tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post726636768807252690..comments2024-03-23T08:25:22.526-04:00Comments on ED Bites: Exposure and response preventionCarrie Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569839838912988783noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-60203481231873329982010-04-17T01:04:22.180-04:002010-04-17T01:04:22.180-04:00Carrie, you wouldn't be you without a geeky si...Carrie, you wouldn't be you without a geeky side. :) (Written with much affection.)<br /><br />It's funny, I was complaining to Dr. S today about insomnia and he insisted I should eat a piece of cheese before going to bed because it would help me sleep (the tryptophan). He never gives up, ha ha.Angela Elain Gambrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08199876962091491591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-52515286338116217682010-04-16T13:45:13.816-04:002010-04-16T13:45:13.816-04:00I find this really interesting because I KNOW I wo...I find this really interesting because I KNOW I would have related to it a few years ago, but digestive damage from my eating disorder means that I really do have a number of allergies now and find it very difficult to eat out or accept food from other people. I loved this when I was anorexic but now it's a pain in the butt, because I couldn't challenge myself with spontaneous food or traditionally 'scary' things like pizza. It really annoys me, and I don't say that sarcastically. I feel like this time in recovery is different, I have really got myself sorted out, but I can't have real freedom around food.<br /><br />By the way, I feel a bit arrogant saying this (because you have a load of commenters and are not exactly likely to have noticed my disappearance), but I haven't been commenting recently because I've been insanely busy and not online much, not because of your changed format! I still read and find your posts really interesting :) I just thought I'd say that in case you thought you'd lost people when you started blogging about other things.Katiehttp://themilkfreeway.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-54117345473815609872010-04-16T13:19:16.192-04:002010-04-16T13:19:16.192-04:00This describes the dilemmia of trying a fear food ...This describes the dilemmia of trying a fear food absolutely PERFECTLY. . .<br /><br />It's funny how people with EDs have such similar thoughts. I could have written this!<br /><br />A:)A:)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-58185094341416423772010-04-16T12:18:51.327-04:002010-04-16T12:18:51.327-04:00This is a big issue for me! This is something that...This is a big issue for me! This is something that is still a struggle for me in recovery -- the unexpected eating situations. Like you said, I've done exposure work with fear foods in the past, but it was always in a very predictable, planned, controlled environment, i.e. The Pizza Outing, The Cake Challenge, etc. These were EVENTS! I did fine because I was prepared and I had worked the event into an acceptable frame of reference for me. What's hard are the spontaneous situations. We had a meeting at work the other day and there was pita and hummus there. Now, these are totally 'safe' foods for me, but because I wasn't expecting to have a snack at 5pm, I was a little befuddled when I was offered some (I said "no," by the way). I just don't like being caught off guard. Most people look at this as "ooooh, an unexpected treat!" but these situations are very hard for me! I'd say this is my biggest food recovery aspect right now. I might have to blog about this lately (and quote you!)Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12524913753671188764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-30176804264288158322010-04-16T11:49:32.647-04:002010-04-16T11:49:32.647-04:00I've totally been there! I was at a pastry sto...I've totally been there! I was at a pastry store with my grandmother and was offered a little piece of dark chocolate (probably about the size of my thumb). As I'm suffering from a relapse, I freaked out. This battle raged in my head, and I started thinking about the calories in it. I hadn't eaten much that day, 200 or so calories by 3pm, but the anorexia inside of me was screaming "NO, NO, NO." As I try to look like I eat around family, I took it. Instantly, I regretted it. It's a cycle that doesn't ever really stop, and I'm sorry you had to go through that. :( I'm very happy to hear that you're stiking to your recovery, though! Keep fighting!Nicholenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-43401672816901178022010-04-16T10:45:22.098-04:002010-04-16T10:45:22.098-04:00i wont lie i absolutely flip a shit in my head whe...i wont lie i absolutely flip a shit in my head when i am exposed to stuff i dont mentally preplan or know about. like food wise if i know i will have to do something scary or out of sorts i like to KNOW and plan for it- exposed to it in the end or not- i like to have control. i still have bad "eating times" according to living by the clock and what other people think about when i should east but exposing myself to odd eating times has helped to!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-82543131702356980092010-04-16T04:58:23.304-04:002010-04-16T04:58:23.304-04:00Gosh - this post strikes some real chords with me ...Gosh - this post strikes some real chords with me but also seems like a fantastic opportunity for learning. I think that it can be hard, when you've been ill for a long time, for opportunities to test the boundaries to come up naturally. For me, People became so aware of my eating disorder, that they rarely offer me food and there is always a safety net. Experimentation, like you described, has taken place - but on my terms. <br /><br />This is okay, but not the whole picture as it means that quite a lot of the fears and routines can persist. It seems, however, like the bakery is providing you with some brilliant opportunities for learning and seeing what happens, which is the thing that most helped me to recover. Will that cake really kill me?...nope, but you need to get over the fear enough to learn that. Is it okay to say yes?...yep, the world doesn't fall done and people don't look at me like I have three heads.<br /><br />This is a real chance to prove the eating disorder wrong, and I think you're being fabulously courageous.Finding Melissahttp://www.findingmelissa.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-63965980636384238912010-04-16T02:59:22.525-04:002010-04-16T02:59:22.525-04:00I think that ERP actually makes a lot of sense in ...I think that ERP actually makes a lot of sense in the treatment of many of the 'eating issues' of anorexia nervosa (AN) - unless, of course, the person genuinely does have an allergy/intolerance to certain foods. <br /><br />You write that you don't think that EDs are about 'control'. I would argue that my AN was totally about control - of anxiety, and mood in general. I (subconsciously) attempted to control my anxiety (of life in general) by adhering strictly to self-created eating and exercise rituals/routines. I inadvertently discovered that by adhering to such rituals/routines, the world seemed a less chaotic and unpredictable place.<br /><br />To make my first steps in recovery from AN 4 years ago (when in a very serious physical state) I simply had to 'bite the bullet' and eat more. But this meant changing my rituals/routines. I didn't want to die so I said to myself 'Cathy Just. Do. It = EAT.'. The anxiety associated with a change of my eating behaviour and eating more was initially unbearable. I felt utterly out of control of my thoughts and emotions. I felt almost suicidal. However, with continued 'exposure' (to a new eating routine) my anxiety levels dropped and I was able to gain weight + health.Cathy (UK)http://www.youtube.com/user/misstiggykinsnoreply@blogger.com