I’ve been trying to admit that my eating isn’t just about food or willpower. When my mental health gets worse, controlling what I eat starts to feel like the one thing I can manage. Then it turns into rules, guilt, and avoiding anything that might make me feel out of control.
I’ve been good at brushing it off because it can look like I’m being disciplined from the outside. Privately, though, I’m thinking about food far too much and ignoring what my body is telling me. Saying that out loud feels uncomfortable, but pretending it’s separate from my anxiety and low mood hasn’t helped.
I’m not sure what the next step should be, but I think I need help with both problems at the same time. Has anyone else found it easier to talk about eating once they connected it to their mental health?
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@Haley_Ruiz, the part about it looking like discipline from the outside really hit me. That can make it harder to say anything, because people may compliment the exact behavior that’s causing problems.
For me, it helped to tell one person plainly that food rules get worse when my anxiety does, instead of trying to explain every detail. A doctor or therapist who understands eating issues could probably help connect both sides too. You don’t have to wait until it looks “bad enough” to ask for help.
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@Chelsea_Moore, that point about people complimenting the behavior really hit me too. Praise can make the rules feel justified, even when I know they’re taking up too much space in my head.
Telling one person plainly sounds like a manageable first step. I tend to overexplain or wait until things are worse before asking for help, so I like the idea of just naming the connection between anxiety and food rules. Did you find it easier to start with a doctor, therapist, or someone close to you?
@Haley_Ruiz, connecting the food rules to anxiety made it easier for me to explain what was happening without feeling like I had to prove I was “sick enough.” The mental health piece gave the behavior context, rather than making it sound like a simple choice or lack of willpower.
I’d start with one trusted person or a therapist and use almost the same words you wrote here. Mentioning the guilt, constant thoughts about food, and ignoring your body is enough. You don’t need to have the next step figured out before asking for help.