YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I'm a 42-year-old male with an eating disorder (bulimia), I've been struggling with, off and on, for over 10 years. I really think it is a by-product of anxiety. I just can't seem to get rid of the problem. Any advice would be appreciated. I am seeing a therapist and I currently take Klonopin for anxiety. Thanks!

Does the therapist know about the eating disorder?

Yes, although she hasn't given me any advice as to how to overcome the disorder. She's simply referred to it as a coping mechanism.

that's unfortunate. eating disorders can impact the brain so substantially that it makes treatment ineffective, and if you're not addressing it in therapy, what's the point? have you asked the therapist about working on it? it would be great to find coping skills that won't kill you. EDs often are comorbid with anxiety and can often be a trigger to anxiety - and if she isn't working with you on the bulimia, she can't fully address the anxiety.

definitely ask her why she hasn't addressed it and make it clear you'd like to address it. EDs are so complicated they involve treatment teams and you likely need at least a psychiatrist and a dietician on your side to help. you probably need a workup to check on your overall physical health - you don't have to be emaciated to have serious physical damage. many times that physical damage can go unnoticed until you specifically tell the doctors you have an eating disorder so they know what to look for (electrolytes, heart functioning, enamel wear, esophageal wear [you don't have to be a purge-type bulimic to have this], digestive tract functioning, etc).

at your next appointment, ask about getting help for it.

Thank you very much for the reply! If I could fix this problem on my own, I would. It's a very debilitating (and embarrassing) disorder.

agree with FifthSonata. You need to find an ed specialist. I'm your age and still struggling very much with my ed (this means in and out of hospitals since 1987 and I've never NOT been in therapy and on meds) It is very common for ed's to be comorbid with anxiety or depression and obsessive compulsive personalities.'I thinnk it's best to find a clinician who is equippped to address all of these factors