Help Has anyone successfully overcome despair induced binging ?

[Marine]

Since it's no use asking that question on MPA...

It's become so debilitating my digestive system doesn't exist anymore and stays like a bloated rock no matter how much I fast and take natural supplements or purges and the swelling just doesn't come down even after I've burned all the calories so I can't even go outside anymore to stop it... Drinking a ton of water doesn't get rid of it and doctors don't help. The source of it is obviously lovelessness and isolation induced despair.

 

[Mixo]

Sounds like your gut health could be better, particularly if there's excessive bloating/swelling. Granted, I'm no doctor, but there are some supplements that can purportedly help with this type of issue like glutamine, collagen, colostrum, probiotics, etc. It would be a bit of a shot in the dark though without more specific testing, however.

In any case, I can relate to your issue. I have an unhealthy relationship with food, particularly when I'm under stress. I find a lot of it is encouraged by my environment, especially having poor quality food around (which unfortunately is the case for me because I live with someone who eats a lot of junk food). I don't know what your relationship with food is like, but keeping triggering, addictive foods out of the house seems to help. After a few days off it, I find I'm less prone to binges. Either way, don't be too hard on yourself. Human willpower is very finite and it's to be expected that on harder days, you may give into your urges. This is a tough issue, I really hope others can reply and give you more effective advice.

 

[Julgran]

Since it's no use asking that question on MPA...

It's become so debilitating my digestive system doesn't exist anymore and stays like a bloated rock no matter how much I fast and take natural supplements or purges and the swelling just doesn't come down even after I've burned all the calories so I can't even go outside anymore to stop it... Drinking a ton of water doesn't get rid of it and doctors don't help. The source of it is obviously lovelessness and isolation induced despair.

This sounds like a tough situation for you,

What do you mean by "so I can't even go outside anymore to stop it"? If you could take a brisk walk for an hour or an hour and a half each day, you might be able to decrease in size.

 

[Marine]

My gut is pretty much dead at this point.

I already take aloe vera, baking soda (for gastritis) and after a binge usually epsom salt (ingested as a purge) plus water enemas but lately everything stays stuck despite eating a ton of fiber and healthier foods ? I've ordered Dr Dray's hyped flavoured magnesium citrate powder for now since magnesium citrate helped me in the past... I don't know if probiotics would help, I don't remember them helping much before. I have a history of abusing very strong laxatives but that was years ago and it hasn't gotten much better since except when I ate like 300 calories of fruit and veggies a day in the hospital...

I binge on anything unfortunately... Actually quite often the longer I eat healthy, even palatable food, the more I end up craving junk... But the past few days I've been binging on healthy foods. I can restrict very easily when I'm not alone but at this point I'm a desperate case. Nothing I try works. Feeling like I'm dying everyday because of despair only makes things worse...

It's not about being hard on myself or not, it's about wasting my life away when I'm already out of time and being unable to endure more of this torture.

I'm physically unable to go outside due to the excessive swelling and bloating, I can't no matter what. Walking has never made me decrease in size, I need restriction and fixing the core issue, aka lovelessness and isolation induced despair.

 

[Niko66]

Mental health and gut really are very instrinsically tied with each other in my experience too. As mine has gone downhill I've had a lot of digestive issues too but in my case it's led to under-eating because it's painful and uncomfortable to eat as my stomach reacts badly to just about anything so now I can't even enjoy food anymore :/.

Working out for weight loss is really difficult, you can eat an intense difficult workout worth of calories in a single meal so while phys activity is always presumably recommended for health that wouldn't be my go to for this.

I used to binge a lot too before the pandemic worsened my health issues and wrecked my stomach health. From what I get you want to binge less? I don't want to come off condescending as this is common advice but I will mention intermitent fasting because it has helped me in the past, the main hours I did binge eating was late afternon to night so by limitting my hours my eating became much more controlled, so that's a diet/strategy that helped me in that regard.

I used food to feel any pleasure at all because depression makes it so basically nothing makes me feel good, so at the core of it as you already guessed is the issues that need addressing and are causing us to indulge in self destructive behaviors.
Neither of us can really "fix" our own issues for the time being it seems so the best we can do is to try to find alternative coping mechanisms?
That would be my two cents, both trying to limit binging but looking for coping alternatives to go with it, relying on sheer will is proven to fail the grand majority of the time. Maybe a gradual and trial and error approach? When you would otherwise binge to try something different and less harmful. It doesn't have to be every day, every time. There are never easy solutions to find nor to apply sadly.

I can relate you about CPTSD from your other posts. I am chronically stressed, depressed, anxious and just overall feeling horrible no matter what the actual current circumstances are, it really feels like something "broke" along the years, mind and body don't behave like they are supposed to and like there's just no fixing it.

 

[Marine]

I always do IF by default, that's when I binge atm...

I must stop binging no matter what, I can't endure this torture anymore, it takes the tiny amount of hope I might have left away completely. I was counting on my stomach wreckage to stop it but it hasn't as panic melts my brain whenever I eat and it's absolutely unbearable.

I haven't found alternative coping mecanisms... I don't have the money to buy video games right now and I feel like I must find hope to fix it at all. I wish I could go back to anorexia but I can't...

My situation can easily be fixed with love and solid bonds, add a healthy environment and that's all it takes really. But the curse keeps everything away from me and I'm powerless to do anything it seems, it's beyond me...

 

[woknows]

Since it's no use asking that question on MPA...

It's become so debilitating my digestive system doesn't exist anymore and stays like a bloated rock no matter how much I fast and take natural supplements or purges and the swelling just doesn't come down even after I've burned all the calories so I can't even go outside anymore to stop it... Drinking a ton of water doesn't get rid of it and doctors don't help. The source of it is obviously lovelessness and isolation induced despair.

First of all, stop with binges? I got help from Ayurvedic medicine to get more regular bowel movements again. But judging from your other writings, you have some serious issues with abusing stuff.

Start by going out and getting at least some basic exercise, eating properly, and of course, getting some company to combat loneliness, this part might be hard.

Maybe you also lack some vitamins, minerals,... that can lead to all sorts of problems. A good doctor and some blood tests could help you with that.

In your case getting some professional help might be best. In a hospital, you might have group sessions and you would also meet new people. It is not ideal, but might help you move in the right direction.

 

[Marine]

First of all, stop with binges? I got help from Ayurvedic medicine to get more regular bowel movements again. But judging from your other writings, you have some serious issues with abusing stuff.

Start by going out and getting at least some basic exercise, eating properly, and of course, getting some company to combat loneliness, this part might be hard.

Maybe you also lack some vitamins, minerals,... that can lead to all sorts of problems. A good doctor and some blood tests could help you with that.

In your case getting some professional help might be best. In a hospital, you might have group sessions and you would also meet new people. It is not ideal, but might help you move in the right direction.

Stop binges ? What ?

Abusing stuff ? What else have I been abusing ? I'm not aware.

The point is I CAN'T GO OUT IN THAT STATE AND THE PROBLEM IS I F***ING CAN'T FIND ANY COMPANY BECAUSE THE WORLD DEEMS ME WORTHLES TRASH SOMEHOW HAVE YOU BEEN READING ?

I take a multivitamin.

It would be helpful if you mentioned that ayurvedic thing.

You get tortured in a hospital if you want. I'm forever done with that kind of abuse. The medical field isn't competent for such issues at all but they sure are at making things infinitely worse and having zero humanity or ethics. The only existing mutual help group here discarded the last of their apparent humanity (showed their true colors I guess) during the plandemic and ostracized me.

 

[woknows]

Stop binges ? What ?

Abusing stuff ? What else have I been abusing ? I'm not aware.

The point is I CAN'T GO OUT IN THAT STATE AND THE PROBLEM IS I F***ING CAN'T FIND ANY COMPANY BECAUSE THE WORLD DEEMS ME WORTHLES TRASH SOMEHOW HAVE YOU BEEN READING ?

I take a multivitamin.

It would be helpful if you mentioned that ayurvedic thing.

You get tortured in a hospital if you want. I'm forever done with that kind of abuse. The medical field isn't competent for such issues at all but they sure are at making things infinitely worse and having zero humanity or ethics. The only existing mutual help group here discarded the last of their apparent humanity (showed their true colors I guess) during the plandemic and ostracized me.

"I have a history of abusing very strong laxatives." Your words, not mine. I might have taken this part too seriously, but doing the same on other medicine might be a bad idea.

"I already take aloe vera, baking soda (for gastritis) and after a binge usually epsom salt" Your words again.

Multivitamins are generally rubbish.

While I do agree that the medical profession has lots of faults. Sometimes they also do help.

Honestly, not in mood.

 

[Marine]

"I have a history of abusing very strong laxatives." Your words, not mine. I might have taken this part too seriously, but doing the same on other medicine might be a bad idea.

"I already take aloe vera, baking soda (for gastritis) and after a binge usually epsom salt" Your words again.

Multivitamins are generally rubbish.

While I do agree that the medical profession has lots of faults. Sometimes they also do help.

Honestly, not in mood.

I solely mentioned that from years ago yes. I've never abused any medicine since. Where di you see that ?

What's the basis of your thinking that multivitamins are rubbish ? They're crucial for people with ED.

Let's not hijack my thread asking for actual help and not mention a single helpful thing in the end.