6 Signs of an Eating Disorder

[@guesswho5314]

I keep watching vids about food and eating disorders and telling myself “I’m not sick enough” “I’m not going to let this become a real ED” I’m not sick enough to ask for help. I show the signs in this vid, but I’m not underweight. I do still eat. If I ask someone for help, they’re going to think I’m overreacting. I don’t even want help. I haven’t reached my weight goals yet, and if I ask for help, they’ll make me eat more, and stop losing weight. I just don’t know what to do.

[@pazzxx1645]

If you share your concerns with a professional, they MUST NOT tell you you're overreacting. Please ask people to help you, we all deserve and need help. I hope it gets better:) And it's okay if you want to lose weight, but understand that it's a lengthy process. So give yourself time!

[@Vitany_c]

Hey, I feel the same way about the fact that I did not reach my goal yet and I WANT to keep going even though I know what I'm doing is not healthy and I'm not eating enough. And nobody really helps me because I'm not underweight yet but I don't know if I can stop after I reached my goal someday.

[@lemonystar_]

This is exactly what I'm going through omg

[@anonyfamous7323]

Same.

[@leonahauf1290]

Same

[@saminarose80]

Other signs are spending hours watching food videos, spending a very long time grocery shopping, avoiding to buy certain food because of the fear of eating, feeling guilty for missing daily activity, feeling terrible emotions as soon as you loosen the grip on the ED.

[@hrisihrissi6246]

And too much exercising...

[@videofun59]

true

[@roninomari5741]

you prolly dont give a shit but if you are stoned like me during the covid times you can watch pretty much all of the new movies and series on InstaFlixxer. I've been watching with my girlfriend for the last few weeks xD

[@marleycolin954]

@Ronin Omari Definitely, I've been using instaflixxer for years myself =)

[@etoileslanuit]

I feel exposed and I don’t like it.

[@basiczachh3978]

i almost don’t wanna get better because if i start to be normal and have a normal eating routine, then i’m afraid i’ll stop being self aware of what i eat and how i look

[@justarandomnat]

same here😔

[@pyssligamaja2029]

I feel the exact same way

[@connoravila]

I know the feeling I just started doing these things,but I dont know if its enough

[@Pasta._.waterrr]

Same, it sounds horrible but it's so true

[@Is4stars]

This is exactly how I feel

[@ThePopcornNero]

Its disturbing that i got a diet ad at the beginning

[@l3naaa]

I got a just eat ad 👁👄👁

[@thestatusquoy]

💯 I just got a kfc one hahaha

[@nicekittysara3560]

i got a working out one

[@Jeremiah_Auger]

I got a chocolate one

[@lukeschofield5121]

ye same

[@bill-eb3vi]

me with all of these signs thinking that they’re normal 👁👄👁

[@delieibelieveicanfly9854]

Me and my strange brain thinking you're lucky 👁👄👁

[@mimii_xx]

truueeee

[@bemeeklezvelveeta6719]

Never clicked so fast but I have fallen back into anorexia and it's so sneaky, I JUST realized it's happening again. Thank you so much for making the world more aware

[@coolm3th]

They are really really sneaky. I've given myself some pretty strict guidelines so that doesn't happen. I don't own a scale and I make myself eat if I think I shouldn't or think I haven't done enough to do it. I hope you can find your warning signs and create your own set of rules to stay recovered. Much luck 💛

[@sunarintarou6022]

Whats anorexia if you mind me asking?

[@bemeeklezvelveeta6719]

@@sunarintarou6022 anorexia is an eating disorder, someone w anorexia restricts how much they eat and have obsessions or rituals around food and having control

[@sunarintarou6022]

@@bemeeklezvelveeta6719 omg shit i ok thank u

[@chandemg9963]

Covid-19 is an eating disorders best friend. it’s the best excuse to avoid EVERYTHING! Sadly my anorexia is “thriving” during covid.

[@madeleinetwocock4293]

I’m in the same boat (that boat feels like the titanic a bit tbh), you’re not the only one 💚 virtual hugs to you friend

[@kristinstevens1733]

same

[@alexandriafuller3778]

Fellllt

[@cnand8381]

Same, I feel like there isn't much left than caring about eating "proper"

[@kristanicole1995]

I hope you start to feel better (mentally, emotionally, physically, etc) soon. Please love yourself, you deserve happiness & kindness no matter what you (think you) look like💝

[@kathrynvolpacchio9291]

A big thing I noticed in my relapse was when my thoughts changed from "I" to "You" instead of "I need to do xyz" it became "you need to do abc". That was a major red flag to me.

[@auroraastarr]

Wait,talking to yourself in "you" is not normal??Done that all ny life?

[@xian2428]

@@auroraastarr if its something youve done basically all your life its probably how you have learned to talk to yourself. However in this case it seems like the person has an eating disorder telling them what to do

[@iannicholson5729]

damn i didn't even realize that I'd been doing that... I'll constantly tell myself "you don't need to eat that. you're already fat enough" or other stuff with you statements. insane how i didn't even realize that

[@apexyl5135]

I can’t remember if saying “you” in my mind is something I did as a kid. I don’t think it was... but I know it is now... The voice that says “you” is almost never being nice...

[@thunderboo146]

@@iannicholson5729 same it’s kinda scary😬😭

[@Fruityflootloops]

Oh boy. I honestly just sit and reflect on the ridiculous amount of signs I showed sometimes.

[@ezratijssen]

oh no.. it looks like my next therapy session is going to be very uncomfortable

[@naaj2slimee]

right

[@tylerlewis778]

Yeah I'm panicking thinking about it, its today... its 2:54am and my appointment is at 11 :)

[@naaj2slimee]

@@tylerlewis778 love youuu you’ll do great !!.

[@queenlaura69]

@@naaj2slimee i love your pfp

[@naaj2slimee]

@@queenlaura69 thank you :)) haha i love harry

[@vampirechild1234567]

Idk how but almost everytime I have something really heavy on my mind, Kati makes a video about it lol

[@JoeBidenIsMyDaddy]

you DEFINITELY don’t have an eating disorder

[@vampirechild1234567]

@@JoeBidenIsMyDaddy 1) You don’t have to be skinny to have an eating disorder. Bulimia happens in all sizes. 2) Thankfully I don’t have one anymore, I’ve recovered 3) Comments like yours are what push people to not get help, or to start in the first place 4) Don’t go on a mental health video just to bully other people. You have better things you can do with your time. It honestly just looks really sad on your part, that this is what you choose to do for fun. Probably projecting your own insecurities. Or trying to feel power in whatever way you can. You’ve got a lot to figure out sweetie, hope her videos can help you in some way

[@ari-mb4ct]

i have been soo obsessed with counting calories and i have stopped myself from eating many foods that i used to enjoy. I’ve lost weight but im not underweight and i wanna recover but im afraid that I’ll gain weight back, it’s so hard to focus on anything when all i can think about is food, I don’t wanna waste my time anymore, i hope i get better bcz this is stopping me from enjoying simple life activities.

[@nena2250]

Hi! I've been feeling the same lately... How are your doing now?

[@ari-mb4ct]

@@nena2250 im really sorry that ur feeling that way... i’m thankfully doing better now although i still have some disordered thoughts but im trying to get better everyday

[@jxnxy2558]

Hey that's exactly what i'm going through right now. I try to eat when i'm hungry but even after a big meal i need to eat something 30 min after and i'm kind of scared to lose my progress :/ How did you get better?

[@FrankieUtka]

I'm in the exact same boat right now. The struggle is so real, eating disorders are NOT fun

[@colouringwithzero]

Can you do a video on restrictive eat disorders in people overweight? I've had eating disorder issues for many years and I've told many people about it, but no one is concerned because I'm not underweight.

[@ave_rie]

I hope she does a video on this. Unfortunately, it’s not very common for people to talk about eating disorders that do not yet show/display as physical manifestation. It always has to be mental + physical. It would be interesting to hear about cases like yours and how to heal from it. I feel like I may be developing a similar situation and it is quite scarier than it seems. But from many mental health awareness videos, it seems like it only matters when the thoughts related to eating disorders only matter if they translate into actions (exercising excessively, taking laxatives, vomiting, etc.) or into physical appearance (overweight, underweight, malnourished). This video is an exception to that though. I hope you get better soon. :)

[@joanalovesyou]

This is so important!!

[@andrewoats]

If you skip meals when you’re fat people tend to just think it’s great that you’re eating less. I go whole days without eating among other things but because I’m overweight it’s OK in society’s eyes. Only my therapist has any concern and she doesn’t even know the extent of my eating habits. I just have other symptoms common in anorexia patients like restricting spending and denying myself things like self care basics such as haircuts or even just bathing regularly.

[@steruset3590]

additional sign: you've watched this video several times

[@Ykelli]

I used to have an eating disorder and I am so glad I overcame it. To the people that are still struggling.. you got this.

[@52ryan52]

By reading my old journals and watching your videos, I’ve confirmed that my “weight loss” 13 years ago was a full blown eating disorder. Once i got through that, I switched my coping skill to running, and then weightlifting. I get it now. Thank you Kati

[@kirsty2187]

The sooner you get help, the better. I'm now fighting anorexia and it's so much harder than when my ED was younger and less strong. There is never a too early. Eating disorders are agony and they suck. Please know, the sooner you get help, the better. And an eating disorder WILL NOT make you happier! You're amazing, deserving of help and you got this!!

[@dorotkamajka8]

you can do it! i wish you all the best :-)

[@passaggioalivello]

My eating disorders story is a rollercoaster, from overweight to anorexia, through bulima.

[@Nadia-se2ev]

Same

[@thes5832]

Same

[@katieisbombandunoit]

really hard when a family member clearly has an ED or does disordered eating but everyone tells her what she wants to hear about her weight and what you tell them or educate them on to help her they don’t listen to and say she’s fine 🥴

[@lauranedomlel9875]

Had all of these signs... Starting in March... I ignored all of them. And now I have a full blown eating disorder. Please get help people. You deserve it ♥️

[@LH-mp9xg]

The sooner u get help, or start trying to change ur ways and redirect your thoughts the better. The longer u wait the harder it will be to change. With an ed... it takes time for ur brain to be rewired... and for that rewiring to be more and more concrete. That’s why the longer u have an ed like years and years... the harder and longer recover takes. I know recovery is a laughable thought in the early years of an ed bc often the regret hasn’t set it and the side effects aren’t as debilitating etc... but now will always be the easiest time to change and try to get help and recover from the ed. (Bc the brain rewiring over time). Good luck. (Btw I’m 10+ years since my diagnosis, very difficult to unwire my brain now)

[@sunnydays1015]

same and now it's so bad because I want and am trying to get better. I opened up a bit for help but regret it because the ed thinks I am better that way but I know it will only get worse if I don't try and I mean I guess I opened up for a reason but I I feel awful, I miss that feeling.

[@stephpowell7648]

March? You've got more than enough time to get better, its not even a year so its not solidified in your head yet. I'm at 19 years in, I literally don't know any other way.

[@erinac111]

I completely relate to you, was struggling on and off for about 2 years and it just went straight into an eating disorder in March. I hope you’re okay

[@lauranedomlel9875]

@@erinac111 not really but I'm trying... ♥️

[@angelasofia6843]

I feel so called out... I would've never thought it wasn't normal, I will absolutely talk about this with my therapist, thanks Katie, I didnt know this was a problem, but now that you talk about it, it does make sense. If someone else feels called out, please get the help you deserve ♥️

[@jessicazajac9886]

Ikrrr

[@sweetiestrawberrie15]

I feel like alot of people think this way that I know...I feel like eating disorders are sadly more common due to how america has weird diet culture 😕

[@renmcgee6341]

It becomes a disorder when it makes it impossible to live a normal life.

[@oldchannel99956]

yes

[@sweetiestrawberrie15]

@@oldchannel99956 right??Like all our Holidays SURROUND FOOD..but then our media wants us to be skinny but not too skinny...but not fat...but keep eating...but not too much ...but not too little?Like it literally is made to make eating disorders...?Is it me ?Like we have diet culture ,with a overly filtered culture ,with a bindge indusing celebration kinda culture ...we are like taught to use food to like control our lives...?...I dont just my opinion...The way America is with food is unhealthy on both sides ..no happy medium 😕

[@Bag1]

not just america

US* and not only the US

[@jessicahooks1733]

This was a big help in pushing me to realize that I CAN talk about this with someone. It can be really hard to feel "sick enough" when you don't fit the image of someone with an eating disorder.

[@milaliah]

THANK YOUU. I can't get it out of my head!!! Sometimes i wish I never started, i wasn't even aware of the stereotype in my ed!! (Sorry i had to vent 😞)

[@safeandsound712]

As a person who suffered from "eating disorder otherwise unspecified" and cycled through the big three disorder types, I feel like curing it or recovering entirely isn't real at all. The thoughts and patterns are still there I've just learned to make my disease acceptable and "healthy" by developing obsessive routines with exercise and meal timing similar to a body builder or fitness model. And so many people say they wish they had my dedication or they will compliment my physique but I know inside they don't want I have. I don't even want to feel how I do.

[@SkullCrusher-xk5wp]

You should know that the diagnosis of an ED is extremely messy because we don't know much about them. Which is why EDOU diagnosis is the most commonly diagnosed because most people displaying inappropriate eating behaviours don't fit into the criteria of anorexia or bulimia. The only difference between getting diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia is simply weight. Which is problematic in itself because if you're diagnosed with anorexia and come to a normal weight, your diagnosis may change and that may alter your treatment which may not target your needs anymore. Just something I thought I should mention.

[@safeandsound712]

@@SkullCrusher-xk5wp I technically met the criteria for bulimia or anorexia at several different spans of time. To be short, my restriction led to binging and purging patterns, and my ED brain longed to end purging because it was "ugly" so I became "successful" in multiple year stents of heavy restrictions. Basically short of my borderline orthorexic but socially "normal" current pattern I just went back and forth from both types of nervosa. To say that treatment and care for young men with ED's and dual diagnosis of depression and substance abuse is difficult would be an understatement.

[@SkullCrusher-xk5wp]

@@safeandsound712 If I were you I'd probably want to stick with Unspecified Eating/Feeding Disorder simply being that you really want to avoid "shifting" between categories. The treatment for anorexia and bulimia from what I understand is a bit different. So if you keep shifting, you don't really have a stable course of treatment which can be stressful. You can still get treated for UEFD, but it's probably going to be more directed to your needs. But talk it over with the person you are seeing if you are.

[@neighbor472]

Could you make a video on helping loved ones with eating disorders? My girlfriend has one and i want to help but dont know how to. Trying to make her eat when she doesnt want to has been a terrible idea

[@coolm3th]

You can't do more past showing love and support and making her feel like it is safe to eat (without blatantly saying that?). I would avoid any comments regarding how she looks, even if you mean well. Saying she looks good or healthy can easily be processed as "I look like I gained weight" and be a massive trigger. Compliment her non physical attributes and just create a safe atmosphere. You can't force someone to eat, but if it gets any worse you can get her to a hospital.

[@ladispute8810]

Show interest in the causes/reasons for her eating disorder. DO NOT make assumptions like blaming today‘s beauty standards. An eating disorder is much more than that. If she tells you the reason, you might actually get a grasp on how her eating disorder is working. :)

[@salzwell25]

I had an ED for years. I'm thankful I was able to get better.

[@thelittlestpika]

I'm here because I think I had a nasty bout of anorexia in high school that went undiagnosed. I didn't think it was a problem at the time because of how my family talks about food. Edit: I had all the warning signs during that time. I'm gonna cry.

[@cathy2142]

Ditto. I had my mother show me her “fat” stomach every day. Shake it and say you did this in a fact calmly way. She gained 50 lbs during pregnancy and never stopped talking about it. Then told me my skinny body was perfect. I was very ill. It was praised. Im healthy now. Not perfect in looks or behavior but more balanced now as a mom. I tell my daughter she is smart funny pretty creative helpful thoughtful. Not fat or skinny. I also donot flash my body and complain or blame her. The things we learn from trauma...

[@thestatusquoy]

@@cathy2142 omg I thought this was normal. This makes so much sense! Thank you for helping me uncover more things and memories to think about 💖

[@cathy2142]

@@thestatusquoy the things we live in private can be so strange. We can DO better now that we KNOW better

[@reallifepsych3309]

really, 3 days before thanksgiving? the universe has spoken i guess haha

[@laceyking2006]

The Lord Jesus has spoken❤️🙌

[@oldchannel99956]

I no cel***te it

[@mschrisfrank2420]

I think the holidays is actually a relevant time due to the stress and the food focus.

[@kennyjmagtown]

@@mschrisfrank2420 yea, i think it was a joke

[@yvpizza]

I used to have all these signs. Decided to move out of my parent's house and now I'm fine, it's interesting when your mom is the reason you started being anorexic.

[@justarandomnat]

your mama? why

[@belle_bookworm2533]

My mom knew I wasn't eating and said nothing. She even gloated to someone about it

[@rumeo555]

Me: eats without even thinking about how I'll gain weight* *Two minutes later* This video shows up and my brain goes boop-

[@Nick07900]

I feel too skinny- no matter how much I try to eat I can't gain weight

[@rumeo555]

@@Nick07900 go to a dietitian/nutritionist and they can help u with what's best for your body

[@insolubletoaster8133]

I was raised by someone with an eating disorder. All of these are what I was raised to do. Even though I live alone I hide the junk food containers in the bottom of the trash, because that's where they're supposed to go. At work meals I don't eat, I take it with home with me, or only ask for a drink. I don't even eat in public (when we could still eat in public) and only get take away if I don't cook. Snacks that have been opened must be consumed in a certain span of time (it depends on the snack type) or thrown away, and we DON'T waste food. I'm so jealous of my brother who was allowed to have friends and eat at other people's houses and see the "normal" way of doing things. I ate at a family reunion once and was grounded for three weeks. I even got upset there wasn't a line about "name ten foods you wanna eat" in Paul Baribeau's "ten things" song. I'm curious, though, if there's a term for people who yoyo in long cycles, like years. Like overexercising and sever calorie restriction for a few years, then gaining xx pounds and constantly bingeing for a few years and then swinging back around again.

[@alyssamarie5392]

I’m gonna add some that I showed at ages 9-11 right before I spiraled into anorexia at age 12: • preoccupation with “perfection” in other areas of life: cleaning tons, always organizing/reorganizing, always making lists of things I had to do or change to be “perfect”, always practicing other things (like dance as I was a dancer, singing, ukulele) • preoccupation with the preparation of food: I was always watching food related things, finding recipes, baking for others • preoccupation with numbers: besides my own numbers like inches, calories, and pounds, I mean like becoming perfectionistic about them, I always had to have volume at a 5 or 0 for example

[@writingisfun9842]

So glad I don't have an ED. It sounds awful.

[@vitaminhead1465]

Mine is for vanity, every time I starve myself people tell me how great I look:)

[@meganbeehler]

Yikes. I don't have all of these signs, but I do relate to a few. I've been suspecting for a while that I might be in the process of developing an ED and this made me realize that it's actually happening, and it's enough to actually go ask for help, even if that's not something I'm fully able to do right now. Thank you Kati !

[@Roll587]

This is important. I have to be careful with what I eat for health reasons (I'm in regular contact with my doctor). Eating intuitively within the confines of my health needs is difficult.

[@FrankieUtka]

I'm going through this right now discovering that I have gastroparesis. It really interferes with the recovery.

[@ss_apobangpo]

i relate to so many of the signs. its so scary to know that i probably have an eating disorder and i have no idea what to do i hate myself for it so much its terrifying

[@miaschiesser5707]

I feel like another sign is if you’re like me and look up on KZbin “do I have an eating disorder”

[@plcumming]

Thank you sooo much. I have spent 30+ years not feeling sick enough. Now I see my 11 year old daughter starting to use some of the same bad company mechanisms and ED behaviours. Both for myself, and for my daughter, we are both worthy of treatment. Thank you.

[@Voodoovixenn]

Needed this video more than anything. I reverently moved back in with my toxic-controlling parents and have found myself dealing with these behaviors more than ever now and it makes sense.. I feel in control doing it. Going to bring this up in therapy next week. Thanks so much Kati. ❤️

[@iloveyoucp]

I have anxiety from IBS but it's basically turned into an eating disorder

[@daliablackman7374]

Same here://

[@laceyking2006]

My mom has it and she taken medicine to help with it.

[@faithhancock8247]

Yes!I've been going though this for almost three years.IBS has triggered my eating disorder to the point to where I chew and spit on a diet basis due to anxiety

[@daliablackman7374]

How do you know if it’s an eating disorder or “just” IBS? I have IBS and emetophobia which has led to a lot of dieting bc of feeling out of control and just to feel ok

[@faithhancock8247]

@@daliablackman7374 same here,I have emetophobia as well.everyones eating disorder manifests differently

[@lysslyssalyssa]

This all started when my mum called me chubby when I wore a bikini when I was a healthy weight and had a healthy relationship with food. I didn’t think about what I ate and how to structure my day around food. I just ate when I was hungry or for social purposes and because I enjoyed the taste of food. 9 months later I’m underweight and my period stopped. I went to the doctor for it and told the doctor about the fact that I lost 13kg and they didn’t suspect an eating disorder even though my bmi was underweight but not underweight enough to be in a high risk category. I have my period back now because I’m on birth control but without birth control I’m not sure if I will have a normal cycle. I get nervous when having to eat out with friends and will always make excuses to skip dessert or say that I dislike garlic bead when it comes out as an appetiser when in reality I absolutely love it but will feel immense guilt if I have it because it is coated in butter. When I’m going out for lunch I will always skip breakfast and order the lowest calorie meal and I hate restaurants that don’t list their calories. I’m mad that my mum isn’t willing to help me and says that I’m a drama queen yet she calls me out for comparing the calories of 2 yogurt brands and me getting nervous when she chooses the one with the highest calories. She mentions that it doesn’t matter it’s only a small difference. I also tried opening up to my mum about my problems and she said it’s normal for girls to worry about their weight and skip meals. She also comments about how good I look now which boosts my confidence and fuels the eating disorder more. I know I’m not normal because I watch videos about food on KZbin all the time like what I eat in a week, supersize vs super skinny, secret eaters, calorie challenges, baking videos and these kinda eating disorder videos. I also weigh myself everyday which is definitely not normal and I want help but I can’t get it because my mum thinks I’m fine when in reality I just want a normal relationship with food again and be able to have dessert without feeling immense guilt after and trying to calculate the calories in my head.

[@diarrheaqueen]

...I hope u feel better soon...

[@lysslyssalyssa]

​@@diarrheaqueen hahaha thanks I forgot I wrote this believe it or not I'm so much better now and thank u for ur concern. I wrote that comment in February when I was deep within my eating disorder. In march I got admitted to hospital because my heart rate met the criteria and that really gave me a wake up call to stop with the disordered eating because being in hospital sucks and u practically lose ur freedom. After I got discharged, I've been eating normal meals, ive stopped with all the extreme exercise and I managed to get my period back. I've had a lot of appointments with psychologists and check ups at my city hospital and I am truly alot better. My body image has improved immensely however some days I still feel upset about the fact that I've gained all the weight back because I worked really hard to lose it but then I always remind myself that I'd rather this lifestyle where im not feeling guilty over everything I eat and calculating calories in my head. I'm so glad that my relationship with food has improved literally as I'm writing this comment i'm eating a chocolate biscuit after dinner aha. I also hope that ur going well :)

[@diarrheaqueen]

@@lysslyssalyssa omg that's so great 😭💞 im glad you're much better now 😭❤️❤️

[@lysslyssalyssa]

@@diarrheaqueen thank uuuu sm :)

[@katrinacoronado334]

I feel like such a burden if I brought it up. I can’t go back to therapy for something different. I’ve gotten better, I can’t be feeling like I need to purge now

[@J.J.DoeArt]

Thank you so much for this. You have helped me realise that I might be suffering from atypical bulimia, bordering on bulimia nervosa. I have a mental health appointment booked with my GP, but I still get the thought often of 'am I sick enough to get help for this?', so thank you, this really is helping me greatly. Blessed be, Kati.

[@sarahong9317]

been denying that nothing is wrong with my eating habits for years. I have all of these early signs and I’m still denying it haha..

[@bearinahat2318]

ive never noticed any signs of an eating disorder but my mind keeps telling me i need to throw up and now im so aware of all these symptoms and its scaring me

[@thes5832]

Yup! Thats it! We call that the "E.D voice". Get help sweetie. Sending you well wishes.

[@Kurious_Kiwi]

Thank you Katy, I really needed this right now. I've been thinking about this for a long time and always thought no I'm fine, I dont have an eating disorder but then I question it again and again. It's gotten to the point where my mum is constantly asking me if I've eaten and putting food in front of my face. I feel bad because I'm trying, but food kind of grosses me out right now and being asked all the time is getting annoying. Definitely time for therapy.

[@Katie_Jo_21]

I started dance at age 3 and took it up until I was past jr. high. My first and favorite teacher of all time used to have periodic conversations about relationships with eating and what is “normal” in the hopes that any kids would catch it early, should it ever be a problem. I thought because of early body positivity and basic education and also that I left dance on a training level, that I could never become anorexic. Wrong. Cut to my 30’s and dealing with the stress of a health diagnosis in 2017 I became sick. And I got therapy and asked for help in less than 6 months. I was diagnosed with Atypical Anorexia and began to recover with only one set back in 2020 (I mean we all stressed lol). And this time, I knew the trigger and how to help myself. It is worth it. The earlier you can get help the better. So many folks think you have to wait to be in hospital to be taken seriously. While they may be true for some people in the general population. It is SO not true with the right health care providers. And it helps prevent long term complications or even death. It is a fast slippery slope. Anyone who has an e.d. will tell you that. So it is a serious matter and early detection is key. Wishing you all well. It is possible to feel better. Hugs.

[@samrocket132fitsjerols2]

I constantly convince myself that I'm eating too much when I'm actually not eating enough. No matter how many calories I cut out of my diet, I still believe I'm overeating. I try to make myself eat a healthy amount of food but afterwards, the fear of gaining weight takes over. I feel helpless, I don't know how to stop. I'm not even sure how it started. At first, I remember feeling accomplished that I was hardly eating anything and I felt in control but I'm not sure at what point the fear of gaining came in.

[@anjam.242]

Wow, speaking of health industry. KZbin's algorithms really don't help. While watching this video two of the ads were about weight loss programmes featuring typical "thinspo" and before/after content.

[@CaylynAdamko]

Thanks for such an amazing video Katie. Thank you for validating that we are all deserving of care and help. Your point about social media blew my mind.

[@Luna_Christine]

I’ve suffered from an eating disorder for most of my life(born 1992, started to severely restrict eating in 2003). Only diagnosed a couple years ago. They say that a traumatic experience is often the trigger for EDs. With afterthought since beginning my Gender Transition, I came to realise that the source of that trauma was the “Puberty video” I was shown in 5th grade. I dreaded what boy puberty would do to me, and I thought that by starving myself out, I could hold off that change for as long as I could. I did start that process middle of 9th grade, and I think that had I had the strength to just come out to my parents at a younger age, I could’ve prevented the years of struggling I’ve dealt with.

[@kristanicole1995]

If you're reading this: You deserve happiness, you deserve kindness, you deserve love, you deserve self love & care, you deserve food, you deserve to live. I hope you start feeling better soon🤗💕💝💕

[@nivolio]

i didn’t tell anyone i have bulimia but one friend but she doesn’t care about what i think is an accomplishment of mine. today, i ate some noodles but didn’t purge. i didn’t necessarily binge but noodles is one of my biggest fear food and i didn’t feel bad eating it. it felt good and i didn’t have anyone to tell so i’m saying it here lol

[@idkwhattoput1800]

Whenever I eat anything that I know is high in calories even if it’s healthy I feel like I’m fat. Even if I’m starving and I eat something like an Oreo itll feel like my stomach is huge and the rest of my body is heavier.

[@sarapasss]

I’ve been doing all of these for a really long time, and I thought it was normal. I came to this video because I think I might have an ED, and I’m really considering talking to my parents about it now

[@lilyrose1311]

Me too, good luck xx

[@Daisy10-y7c]

not me eating a whole 2 dozen cookies and brownies and then starving myself for a week only eating dinner...

[@elizabethculpepper4050]

I was diagnosed with endometriosis earlier this year and before I understood more about endo and was told I have it. I had a growing issue with food. My stomach swells up a lot when I eat and it sucks, especially when I didn’t understand what was happening. Working out wouldn’t help because working out actually made me swell up too. For so long I had issues. Since my diagnosis I’ve been kinder to myself and have accepted that this is something I can’t control. I still have issues and feel down when I get really swollen. But it’s better. I’m very thankful I learned what was causing this bloating before I spiraled down a really bad path. Please get help if you are having issues with your body and with food, help is there for a reason and please never hesitate. This past year has been hard on us all and has contributed to mass trauma around the world. You are deserving of help ❤️

[@SusJake]

I feel really bad because there have been times that I have wished I was anorexic so I could lose weight. It just makes me feel so bad because people suffer from anorexia and I’m wishing it on myself,I feel like I Have been disrespectful.

[@primroserosemary8862]

I'm guilty of going this to 😥

[@marinabodunov1864]

I know no one will probably not answer this, but I can't help it. I haven't had one day that I haven't eaten not one thing, I feel so ashamed about it but yesterday was when it sort of started affecting me. I went to bed hungry even though my mom made me eat dinner. I don't eat breakfast and both my parents know that but what they don't know is that I started skipping/not eating the lunch they've packed for me. I weigh myself every time my parents are far away enough from earshot (it beeps) so right now I am going to be fourteen in a month and a half and I weigh 192.6 but I plan to not eat anything tomorrow. I only started eating irregular at the beginning of December but I want to be 140 or 150 AT MOST for summer but in order for that to happen I need to start isolating myself and stop hanging out with friends more because i realized I'm not self-aware at all of what I eat. I need whatever I have to get worse because I'm tired of being labeled as "the fat one"

[@person-eh6rr]

you explained my current lifestyle absolutely perfectly.

[@TheHiddenSystem]

The second sign already hit a nerve. I have begun not allowing myself to eat as a punishment since primary school and I didn't even know I was punishing myself on purpose. And my parents always told me I was throwing tantrums because of meals. I just understood that a few years ago. Now I'm back in hunger-hell. 😞

[@Danigirl77777]

I had bulimia for 5 years, and the signs were: eating alone or in secret, large amounts of food “disappearing” without admitting it was me who ate it all, plastic ziplock bags or cups filled with vomit (hidden in room, waiting on disposal or forgotten about), eating to numb feelings of trauma, and purging to feel dopamine rush, preferring eating disorder over friends and family (turning down plans, to be alone to binge and purge), chronic worthlessness, depression.

[@jojo-oq7vl]

Not me watching this with all the signs but not caring about that and trying to figure out if my sister has an ed and try to help her without helping myself 😅😅

[@lynncrf]

I had all of those from 2007 to 2011. So glad I recovered from orthorexia!

[@BesseFam]

Haven't started the video yet but just wanted to say I love you and I have watched your videos since I was restricting myself from food in HS to now where I have been overeating since having my children. Its sad to think I wish I was 'skinny sick again. I hope to one day have a positive relationship with food. ❤ You have been amazing to all of us. Thank you.

[@cathykley7238]

Thank you so much for validating my refusal to start eating hard core healthy and keep just enjoying reasonably real whole foods. I already have immune issues that my LLMD would prefer that I eat more hard core paleo but all I can see is the slippery slope towards food obsessing and anorexia. Thank you SO much for reinforcing my correct decision to not go that way.

[@azertyssement1]

When I was a child, I had a tough issue with food at the school canteen...I don't remember well why but I think it was because the cooks compelled me to eat as the other one despite the fact I could not eat the same proportion as they did...The more they shouted at me, the more I was stressed, the more I refused to eat, until going to put all the fries of my dish into my pockets or my soup in my towel...What a shame..Maybe there were other things, don't know. But, it's awful, because those thoughts about being forced to eat haunted me all the days!!! It's noon kid, time going to hell, every single school day. One day, I pretended to go to the toilet school, I was 10. I lied and left school as a call for help. That had worked but I could not find another way. The problem was less the food (french good ones, dude) but how they make me confuse yelling at me in front of all the other kids. Then, the problem became related to food. There are a lot of different issues but please don"t let you feel that way, it's ruining your life.

[@lucasarcadia9248]

I just get told before you get help for your eating disorder you need to sort your depression and anxiety out, but when I try and sort my depression and anxiety out I get told to sort my eating disorder out first

[@sohilahamroush7002]

I started dieting 2 years ago to shed some "extra weight" but I'm stuck since then thinking on a daily basis about food & calories. I'm tired. Just wanna go back to eating without feeling guilty.

[@sweetnothings12]

I always and still constantly have the same thoughts go into my head that say don’t eat your gonna get fat, your gonna gain weight, your gonna get diabetes, you don’t deserve this. I used to be bullied about being fat growing up as a child i was name called picked on laughed at and always sat at the lunchroom table by myself because no one wanted to sit with me. I was definitely a loner in school. My mom growing up wouldn’t let me eat passed 6pm because it was “unhealthy” and not good for you. So for years i used to sneak food in my room and used to eat late at night.

[@ImKate_2023]

It's hard to admit that in every single one of those types of videos - that's me 🙄 for years it was my secret until eventually the experts outed me and diagnosed it. I was angry BUT I'm not anymore because it was draining to have this hidden - now people except it and me as who I am 💜

[@itsalex8559]

i love how im constantly afraid that im faking it for attention. like ??? attention from WHO ??

[@Sky_TheArtist]

Thank you for helping me realize I have it, I do not self diagnosed so I will definitely go to the doctor as soon as possible

[@zoemay5728]

Omg the amount of people have the same mental health as me is insaneeee like everything there saying i can 100% relate to

[@nathaliejoensen8817]

Is it "normal" that you can see you have an eating disorder, but you dont really wanna do anything about it, because you feel attached to it?

[@greynoise1409]

Very much so. In fact, it would be abnormal if you did readily want to give it up.

[@nathaliejoensen8817]

@@greynoise1409 Thank you 😀🙂

[@hbcity6903]

I always have a feeling of Regret after I eat anything and I keep try to convince myself that I won’t be eating anything the rest of the day sometimes I don’t eat anything for like 3 days and I feel no Hunger

[@BendyDivine00]

I am glad that you made this video and mentioned Corona. My anorexia and bulimia have went through the room this year because I feel like food is the only thing I have left to control. Plus I got a new education after 10 years of being on disability and was ready to work as a piercer right When the lockdown started. Then my (then husband) got cancer in his brain, We got divorced, had to find a new place to live within 7 days while I, myself, had a severe chest infection, and all the paperwork and phonecalls that go with it. I lost 10-13 kilos in a month. Looking back I now realize that I had rights and he couldn’t just kick me out, but he had been such a controlling manipulative person for 19 years; I just did what he told me. I still struggling with food because of the new guidelines put into place the 20th November here in Scandinavia have forced us into even more uncertainties. So Thank you for addressing Corona along with eatting disorders.

[@NicolasTsarouhas]

It’s hard enough as a man keeping a secret from his family but reached out 4 times in 3 years and was told this is not a problem a man has or at least one of my age

[@Jaquie04]

I have some of the signs but I feel completely happy now, I can see this is just a way to live life. I don’t cause vomits or anything like that, and I also feel happy now that we don’t have that many gatherings! I feel if things get out of control I will know, specially being home for so long

[@lane-petcarechildcare3341]

Excellent points. What strikes me is that in many cases these issues around food stem from childhood and I can easily apply these points to the way parents may interact with their children (often with the best intentions in mind). 1. "Eat your vegetables." (No. Eat your food and stop when you've had enough.) 2. "Do your homework and you get the chocolate." (Do your homework, because you will understand the lesson better. You can have chocolate - and fruit, and veg etc etc - regardless.) 3. "Finish your food, then you can go play." (Wrong. Eat when hungry, stop when full.) 4. Keep meals a social experience. It's not about the food, it's about coming together, sitting together, chatting, enjoying the meal AND each other's company. 5. No food banned (without a clear reason, eg. allergy, which needs to be explained!) or talked about with disapproval. It is ok to try out food and no one should fear making their parent disappointed by it and resort to hiding it. (Just notice how easy it is to spiral into something else.) 6. Accept, acknowledge & name your child's feelings. Show them healthy ways of handling strong emotions. Food has no place in this equation.

[@deaflepuff-abby6430]

It took me until this pandemic to realize what I been doing and the seriousness of my ED that's been present for so long. I took it upon myself to request help. While my ED is telling me I'm not sick enough, there's another part saying "You are sick enough if you realized this is seriously impacting your quality of life." I been hiding this for so long that now it's 'out in the open' so to say. At least to myself.

[@victoriaemerald6677]

I’m 22 and have had a eating disorder since I was 11. I can pin point what started it and everything but have never gotten professional help. It took me many years to recognize it for what it is because I don’t fit in the box of anorexia or bulimia. I don’t binge or purge and I’m not trying to lose weight, I just don’t eat. I usually only eat 1 meal a day (occasionally don’t even eat 1 full meal) because I just don’t want to eat and even often times feel disgusted at the thought of eating. When I was a teenager my parents at one point found my stash in my room of uneaten food and I admitted to having an eating disorder and even to being suicidal at that time. I cried for help and they did nothing but punish me for it and demand I start eating. My mother told me “it’s just the demon in you talking” it made me go back into denial about it and just be even more sneaky about it. Now the closest people to me know I have a problem but don’t know how to help me. And I think just like I tell myself, they think “she seems fine and healthy though” I’m afraid of irreparable damage being done as a result but keep telling myself that no ones going to take it seriously till I’m dying

[@kaitlynthomson2011]

I have a “real life” kids and a husband and my newborn with a prevalent mental delay. I can’t go to a recovery center (I feel that’s always the main encouragement) my day to day thearpist doesn’t have any connections in the area to point me to. Where do I find help? I can’t afford out of pocket and I’m on government funded insurance with my son.

[@ArtsyOutlooksArt]

As someone who's struggled with bulimia and anorexia in the past I can definitely relate. While I haven't restricted or purged in a long time, I find my thoughts centered around food A LOT. I've considered faking back into old behaviors but haven't but I realize I eat in secret a lot. I can't have ice cream in the house because it literally won't last 2 days in the freezer, if that.

[@amymyers7550]

I have known that I have a compulsive eating disorder, the one where I just Not do what my brain is telling me to, so I don't and feel huge guilt afterwards. I even used to sleep eat. I personally changed the way I eat for not only my mental health, but my physical health. I decided to try to share what i eat, to help myself "stay on track". It doesn't really help with that. But working with my therapist I've been digging into all the reasons why I behave the way I do, and this disorder, it's the hardest thing to control. But digging into the reasons why, is helping.

[@narwhal9249]

I have a lot of these and a lot of these mindsets. Covid hasn't changed life or for the eating disorder for better or worse. But giving up some other coping mechanisms really made the disordered eating hit hard.

[@Oterofamily24]

I’ve been suffering from depression and severe anxiety since September 2021 until now January 2022 and hearing your videos are the only thing calming me down right now and I’m a total wreck all day fighting my thoughts and anxiousness I would love to speak to you one on one i talk really ease my mind 😞

[@user-ox6yt3wr8n]

This hits far too close. I've known it for a while, but this just cemented it. I want help so badly, but I have nobody to go to

[@GiveupforJesus]

These things only bother me when I'm going through depression. When I start feeling better, the food obsession, punishing myself with food and other signs disappear. Is that normal?

[@nlg0x]

with depression or any other mental disorder, you feel out of control, so then we find something we can control, that can be controlling our food intake. so yes, it is normal :)

[@reynairu8741]

im sitting here for hours now, thinking about what to eat so i wont gain weight or should i even eat? and if i wont eat how can i 'lie' to others so they wont know, i know its wrong, but im so frustrated and sad and depressed and have zero motivation in my life anymore and i dont know what to do, i cant even do a phonecall to get help from a therapist, not only for that eating thing, but for everything else. im so sick of my life, of myself, i hate it, i cant deal with my family anymore, they dont dare to understand, i have no friends in real life, nothing is working out in my life, i cant do shit, im just sitting here or lieing in my bed the hole day and doing nothing. i feel so lost, i have no power, no motivation for what ever, i just wanna cry, i just want everything to end, to get better, im living alone now and i had high hopes that everything would be better, but nothing changed, im still thinking the same old shit which i thought for years living together with other people or my family, or where ever i was, it got worse and worse and worse, my life is a big piece of shit and nothing is worth living anymore, i have no intersts, i have nothing i like anymore, everything is just 'doing without feeling' im sorry for that stupid wall of text, i just needed to write it to who ever, im sorry

[@averie5870]

I can totally relate

[@glasshearts283]

When u said we may not even care if we had an eating disorder, i really felt that. Restricting is a way that I cope with EVERY SINGLE EMOTION. I so badly want full complete control over my eating. Iv'e noticed that my calories start to drop lower every 2 weeks. I'm currently at 400cal a day (i'm 14 years old) and I don't plan on asking for any help....

[@fakeschopenhauers]

1. i don’t have reoccurring thoughts about food, if anything when i do see food related content i usually avoid it because it usually has meat in it which is gross to me. 2. i never use food to reward or punish myself, i eat whenever im hungry. i celebrate my accomplishments in my mind and get giddy and happy and hold my cat / jump around and listen to music / dance. 3. i don’t put food above my friends. sometimes i don’t go outside if i feel bloated because it’s uncomfortable. 4. i have trauma from being brutalized as a child so i don’t connect w others well due to shame about what’s happened to me. 5. my weight loss isn’t a secret and doesn’t involve rituals. i have anorexia and don’t share any of these symptoms.

[@elenamichaels2795]

Hello miss Kati. Thank you for your time and care for others. I started having problems with eating a few years ago. I just started to hate food without a reason, i hate the feeling of hunger and i want it to stop as fast as possible. Because of this, I started to eat food that didn't take me any time to prepare. Obviously i gained weight, i started to hate sports although i am a police officer and was used to train all the time and i was always in a good shape.. For 2 years i stopped training although i trained before everyday for more than 10 years. Now, i am just a big disgusting mess and i'm ashamed of my body. I am in therapy for various of problems, i am also on medication that just doesn't help with the weight, i just don't get better. Things are just building up... And again, thank you, i send you greetings from the EU.

[@gabriellehaddad4852]

Thank you so much for making this video.

[@herdinanegassi9524]

As much as I love Katie’s videos I think I need to stop watching them. I’ve already been diagnosed with social anxiety and depression (thnx to Katie who got me to start seeing a therapist), although now I’m starting to think I have an eating disorder and bipolar 2 disorder. Problem is I couldn’t bring myself to go back to my therapist again. It’s just too mentally draining.

[@tabathajc1981]

I don't remember which podcast it was but I remember it being about how a therapist said that the therapy sessions are not a replacement for a weight loss program. And, you agreed. I understand and was faced with this possible issue. However, my therapist was totally supportive and met me in a different way about it. I let her know right away after watching your video that I understand it is not a weight loss program by seeing her. I didn't want her to think that I thought this. I am glad I saw your video since it gave me the idea to clear that up immediately. I am lucky I have a wonderful therapist and she very much understands. I saw a lot of comments on the video of yours that I am talking about how they were met with this issue with their therapist. My therapist handled it very well. I am happy to report I have a good therapist.

[@kearadenton6432]

I'm 13 years old, I have had fast metabolism so my whole life I've been under 100 pounds. People call me a stick or talk about my weight a lot. I used to eat a lot of food in one sitting and my friends and family would make jokes about how much I eat and how I could everything in the snack drawer. Over the past few months I've noticed that whenever I find out I'm either over 100 pounds or over 95 pounds I feel like crying and I end up not eating as much for a few days. It's been really bad lately, Ive been skipping dinner or only eating a little bit. I've also started cutting back on breakfast and using snacks as my main meal of the day. I think that because I've always been super skinny and most people would compliment it or just call me a twig, Ive grown to fear being overweight which in my mind is 100 pounds. I'm scared of not getting those compliments anymore because they're the only ones I get. Normally I wouldn't tell anyone this stuff, but who's actually going to look at this? I know I need help not only for my eating thing but for my depression and body dysmorphia to, I just don't know how to ask for help. I've told my mom before that I think I need therapy but she always forgets about it by the next day and I don't want to seem annoying.

[@illiengalene2285]

My overweight mom is constantly badyshaming me and seems to try to invoke the Eating disorder thoughts and behaviours in me, but I am all right with my body even though I know, I have been through a lot in the last 3 years. Gained 30kg from endometriosis hormone therapy, Hypermobilty syndrome and barre lieu syndrome. And I try not to fall into that trap. How can I stop her?

[@LeoWatcher7]

Only my thoughts, please ignore my advice if you don't agree. But, in my opinion, you may not be able to change your mum's body shaming behaviour. You could ask your mother outright and in an authoritative but, respectful manner e.g. "Do you realise how much your words are not helping me and may easily cause more harm than good?" If she does not show any remorse or, simply does not stop, remember, so that you do not fall into the 'trap' you speak of - it is her problem not yours as she is behaving incorrectly as a parent (although she may never fully realise this). Her *emotionally abusive* words can be weapons to you or, you can become more resilient in believing in yourself each time she says them (inner confidence / self peace and happiness) and that YOU are comfortable in your own skin and happy to be alive no matter what she says over the years about your body - which is a fantastic and empowering life lesson she would have inadvertently taught you (sadly, sometimes in life, all you have is yourself as parents are not necessarily up to the job, possibly as their own parents were not the best with them either!) Aim to be as healthy as possible (although not obsessively!) to help with your overall health e.g. look up wheatgrass powder, vegan protein drinks, try to eat cayenne pepper (half a teaspoon) each day and 1 tablespoon of Extra Virgin olive oil (each day) to help protect your heart. If you can and your health allows it, exercise in any way you like for 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week e.g. walking on the spot while watching your fav TV show. Concentrate on YOUR HEALTH more than your weight as that will genuinely help you more than anything in the long run especially to help you emotionally and physically feel stronger. Best wishes to you.

[@havendidit]

Something I saw from a CaptainAwkward post (they might have something more helpful there but this is what I thought of) “What is your intention when you say things like that?” (listen to reply) “well it actually doesn’t achieve that, instead it achieves [me not wanting to talk to you, or something else that shows how that kind of talk os damaging the relationship]” I totally agree with the other commenter that it might not be changeable, though I have read a lot of resources similar to the one above (though most are about abusive parents) and typically the only way to see change is through basically training them to understand “if I say this then the person I want to see is going to leave and now talk to me anymore” to try get change. Which can be pretty extreme. But that would all also depend on how your mom responds to the first conversation or mention of you saying “please don’t say that” or “that makes me uncomfortable”. Regardless, you have my support and I am proud of you for remaining strong in your acceptance of yourself :)

[@bluecloudsorg]

Hello. I saw my psychiatrist last Friday and told me I had bigger (life) problems than my disorder. She confirmed my symptoms (that I told her) but said because I'm functioning, it is not a problem. She did not comment on anything else but said to be so busy that I don't have time for these thoughts/behaviours. I'm glad you mentioned that "[I] don't have to be sick enough," because I have been doubting myself. I might try a different psychiatrist.

[@gabz9973]

This is so helpful. Getting food poisoning is a big trigger and restarts the ED cycle.