Is it self-harm to gorge on sweets?

[The Albatross]

Doing anything until you're sick isn't "comfort eating".

 

[rightkindofme]

Doing anything until you're sick isn't "comfort eating".

If it keeps you from dying till tomorrow it is still a superior (though not good) coping method in that moment.

 

[The Albatross]

That may be, but it is not "comfort".

 

[rightkindofme]

That may be, but it is not "comfort".

Ok ma'am I will grant you that.

 

[Sally sue]

Thank you SO much for all your support and understanding!

Okay, I think we've established that it's self-harm to benge on sweets until I'm sick, and that it's an unhealthy coping mechanism :( but how do I make it stop???

I'll go for days, sometimes weeks, detoxing from sweets, I feel better, but then it starts up again because of triggers, nightmares, stress, etc. I only start to realize I'm in trouble when I'm literally sick and miserable from overdoing it ug!

I am starting to recognize that most of the time I don't know what I'm feeling (emotions were not allowed and punished when I was young), but this has just got to stop!! Is the only way NEVER to have sweets again?? Consider myself an addict? I'm really lost, disgusted with myself, and can't believe it keeps happening :( which makes me feel like an total failure!!!

Thank you for helping me figure this out ;).

 

[Jen93]

IMHO any activity that causes harm to one's self is a form of self harm.

Yes. It's as simple as that. I stupidly did a project on self harm for school, and basically, I came to the conclusion that if it's something that hurts you that you do to yourself deliberately, then it's self harm. (I can totally understand the idea of candy though... Kind of tough to have just one.;)) But if you're going, and you're PLANNING to eat so much with the intention of getting sick, then yes, you are probably self-harming and it's affecting you negatively.

The intention is what makes it self harm. I think you may want to talk to your therapist about better coping strategies.