Ballum Part 1 - Ben Avoids Eating Breakfast With Callum..

[@malikmartinez1454]

I can’t wait until they give Ben the proper growth he deserves when it comes to sharing what he’s going through with his husband

[@lucypreece7581]

This is all stemming from what Lewis did to him it is a common thing with survivors of SA to start punishing their bodies in some way because things feel different. Ben I think either ignored it or hid it or put his focus elsewhere for a while because he needed to be strong for Lexi in Lola's final days and during the funeral and stuff but now Lola has gone and the dust has settled and normality is resuming this is back full force because he is back having to deal with what Lewis did.

[@ninoj3774]

Poor Ben. You can see his struggle. It must be torturous. Callum senses something is wrong (you can see it on his face), but he doesn't know what it is.

[@mermanaladar4680]

His eating disorder is getting worse

[@mechellemybell1000]

Poor Ben. ☹️ Callum knows something is up but doesn’t want to just accuse or push cause all know when Ben is pushed too much he acts out.

[@piperyoung9546]

So here's my thing . The character work is amazing, but I'm so ready for him to catch a break. I mean, the ben trope is a revolving door. I want to see grow and become the man he's meant to be. The father lexi needs

[@KyonGaku]

I do hope that this storyline will soon have a breakthrough, because I kno that Callum doesn't want to "investigate" his husband, but it's really ironic how he's a detective but can't see what's right in front of him- Well, he probably sees the signs at this point, but I hope he at least talk to someone about his worries and maybe find out that it could be an eating disorder. But, who am I kidding though, this is Eastenders. They won't discover that Ben has en eating disorder before he collapses at some point during an important event (probably involving Lexi) for the drama. I do have the smallest of hopes that it would finally be the end of dramas for Ben for a while after that, let Callum have the spotlight as something else than just a support character.

[@michaeldick6227]

Callum isn’t a mental health expert. He knows something isn’t right but wouldn’t just assume, “okay it must be bulimia.”

[@KyonGaku]

@@michaeldick6227 Well, yes. That's why I said in my comment that I hope Callum gets to talk to someone about his worries about Ben, and that maybe that someone could help him figure out that Ben might have an eating disorder (whoever that "someone" might be). On another note, I'm not a mental health expert either, I'm guessing most of the people watching the show aren't. But, considering the fact that they live together, that the whole situation about Lola's death and the sheer stress of it all, the fact that Callum has already seen Ben not eating multiple times (probably more times than what we've seen on screen since they live together) and losing a lot of weight recently, it is pretty easy to see that something is wrong with Ben. Now, I'm not saying that Callum should figure out on his own that Ben has an eating disorder, because yes, it wouldn't be as obvious for him as it is for the viewers (there is a lot of things he hasn't seen, like Ben forcefully throwing up a lot after eating which is a big hint of his condition), however I'm just saying that I hope they will show scene of Callum actually being worried about Ben and acting on it. It's not the first that they show Callum with that look on his face, like he knows something is wrong but doesn't know exactly what, so I wish he would act on it more.

[@michaeldick6227]

@@KyonGaku Okay, I see your point. It’s not an easy thing to talk about and Ben doing all that exercise could account for at least some of his obvious weight loss. Plus the recent stress he’s had with Lola’s death, worry about Lexi, the PR, and his money worries could “cover up” why he isn’t eating. But Callum is definitely concerned and it looks like only a matter of time before he does confront the issue.

[@KyonGaku]

@@michaeldick6227 Yeah, I really hope he will soon. But honestly, knowing Eastenders, if he does, they will try to cause even more drama by making Callum try to talk to Ben about it, and him closing up and getting mad or something, because of course they always have to make Ben look bad in every situation. I hope I'm wrong though.

[@Anneee27]

@@KyonGakuthe person ben is trying to hide it from the most is callum though. callum is closest to him which means he’s probably trying extra hard to hide it from him. we have seen him purging and not eating etc on multiple occasions but callum hasn’t.

[@snogglewort1]

Your breath stinks when you don’t eat. Even mints and chewing gum don’t help because the gases come from your body going through ketosis so there’s no way Callum wouldn’t notice with him kissing Ben.

[@lucypreece7581]

It seems he is binging and purging in secret so he is eating but then removing it from his system quickly. And gum.and mints and mouthwash may be able to mask it all for a while but it will trip him up in the end.

[@MickeyFlipper]

Awwwww the frat boy hugs and kisses. All good. I get it. I’ll suspend my disbelief for the actors cos they’re straight and taking on characters I’m sure they would never think about playing at all anyways. I’ll give them credit 😌

[@karllieck9064]

Has anyone noticed or mentioned to Ben he's losing weight?

[@Js2Jo]

I can't believe Ben had an eating disorder just like me on the show after his husband, Callum brought breakfast for him!!

[@DaMecka]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ 0:10

[@ninahurd5371]

Ben talk to your husband tell you have a eating disorder he will help you through this he supposed to be your partner when you have problems you supposed to talk to each other this is not helping you at all talk to your husband tell him what's wrong he will support you no matter what get the help you need for this problem

[@justaperson2222]

Ben doesn’t know he has a problem. If he can’t even admit to himself that he needs help how is he supposed to tell callum? it’s really hard to open up about stuff like that.

[@lucypreece7581]

It's more than the eating disorder though. The ED is stemming from what Lewis did. Ben never processed it properly and never got proper justice for it and then the situation with Lola happened and he had to put all his focus and time and energy onto that and staying strong for Lexi but now that Lola has gone and the dust is settling and like a new normal is beginning to form Ben is remembering what happened with Lewis and the ED is back full force. It is a very common thing for survivors of SA to punish their bodies in some way. The body feels different after it happens and its hard to get back to how you were before. Ben needs more then just Callum he needs professional help. Not just with the eating disorder but to help him deal with the thing that triggered it which is Lewis.