Bipolar and an eating disorder

[Ballerina123]

Does anyone here suffer from bipolar and an eating disorder.
I guess I'm looking for people who have experienced similar problems to me.

I consider myself to be a recovered bulimic but sometimes find I get ed behaviours when my mood is unstable.

How is your ED effected by your bipolar? In mania and depression?
how do you manage it?

Thanks

[Rayven]

Hi i had anorexia with bulimic tendancies as a teenager and have now been recovered for 9 years. I also have bipolar although the bp wasnt diagnosed till id been recovered for several years.

During depressive episodes i tend to binge but not purge, I guess now it could be seen as comfort eating. During manic/mixed episodes i slip back into anorexic thinking and believe that i can lose all the weight ive put on.

I try to eat healthy when stable, ive done slimming world before and lost weight healthly on that so try to follow the plan i used to.

Hope that helps some what. X

[Ballerina123]

Thanks for your reply. Quite glad I'm not the only one.

Anyone else?

[random.swirls]

Umm I probably binge when I am depressed and will often forget to eat when I'm manic but it's forgetful rather then deliberate and whilst I will loose weight when I'm high and I guess sometimes that leads to eating disordered thoughts I don't think the ED is at the root of it?

Does that make sense?

[Ballerina123]

Thanks for your reply randomS. That makes total sense.

It quite nice to know there are other her with a similar mix of issues.

[Ballerina123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumbelina

I am recovered from an eating disorder and am getting diagnosed with bipolar. I find that my eating habits are affected with my mood. When my mood is low I can forget to eat and drink whereas and when my mood is high I get a really sweet tooth and every day is worthy of a celebratory cake and can end up bingeing yet at the same time forgetting to sit down and eat a proper meal. When these have effects on how my clothes fit it can bring back some old ED thoughts about my body

I get a really sweet tooth when i am high too. But if I eat sweets and sugar filled treats it just makes me more hyper so I have to really try and eat healthy stuff not that it always works like. Lol.

I tend to be more prone to binging when depressed. In fact I don't think I have ever binged while manic. I usually just forget to eat coz I'm too busy with my crazy plans.

[2confused]

I'm actully going through both. I know I have both an eating disorder and bipolar but I'm too scared to get help. When ever I get really down I usually binge a lot more. I also find it harder to stop. When I feel very elated I tend to not eat as much or at all. The bipolar does not make it easy. What keeps me from completely breaking down, is knowing I'll come off of it. I'll also hang out with friends as awkward and uncomfortable as it may feel sometimes. It helps keep my mind off of things, at least for a little while. If you find any way to control it better please share!! I don't know how long this depressive mood of mine will last.

[Ballerina123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2confused

I'm actully going through both. I know I have both an eating disorder and bipolar but I'm too scared to get help. When ever I get really down I usually binge a lot more. I also find it harder to stop. When I feel very elated I tend to not eat as much or at all. The bipolar does not make it easy. What keeps me from completely breaking down, is knowing I'll come off of it. I'll also hang out with friends as awkward and uncomfortable as it may feel sometimes. It helps keep my mind off of things, at least for a little while. If you find any way to control it better please share!! I don't know how long this depressive mood of mine will last.

I think it would really help youto get some support either from your GP or from a voluntary service like mind.
Now that my bipolar is stabilised on meds it makes it a lot easier to regulate my eating. From what I have read it is very hard to stabilize bipolar without some meds.