I'm a work in progress...

and trying to adjust my thinking and be okay with that. I just want to take a few minutes and share a few pics (I hope they don't show up gigantic since I'm posting them from my phone) I took of some paperwork I received from my therapist today. In all honesty, I was really torn whether to post them or not. I feel vulnerable (a fear of being judged) and compelled (maybe someone else out there is struggling with similar issues and I want them to know we aren't alone) at the same time. I decided it's worth it to put myself out there if it has the potential to help even one person.

Thank you so much for posting this. I have BED and it's so hard and feels so shameful at times. I also tend to over exercise when I get really into it...to the point of pain.

This is such useful information and thank you again for posting it.

I'm glad you find value in these as well!

My beautiful friend, thank you for posting something so powerful! You are so courageous and strong (even if you don't feel it or see it you are).

I am really glad you posted this (no judgement here!!!!), after reading these two sheets I 100% can identify and see myself in both, especially the compulsive exercise.

I am very confident in saying that you might feel alone and you might feel like you are the only one that is going through all this but you are not. I am sure there are a lot of people reading your post who are either regular posters here on OH or are lurkers and are nodding their heads saying "yes that's me too." You are not alone.

One of my favourite things of OH is that although we are all so different and come from different locations in the world & have had different WLS we can all support each other and "virtually" let each other know we got your back.

Therapy is hard, I know this first hand because I go weekly to my therapist (who I adore and she is amazing!). I too am a work in progress, some days I hate that I am in "progress" and then some days I say to myself "hey look how far you have come, that's progress!"

I am so very proud of you for doing therapy, for being here on OH day in & day out posting, supporting and spreading your love. You got this girl

Love ya

You are so kind and I'm proud to know you! Love ya!!

Kelly:

There is much that I admire about you, but one thing is the advice that you give to people who are struggling. My first instinct is always to tell people what they want to hear in order to please them. But then I realize that my advice is only going to cause them more pain in the long run. Often I end up saying nothing because I can't find anything helpful to say at all.

The advice that you usually give is to remind people that although their path may be hard "they are worth it".

Well, you are quintessentially worth it. And although I only know you through this board, I know that you are a fantastic Wife, Mom, Manager, Friend, Support, woman of religion, and the inventor of Bariatric egg (or is it tuna?) salad.

Jim

Jim, thank you for your very kind words! I'm a mama bear at heart and just speak from there. Emiepie egg salad for the win!!

Like the others have said, thank you! We all have some or all of these behaviors, I think. I know I do for sure!

Thanks for putting yourself out there and posting this. It's not only new information for some, but a great reminder for those of us who've struggled in this area for (literally) decades.

Sometimes we think we've already seen and heard it all. And maybe we have. But even for those who know all the things regarding eating disorders, this type of literature is important and helpful. For others like me who will never learn enough they become essential reminders and can be solid sources of new-to-me information.

These two are spot on. I'm glad you went ahead and posted.