Illustration of people sitting and standing

New here?

Chat with other people who 'Get it'

with health professionals in the background to make sure everything is safe and supportive.

Register

Have an account?
Login

cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Something’s not right

Beanbag
New Contributor

Orthorexia | eating disorder

i need help trying to get treatment for my eating disorder or at least not losing motivation.


Hi I'm new to this forum so I apologise if this isn't the correct use of it. I'm kinda clutching at straws here.

I have orthorexia (unhealthy obsession with healthy eating), not technically even an eating disorder according to DSMV. This makes it really really difficult for me to even acknowledge I need to get better a lot of the time. I have been receiving treatment for anorexia despite my arguments that I'm not anorexic. 

Nothing helps and the constant focus on weight by professionals (not something I did before) is causing me to think about it more. I can feel myself developing more restrictive behaviours, followed by large binges and compensatatory behaviours.

 

It really makes me miss how I used to eat and I'm not sure what to do.

 

I already have health complications from the restrictive nature of orthorexia and I'm scared to add more issues.

6 REPLIES 6

Re: Orthorexia | eating disorder

Hi @Beanbag and welcome to the forums ..... 👋

 

So glad you have found us here and reached out.  I have been here four years now, and I joined as a carer around major disordered eating issues in my now-estranged spouse, and how this is affecting our family.


I am really pleased to hear that you understand the nature of orthorexia and can identify with it, because that is the first step towards recovery, or at least healthy management of it as a condition ..... clearly full recovery is the ideal.  My estranged one (I refer to as WH) has orthorexia as a part of his really complicated mix, and is unable to recognise it as a problem.

 

Something that may help you is signing up for a meal-delivery program (hopefully it is available in your area, and affordable) that sends you a set of recipes - as many days a week as suits you so perhaps you could trial it and see.  The recipes come with individual bags of ingredients for each recipe, so you actually prepare the food yourself, from the measured ingredients.  It's a do-it-yourself kit for each meal.  One of my daughters and I are cooking together using this system, and it has crossed my mind that it would be a good recovery pathway for orthorexia.

 

i don't know that I can advertise the actual name of the program here, but if you search online using "home delivery, pre-packaged, meal kits, fresh" you will likely find it, or something very similar.

 

I will be around and looking for your response .... sorry it has taken a little while to get an answer to your first post ..... we are friendly here and keen to support you.

 

🌷F&H

Re: Orthorexia | eating disorder

Hello and thank you for your response.

As much as I would never wish an eating disorder on someone else, it's still comforting to hear others do face it. One of my issues is that it often feels fake or illegitimate. Not a real issue to be addressed. 

Over the past 12 months I have been able to work with a psych team and my family, who I still live with, to increase my intake so I have gained a small amount of weight and am maintaining at a less than ideal but stable physical health. Access to food has never really been a problem as my whole family and myself enjoy cooking for one another. 

I have been trying to do research to find organisations who acknowledge orthorexia as a problem but have been unsuccessful. I believe the current treatment I'm receiving for anorexia is missing the core of the disorder and therefore not very helpful. 

Would love some advice on how I could improve my environment of professional and family support. 


I would also love to hear your perspective as a support for WH. 

Re: Orthorexia | eating disorder

@Beanbag
Welcome. First off I think you're brave for reaching out and trying to recover.


My mum has otherexia and I was diagnosed with bulimia nervosa yesterday. My GP would have diagnosed me with anorexia but I don't fit in underweight category.

I can relate so much to the 'healthy eating' restriction things. I have like a million fear food and cut out so many food groups.

Do you see a dietitian and psychologist? Im going to be getting both and it's making me anxious. But I know I really need to recover because I'm getting really sick.


Have you ever spoken to the butterfly foundation. They have email counselling, and phone service and webchat between 8am and 12pm. I have found them really helpful and supportive. They also give information and referrals, they'll know what is available in your local area.

I got an edp yesterday, one thing I have to do is have 1 fear food and write something I like about myself each week. Is this something you could do?

Re: Orthorexia | eating disorder

Sanes factsheet on eating disorders can be found through link Here 

Butterfly foundation can be found Here 

 

@Beanbag you can do this.

Re: Orthorexia | eating disorder

Morning @The-red-centaur 👋 ..... as @Beanbag said, it's not something you would wish on anybody, but there is comfort in knowing you're not alone in the experiences you're facing.  I am glad you have an action plan and support around your recovery @The-red-centaur.

 

Hi @Beanbag .... sorry I missed your reply for a couple of days (using @ inmediately in front of someone's user name sends them an alert that you have responded).

 

I am glad you and your family enjoy cooking together.  As @The-red-centaur said, under the effects of Orthorexia a sense of fear becomes associated with some foods, which gradually spreads to lots of foods ..... but the key word here is "gradually".  As the condition came on gradually, it needs to be reduced gradually too, because the self-talk That has set in around what a food is, and what it means to you, has to be altered to free you from the power you have given that food over you, according to the Orthorexic mindset.  The recovery path is to gently re-immerse yourself into what are known as normal eating patterns.

 

It might help to tackle "fear foods" in tiny increments at first .... like taking a single taste with a teaspoon, and sitting with the struggle for a bit ..... letting the understanding in that nothing bad is going to happen as a result.

 

As @The-red-centaur @has asked, are you working with a psychologist and doctor ?  It is important to have a medical support team involved.

 

I have been unable to help WH in any way.  He does not recognise / admit that there is a problem, in fact her considers what he is doing to be a superior lifestyle.  Unfortunately there  are exercise addiction, and a bulimic-like behaviour involves as well, and major issues around interpersonal control across the family (we have adult children still livjng at home, and while he is not now, we have the new mess of a second family involved).

 

I am so pleased for both of you that you are able to recognise that you are battling an eating disorder.  It's the only pathway to recovery, and WH  is nowhere near it.  By leaving me, especially with another person involved, and now working tirelessly to invalidate our 30 + years of marriage, has planted his eating and exercise behaviours into a "not my problem" basket as I am up to my ears in legal issues to access my rightful finances etc, but it is so sad to have lost the person I had loved so deeply this way.

 

Go you, and you ..... ❣️
@Beanbag there are eating disorder support services in every state.  I joined Sane through one as a Carer.  Go searching ...., there might be support groups in your areas that you can attend, along with being here in the forums.

Re: Orthorexia | eating disorder

Feeling for you so much @Faith-and-Hope 

hugs 🤗❤️💐

hi @The-red-centaur @Beanbag 

Illustration of people sitting and standing

New here?

Chat with other people who 'Get it'

with health professionals in the background to make sure everything is safe and supportive.

Register

Have an account?
Login

For urgent assistance