for a few weeks, because thankfully my mother caught me and talked me down and got me help, but man those urges still are a problem. My biggest reason is honestly my teeth I've always had nice teeth and had just finished with braces... kind of self-absorbed but hey whatever.
2) Embarrassment. People were always talking about the girl at my school who was very obvious about her bullimia... and not in a nice way. I didn't want to be her, I didn't need her problems as well as my own (again, kind of phrased badly, but in essence I hope you know what I mean).
3) I want to love my body. I want to enjoy reasonable amounts of food. I want it so badly I will fight even myself to get there. And often that's the hardest thing for me to here, that I'm an obstacle in the way. I'd so much rather be a girl who could eat anything, but I'm not, and I'm starting to learn to love my body for that. I have the choice to curve out or become skinny. Sure, doing it healthily is hard and time-consuming. But some girls really can't ever gain those curves girls like me hate so much.
4) Whenever I find myself leaning over a toilet praying to forget after I've relapsed just this one time. Just one more time, I ask myself what I'd say if my best friend were in front of the toilet instead of me. Sometimes I break down crying when I force myself to think that. I'll just lay there and cry, but I'll feel stronger for it in an hour.
5) Think of how good you'll feel tomorrow for having lasted a whole nother day of recovery. Be proud of every hour you take care of your lovely body, you're worth it. Love yourself <3

[(JD)]

Reasons not to purge?

Right now as my T is battling esophageal cancer, I thought I'd add this here, though his is from a different source....

Purging can result in esophageal cancer...and most people do not survive it. Rounds and rounds of chemo and or radiation, perhaps surgery to remove tumor or parts of stomach affected, maybe having to be fed by a tube implanted into the stomach....and still death later?

Hoping to encourage you to not take a permanent solution to a temporary urge.

[medicalfox]

Purging can make you develop gastroesophageal reflux disease which is when the valve to your esophagus and stomach meet and acid from your stomach goes into your esophagus causing heart burn. It's very painful and I have to take meds for it now. I regret purging for all my teenage years and weakening my enamel on my teeth causing teeth sensitivity.

[SpiralInSpiralOut]

1) Keeping good health (e.g.(JD)'s post has freaked me out quite a bit!), 2) I value my happiness - however much it felt right in the moment... binging and purging always left me feeling down afterwards... whether it was hours after or days, feeling down always seemed to follow, 3) it's so hard to hide it and always left me feeling like I was lying to people - it left me feeling separate and low

Main rule: If I wouldn't recommend how I eat to a friend, I try not to eat like that myself... this always rules out purging xx