#1 Build a healthy relationship with food
Welcome to the Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder self-help series. {#1 of 5}
While everyone’s relationship with food and diet is unique, there are some common things people who suffer with an eating disorder experience. Whether you have a diagnosis for Binge Eating Disorder or Bulimia, or feel you might be experiencing some form of disordered eating, this empowering blog series can help in your journey to recovery and feeling better
Why a self-help series?
We wanted to give people who have a diagnosed eating disorder, or who might be struggling with their relationship with food, a useful, self-guided resource to help in their recovery – or to even make the decision to get help – now or in the future.
You can work through this self-help series solo, but we encourage you to seek out other forms of support and treatment in conjunction with using this self-guided resource. If you contact us via our Helpline, one of our caring counsellors can work through the series with you.
{In addition to this blog, the self-help series includes 4 other blogs}:
- Blog 2: Why people binge and tips to help
- Blog 3: It’s normal to experience recovery ambivalence
- Blog 4: Practical tools to help you in your recovery
- Blog 5: Nourish yourself with a healthy dose of self-kindness
What does this self-help series cover?
We’ve found some common features across everyone who experiences Bulimia Nervosa or Binge Eating Disorder. To help shed light on some of these similarities, our blog series will cover:
- What is binge eating?
- How to better understand your relationship with food
- Your feelings about the food you eat and don’t eat
- Causes of binge eating
- Things to do that support recovery
- Understating how feeling hesitant and unsure plays a role in where you are in your recovery journey
- Tactics in recovery: self-monitoring, regular eating, delay and urge surfing
- How to be kinder to yourself
You’ll also find short activities and reflections in our downloadable worksheets. And as always, you can get extra help from our specialist counsellors via our Helpline. They can mentor you as you work through the blog posts, answer any questions you might have, and connect you with support services.
Your recovery journey is unique
Help is on hand, whenever you need it
Regardless of what your specific journey looks or feels like, information and support is key. To help we have many different types of information and support services you can access. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Our helpline
You can get free information, referrals and brief counselling through the Butterfly Foundation National Helpline. We’re open from 8am – midnight AEST, seven days a week, and you can chat via phone, webchat or email.
Health professionals
Our Helpline can give you with referrals to health professionals who understand eating disorders. Some health professionals we can recommend include:
- GPs: who can provide medical checks and information.
- Counsellors, Therapists and Psychologists: who can support you with therapy.
- Psychiatrists: who can prescribe medications.
- Dietitians: who can offer nutrition advice.
Useful websites:
National Eating Disorders Collaboration
Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI)
Apps:
Here’s some handy apps to help you breathe and connect with yourself.
Recommended books:
Thanks to growing community awareness and an openness to discuss Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder, there are many books that can help you during your recovery. Some we recommend include:
- ‘8 Keys to recovery from an eating disorder’ and related workbook, by Carolyn Costin
- If Not Dieting then what by Rick Kaussman
- Overcoming Binge Eating by Christopher Fairburn
Are you ready to get started?
Download your first worksheet and get started now.
A final thought:
If you think you might suffer from an eating disorder, it’s important to talk to your doctor, as there are many physical complications that can occur from having an eating disorder. Get in touch with our team and we can connect you with a professional who has experience in eating disorders.
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Next blog in this series
Why people binge and tips to help {# 2 of 5}
Do you want to learn more?
The caring team at the Butterfly Foundation are here to help answer questions. Call our friendly National Helpline team on 1800 33 4673, or connect with via webchat or email.
If you need urgent assistance or support, please ring Lifeline on 13 11 14.
