[blueparakeet]

I've had eating issues since I was 12. Is it possible to switch between disorders? I've struggled with anorexia for most of my life and it was at its worst when I was in my early college years. I even did cocaine to lose weight (mind you, not to get high, but solely so I wouldn't eat). I overexercised too--hours and hours a day.

However, in the last few years I was diagnosed with a mental illness and two years ago the medicine made me gain an absurd amount of weight from constant eating and binging. And now I'm obese (yes, I"m that overweight). Now I struggle with overeating. I'm starting to get off that combination of medicines and I'm still overweight and now have a habit of eating too much.

Is it possible to "switch"?

In other news, I started seeing a dietician to help lose the weight and learn to eat healthy again, but I never told her I had anorexia at one point. She gave me some tools to help with healthy eating and lose weight without counting calories, but then proceeded to tell me exactly how many calories I need to consume. I can already feel the insanity starting again with this counting calories business.

[bronzeowl]

Yes. I don't remember the exact statistics off the top of my head, but I know I read them recently. Many people with eating disorders may "switch" between them throughout their life.

I'm glad that you're seeing a dietician. You might want to bring up your past eventually. I know it might be hard, but it may be important in your path to weight loss. I wish you the best.

[ar2004]

Yes I think it is definitely possible to go from starving oneself to overeating. I think it is great you are seeing a dietitian. I wonder if you have considered seeing a psychologist for therapy? They can help you to figure out the thinking and behaviors behind your disordered eating. I've suffered silently off and on with anorexia for over 15 years until recently when I started therapy and finally talked about it because it is presently at its worst. I honestly don't know what I would do right now without my T.

[blueparakeet]

Thank you. I honestly tried seeing a T a long time ago and it was a bad experience. I have been thinking about seeing another one, but I'm not sure how to find one. It's so hard. I've been fighting with disordered eating since I was young. I can feel the insane thinking starting again and the behaviors. Would a T help? I'm afraid they won't believe me that I was very underweight and not eating at one point. I don't think my doctor believes me either. And that's hard for me. It's like "You're so fat, there's no way you were anorexic"...at least that's what it seems like to me. Sorry. I'm rambling from my original question.

[bronzeowl]

It's okay to ramble. Never need to apologize for it here. Speaking to a T is helpful for some people. It is so/so for me. It's always been hard for me to find the 'right' one. Has to be someone I feel comfortable with, and most of them I just don't. You could try to find one. You'd be under no obligation to go back. I think T's tend to be a bit more willing to listen to potential eating disorders than doctors. Especially now that it's getting out there that anyone of any size can develop an eating disorder. There was actually an article about it on the APA's website. I'm not sure if it's still there, but it's worth looking at if it is. I've been afraid to bring up my own potentially disordered behaviors. Also, because of weight. But if you think speaking to a T might help you, it's worth trying. If not, don't sweat it. Not everyone benefits from one. And some people take a while to find one they DO benefit from.

For me? I've honestly been responding to my pills (in regards to my mood disorder, not my eating) better than I ever responded to therapy.

[BlessedRhiannon]

Yes, my T told me it's very common for one to switch from restricting to binge eating. It's even common to switch week to week!

When I first started discussing this with my T, I was terrified that she wouldn't believe me because I'm a bit overweight now, but in high school and college, I was underweight and restricted my eating. My T never doubted me.

For me, working with a T has helped. But, you have to find the right T. Someone that understands disordered eating, someone that you connect with, someone that you trust.

[sunsetsunrise]

Originally Posted by blueparakeet

I'm afraid they won't believe me that I was very underweight and not eating at one point. I don't think my doctor believes me either. And that's hard for me. It's like "You're so fat, there's no way you were anorexic"...at least that's what it seems like to me. Sorry. I'm rambling from my original question.

Any practitioner who undestands eating disorders knows that many people switch to different sides of the same coin. The ED coin. I am someone who has gone back and forth. Starving for maybe a year. And I do mean starving. Hair falling out, heart suffering etc. And then going to the flip side.

I think the National eating disorders association has a phone number people can call and private chat to ask for resources in your area. http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/find-help-support They surely will understand what you are saying when you talk about ano and then compulsive eating. You will be believed by anyone who really understands eds. Because they are volunteers, if you do not get the results you want, please contact them again. It took 2 times for me to get the info I needed. I hope this info helps a bit

[blueparakeet]

Yes thank you! I really appreciate all of your replies. I didn't know the switching could happen. I will look into calling that number sunsetsunrise. I know my doctor wants me to see a T, but more for mood disorder issues. But I hope I can find someone who can help with this too. Right now, I just don't like myself for allowing myself to become so overweight even though I know the medicines played a very large part in it.

[eskielover]

Moods & stress are a huge part of EDs.....when I was major depressed & suidical was when the anorexia took over initially at the age of 42....I was always conscious of my weight but controlled it by playing racquettball every day at lunch & some major tournaments with the guys......kept the weight completely under control while I was in my engineering career.....but when that was gone & my bad marriage of so many years was hitting me on top of that (career was my marriage escape)......stress always caused me to stop eating & loose weight........when the migraines took over & exercise wasn't something I could do & I managed to get through the suicide attempts.......then I started to gain.....& did the swing the other way.....then a trauma hit & I lost almost as much as I had gained & was back in the hospital with IV nutrition.....& since then I have been very careful about maintaining my weight at a healthy place because I did finally leave my H & am living completely on my own....so I can't afford to have a real low weight & pass out all the time like before.

It's gotta be normal to swing & to have various times when the anorexia is worse & then less besides the major swings to overeating & overweight problems........we are made up of so many emotions & aspects of ourselves....it's normal to have many different periods we go through.

Glad you are working on getting it under control however because it's much healther to eat well....no point in destroying one's life which all too easily can happen.

[Victoria'smom]

My meds have helped me maintain a bare minimum of food intake. I'm slightly overweight though they have no idea how I can maintain weight. There has never been a question of whether I had an ED because my first question is about new meds is whether they are weight neutral or not. My pdoc has the chart as history of anorexia. My dietitian was useless and triggering bringing me back to the point that either I leave or go inpatient. My therapist has helped me a lot with eating even though I very quickly took her ability to talk about any food related subjects off the conversations she was aloud to bring up list.

I would go in to see a therapist and just talk about your other mental illness and take it from there.

I brought up that my latest mood swing I ate daily without a huge "push me and I'll divorce you" fight. I was told that 'natually' since I started my food intake has improved about 3 fold.

[rissaAli]

I switched, I have done it often. medication makes it worse for me. I am classified as obese right now. But I was considered morbidly obese when I switched from bulimia to restricting. My doctors put me IP on ng tube at My highest weight. Weight is not indicative of life threatening behaviors. I would urge anyone that gets blown off by a doctor for being "too Fat" try and get another opinion. These disorders can be dangerous if not deadly. I'm not really one to talk right now but I have seen people come out of the other side of this. It can be done. I am struggling right now with how but I know people that have done it and are doing it. please be safe. and know that people do care about you.