hey guys, anyone with eating disorders or body dysmorphia? ive had certain habits for a long, long time but ive started seeing them through a different light now. i usually try and starve myself to stay unbloated and skinny looking, and usually after a while i get so hungry that i binge eat. after the binge is over, i either drink excessive amounts of coffee (to work like laxatives) or i starve for days on end to “make up” for it. in all honesty, i would just throw up if it wasnt for a surreal fear of vomiting (only way emetophobia has been good for me ever) about half of the time i feel good about my looks, weight, body, face and all that, but the rest of the time i feel like i look disgusting, and thats where the starving comes in, and excessive grooming habits to cover my flaws. all of this was way worse a couple of years ago, and then it got way better, but along with all of this ocd this has gotten worse again. i feel like the way the “eating disorder” habits and the “body dysmorphia” plays out kind of look like an ocd cycle (sorry for self diagnosing, i dont know if i actually have these) another thing that i know for sure is very unhealthy is the amount of shame and embarrassment i have towards my body. i feel i “have” to do so many things to cover up, prevent or get ready for certain events or plans. overall, any time i need to be proper or any bodypart of mine has a role in something, i get so stressed to the point of panic attacks. i nearly had a burnout when i was seeing this guy for two months (my first time dating someone) from just sheer stress. before meeting up with him i would panic for hours, and still would while being with him. i barely got to enjoy the good times.

"Pure" OCD

Username: MentalOCDMentalOCD

Date posted: 5y ago

Wow that sounds really tough. You're pretty close to being on the mark about OCD and body dysmorphia being related - in fact, it's mentioned a lot under the OCD portion of the DSM-V and is not only a differential diagnosis, but also highly comorbiditous with OCD. It's almost like a kind of OCD really. When you've got something this severe, I would suggest finding professional help :) they'll be able to find what to start working on first.

Username: anna bananaanna banana

Date posted: 5y ago

i am working with a therapist already, as ive already been diagnosed

Username: anna bananaanna banana

Date posted: 5y ago

but i was never tested for eating disorders because at the time, it didnt feel like a problem at all

Username: anna bananaanna banana

Date posted: 5y ago

mainly because my life has just been a constant source of stress, i dont feel when im stressed from other things. you know? i wouldnt know when and where the stress is coming from, so i havent realised that the whole eating habit thing and being so worried and using so much of my energy on how i appear is actually highly destructive

Username: MentalOCDMentalOCD

Date posted: 5y ago

Yea sometimes other anxiety disorders can flare up. Do you live with someone else, or have a significant other?

Username: anna bananaanna banana

Date posted: 5y ago

im 17 so i live at home with my family

Username: MahxMahx

Date posted: 5y ago

im not officially diagnosed about body dysmorphia but before i stopped caring because of the severe ocd and depression, my main obsessions were my looks. the amount of time i spent in the mirror trying to make the perfect face. i would remember exact comments about my looks. the most recents obsessions were about my body type and size and i needed to picture the perfect body in my head. now i stopped caring because i blocked it out and im not taking care of me. i havent looked in the mirror for months.

Username: Rivka

Date posted: 5y ago

Anyone deal with eating disorder behavior and OCD? I’m currently in recovery and have been practicing Intuitive Eating for a few months. It’s helped a little, but I’m still very preoccupied by my body image and calories, orthorexia, etc. I try not to give into these thoughts and act on them, but it’s very tough. It’s interfering with work, school, and my relationships. Has anyone broken out of this? Please help!

Username: Nikki Kim

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

OCD & body image/food issues

every once in a while my body image issues flare up & it can get intense. i obsess over the feeling I have in my clothes to check if I’ve gained weight, think of food, and have this perception that everyone sees me in a certain light I don’t want to see. i really can beat myself up with negative self talk. i haven’t realized until today since body image issues are so common that this could be my ocd. i used to engage in highly restrictive behavior when it came to food—I eliminated any white carbs, dairy, meat, etc & would do intermittent fasting. it’s hard not to fall into this obsession. I gained a few pounds over the last couple of months and it makes me feel anxious for the summer. anyone have a similar experience? x

Username: Croissant

Date posted: 45w ago

OCD or disordered eating?

Hi! I’ve struggled with bouts of disordered eating for years. It comes in waves and then settles down again. Today I realized it might actually be my ocd that causes it. The intrusive thought is gaining weight and the compulsion is the disordered eating/purging behaviors. Has anyone ever struggled with this? Could this be ocd?

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