[Standup2me]

I am beginning to accept that I am binge eater

Has anyone ever tried Over Eaters Anon?
Did it help?
I am pretty scared about this

[Little Lulu]

I have a friend who has been in OA for many years. It has helped her recognize the emotional triggers for her binge eating and given her new coping tools. Not only has it helped with her eating issues, it has helped her deal with relationship and life issues. It would definitely would be worth a try.

[GALAXYGAL]

New here. I’ve been posting on a lot of boards but I have a lot of problems that are all related in some way. I have been over weight most of my life. Just now coming out of a binge eating period lasting 3-4 months I was sleeping 12-13 hours a day to avoid eating then depression set in, the more I slept the more sleep I needed. Brushing my teeth after snacking was an effort but it helped somewhat. I have no desire or energy to want to exercise.

Then I read someone’s comment here that binging is a form of self-medication which struck home with me. I am sleeping fewer hours now and eating less, but then again I have relatives visiting and don’t want to overeat around them.

There aren't any OA groups nearby where I live. Has anyone tried Do online OA groups?

[Standup2me]

Originally Posted by GALAXYGAL

New here. I’ve been posting on a lot of boards but I have a lot of problems that are all related in some way. I have been over weight most of my life. Just now coming out of a binge eating period lasting 3-4 months I was sleeping 12-13 hours a day to avoid eating then depression set in, the more I slept the more sleep I needed. Brushing my teeth after snacking was an effort but it helped somewhat. I have no desire or energy to want to exercise.

Then I read someone’s comment here that binging is a form of self-medication which struck home with me. I am sleeping fewer hours now and eating less, but then again I have relatives visiting and don’t want to overeat around them.

There aren't any OA groups nearby where I live. Has anyone tried Do online OA groups?

I am bipolar and do tend to self-medicate. (not that everyone bipolar does that - but I do)
Maybe that is what I am doing?

I've never tried OA on-line, but I am trying to work up
the courage to go to a meeting

[Little Lulu]

Hope you do find the courage to try a meeting ... you will be welcomed there as 12-step groups tend to be encouraging and warm to newcomers. After all, they are there for the same reason you are and were newcomers at one time themselves.

[waggiedog]

Originally Posted by GALAXYGAL

New here. I’ve been posting on a lot of boards but I have a lot of problems that are all related in some way. I have been over weight most of my life. Just now coming out of a binge eating period lasting 3-4 months I was sleeping 12-13 hours a day to avoid eating then depression set in, the more I slept the more sleep I needed. Brushing my teeth after snacking was an effort but it helped somewhat. I have no desire or energy to want to exercise.

Then I read someone’s comment here that binging is a form of self-medication which struck home with me. I am sleeping fewer hours now and eating less, but then again I have relatives visiting and don’t want to overeat around them.

There aren't any OA groups nearby where I live. Has anyone tried Do online OA groups?

Hi to everyone who posted on this eating disorders forum. ED's can exist in many different ways and one common thing we all seem to have, no matter which disorder it is, is that we are extremely secretive and sometimes ashamed of sharing these issues with anybody else. I might add a very important point here because it IS indeed important ............................... don't be under the impression that people with ED's are thin to the point of being obviously anorexic or obese to the point of malnutrition. YES actually obese folk REALLY DO tend to under~nurished, especially if they exclude fruit, veg and live on pure junk. I've attended OA meetings many times over the years, both here in the UK and also when I was living in the South of France. I found the groups to be extremely welcoming and uncomplicated. I've never done any on~line OA meetings but I'd think there is a good chance they do exist. May I add a note here for the American friends. This is NOT an advertisement for someones books or support groups, but a lady called Geneen Roth has been working for many years with women who have real severe body issues, I became interested in her writings around 25 years ago! Yes, that gives you a very fair indication of how many years I've been suffering various severe eating disorders. I've been anorexic and admitted to hospital, and I've been so so overweight that my blood pressure was sky high! That latter was due to totally uncontrolled binging. I've also been bulimic, that was always in between being obese and anorexic. ED's bring soooooooooooo much heartache, much more than anyone knows and actually can even be fatal ~ as Caron Carpenter found out sadly. To the person who mentioned sleeping much more when binging, YES, it does do that, but it also causes depression too. I will go back over what you have all written to check I've answered your questions. If I have not answered you, then I'll return soon.

Originally Posted by Standup2me

I am beginning to accept that I am binge eater

Has anyone ever tried Over Eaters Anon?
Did it help?
I am pretty scared about this

Hi Standup2me

Can't say I have personally but it might be really positive, I had a similar group to go to, just talking about it and getting advice can make a real difference I suppose?

Perhaps this group like to earn the participants trust and then you will all feel comfortable with sharing in the group - personally I am uncomfortable in support groups but have met some wonderful people there.

[Standup2me]

Originally Posted by fembot067

Hi Standup2me

Can't say I have personally but it might be really positive, I had a similar group to go to, just talking about it and getting advice can make a real difference I suppose?

Perhaps this group like to earn the participants trust and then you will all feel comfortable with sharing in the group - personally I am uncomfortable in support groups but have met some wonderful people there.

I have a major trust issue. I know that OE is all confidential, but...

Maybe I am just grasping at reasons to not go?
I know that it will be hard

Originally Posted by Standup2me

I have a major trust issue. I know that OE is all confidential, but...

Maybe I am just grasping at reasons to not go?
I know that it will be hard

Yeah they are totally awkward at the beginning, I also do that, making excuses or actually blaming the symptoms for 'stopping me from going'.

It's a struggle sharing stories and sometimes when I feel really crap I just up and leave - you're not obliged to stay there everyone has their threshold levels differently.

Good luck

[Standup2me]

Thank you everyone. I really appreciate the input

You've helped me work up some courage

[InRealLife45]

Originally Posted by Standup2me

I am beginning to accept that I am binge eater

Has anyone ever tried Over Eaters Anon?
Did it help?
I am pretty scared about this

oa is great. def go. im headed to a meeting in a few hours actually if its still being held with the holiday n all. but the members are all very supportive, have offered phone numbers (i dont call them) but theyve offered and encouraged.

[Standup2me]

How did you work up the courage to go to your first meeting?

[InRealLife45]

My t is a psycho who has been brainwashing me about energy and positivity and listening to the universe and I had been wanting to go for like a year and not done it, and then I was at goodwill and found the Overeaters anonymous book there with a schedule of current meetings. I took it as a sign. So I bought the book and I went to a meeting.

[Standup2me]

InReal that is so cool.
I've had a strange T also..very strange

[InRealLife45]

Originally Posted by Standup2me

InReal that is so cool.
I've had a strange T also..very strange

Lol strange In what way

[waggiedog]

I'd take the bull by the horns and GO GO GO to the OA meeting(s)! I sensed a huge amount of relief when I found out there were others like me out there!!! Usually you'll find a good bunch, with lots of good information etc.

HUGS. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Standup2me]

Originally Posted by InRealLife45

Lol strange In what way

She was supposed to be an expert in dealing with bipolars (I am bipolar)

When she asked me to list my meds she had no idea what they were, she was shocked when she asked if I ever considered suicide (again, typical with biploars) and said that it was all in my head

Strange person

[Standup2me]

Originally Posted by waggiedog

I'd take the bull by the horns and GO GO GO to the OA meeting(s)! I sensed a huge amount of relief when I found out there were others like me out there!!! Usually you'll find a good bunch, with lots of good information etc.

HUGS. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Were you scared or nervous the first time?

[Camarillo91602]

I've been in the rooms for a fews years, and attended meetings in person, online, and via telephone. The telephone and online mtgs. start every hour round the clock. You can just listen, if you don't feel up to sharing. It's a "We program" not a diet club(when was the last time that worked anyway?) and you go to see the recovery for yourself. There are miracles in those rooms, One step at a time, one day at a time. Go to oa.org for mtgs. Hope to see you there.

[Standup2me]

Cam, this is a good way for me to ease myself into it.

I am pretty scared to go to an actual meeting

Baby steps right?

[InRealLife45]

I've been avoiding going lately, so I can over eat and not have to confess to it. I've been overrating veggies, bananas and yogurt. So not the worst thing in the world to over eat, but still. I make me salads in the hugest steel mixing bowl I could find. I guess I should go to a meeting in the morning, though.