Bulimia and Self-Injury

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Have you ever dealt with any of the following:

  • depression

    Votes: 36 90.0%

  • self-injury

    Votes: 19 47.5%

  • bulimia

    Votes: 7 17.5%

  • anorexia

    Votes: 7 17.5%

  • low self-image

    Votes: 33 82.5%

  • chronic pain

    Votes: 9 22.5%

  • suicidal ideation

    Votes: 25 62.5%
  • Total voters
    40
U

unfolding_wings

Guest
#1
#1
I was raised in a Christian home and committed my life to God when I was 7. My life seemed to be going quite well. Then, right before I reached puberty things started to change. When I was 12 I began experiencing back pain which I still feel to this day. Unfortunately, depression really hit me hard when I was 13. At age 15 I developed an eating disorder (bulimia) and began self-injuring (cutting). Now it's three years later and I still struggle with the aforementioned issues along with generalized anxiety disorder and severely low self-esteem. I have been to several psychologists and plan on entering residential treatment this summer (after I get through this semester of college).

Despite all this, I still believe that God is faithful; I love Him and He loves me. He has helped me through difficult times in the past, and I believe that He will continue to be with me through all eternity.

I'd love to discuss these (and any other) issues with anyone, especially others who have struggled with similar issues. Feel free to ask me whatever, I'm not shy about answering!
 
U

unfolding_wings

Guest
#2
#2
Is there no one who wishes to talk?
 
G

goth4god

Guest
#3
#3
well i used to cut and be really depressed last year, but now i am pretty much over it. I still have random urges to cut and get depressed sometimes, but thanks to God i am doing a bunch better!
 
U

unfolding_wings

Guest
#4
#4
How long did the depression last and how were you able to get over it? How long have you struggled with self-injury? Did anything prompt you to begin self-injuring?

Oh, and thanks for taking an interest in my post. It's nice to know that people care enough to comment. :)
 
C

carpetmanswife

Guest
#5
#5
ive been told that many of these things are started because a person is trying subconciously to take control of a situation while their life is out of control..doesnt make alot of sense unless uve been there i know..and i have only by major changes in my life and certainly Gods grace have i been able to move passed those things
 
G

goth4god

Guest
#6
#6
I'm not really sure how long my depression lasted, and it still comes back every now and then, like recently it has. I think what helped me to get over it was that i went and worked at a Christian summer camp and just living there all summer surrounded by ppl who cared about me and loved God really helped! Also I started to think more positively. count your blessings and not your problems cuz life is too short. also i heard this quote "guilt can't change the past, worry can't cnage the future." also talking to ppl on here really helped! I also found these verses comforting
1 Corinthians 10:13 (New International Version)

13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Psalm 147:3 (New International Version)


3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.


I dont really recall when i first hurt myself, it just kind of happned one night. If i have to guess I wuld say i have struggled with it for about a year and a half. I found that by writing down dates and keeping track of when i cut just made me want to cut more. cuz like id look at when i last cut and think 'wow! its been a week! i need to cut again!' so i stopped keeping track so i dont even know tha last time i cut. I want to say the last time I cut was Dec/Jan. but it doenst really matter.
 
U

unfolding_wings

Guest
#7
#7
Goth4God - Hmm, I've found that keeping track of when I last cut is both beneficial and detrimental for me. Sometimes I'll look at it and think "Wow, I can't cut now, I've almost broken my time record for not cutting!" other times I'll look at it and think "Hmm...it's only been a short while since I last cut, so what does it matter if I do it now?". For now, it's beneficial because it's been almost 7 weeks since I last cut and I'm trying to keep going without cutting. Unfortunately, it's only been two days since I last self-injured. Cutting isn't my only method.

Anyways, thank you so much for the Bible verses, I find that hearing God's word really helps me. I actually posted 1 Corinthians 10:13 on a paper butterfly in my dorm so it would serve as a constant, visible reminder whenever I saw it. Thanks for reminding me about it, and I'll try to pay more attention to it when I pass it next time.

I go to a Christian college and I suspect that if I didn't, I would have hurt myself quite a bit more than I have this past school-year.
 
U

unfolding_wings

Guest
#8
#8
Thank you,
I too hope that in the future I will be able to help others who are struggling. I don't even really want to think how my life would be without God!
 
D

damex

Guest
#9
#9
There was also a time I was like that, I ask myself 'what is the purpose of life', why do I sin today ask for forgiveness tomorrow yet commit the same sin the nextday? haha I saw I was going the wrong path but yet I didn't wanna tell this to noone.
I got to church, checked the internet for some chatrooms where I could see someone, I came to this place but since it was a chricstian site I knew I never could express myself in the way I wanted. but glory be to God I saw an article about millions of ppl who faced this problem and how they conquered it. now i'm sort of relaxed if I should say.
Really I think depression must come, common Jesus himself was depressed, tempted by the devil after not eating for days but he survived it all.
 
D

damex

Guest
#10
#10
unfolding_wings said:
How long did the depression last and how were you able to get over it? How long have you struggled with self-injury? Did anything prompt you to begin self-injuring?

Oh, and thanks for taking an interest in my post. It's nice to know that people care enough to comment. :)
Click to expand...
haha good! I also need that talent of quoting and remebering verses of the bible, how u think I can do that?
 
N

Nichole-4-Christ

Guest
#11
#11
i have posted my testimony which deals with a few of these issues if u wish to read its under the testimony section
 
E

Elizabeth

Guest
#12
#12
unfolding_wings said:
I was raised in a Christian home and committed my life to God when I was 7. My life seemed to be going quite well. Then, right before I reached puberty things started to change. When I was 12 I began experiencing back pain which I still feel to this day. Unfortunately, depression really hit me hard when I was 13. At age 15 I developed an eating disorder (bulimia) and began self-injuring (cutting). Now it's three years later and I still struggle with the aforementioned issues along with generalized anxiety disorder and severely low self-esteem. I have been to several psychologists and plan on entering residential treatment this summer (after I get through this semester of college).

Despite all this, I still believe that God is faithful; I love Him and He loves me. He has helped me through difficult times in the past, and I believe that He will continue to be with me through all eternity.

I'd love to discuss these (and any other) issues with anyone, especially others who have struggled with similar issues. Feel free to ask me whatever, I'm not shy about answering!
Click to expand...
I'm sorry to hear about this struggle your going through. Know your heavenly father loves you intensely. There is nothing that you can't overcome with Christ. The enemy is an abuser...and like toxins that resurface in our bodies which trigger emotional responses, so does the enemy. We have no bound to any of them. We are completely free because of Jesus. Any abuse that happened before we are not bound by. Those who abuse us have no tie or control over our recovery, and they can not interfere with nor steal the gift of complete peace. I pray the Lord fulfills the needs-desires in your heart, rests your mind, and gives you a great comfort and internal peace. His word is his promise, and like no human, HE IS completely faithful and TRUE to his word.
 
A

AussieBritLu

Guest
#13
#13
Hi unfolding_wings,

It's not that people don't take an interest in your post (though I know some have replied) but some people maybe scared to say anything for fear of being judged. Because surprisingly, some "Christians" will still judge. I am not saying anyone here does. But there is always that fear that they will be judged. Maybe from the past, when they've reached out to someone for help, they have been judged. Therefore feel too scared to mention again anything, for fear of being judged by anyone other than God Himself. Just thought I should say.

People have taken an interest in your topic, as they have done your poll. Just some people may want to keep very quiet about what is going on in their lives, because they've yet to come to terms with what they are doing? For first, they must recognise that they have a problem before they can say anything.

I hope this doesn't seem harsh or anything, I just had to say how some people may be feeling. And what some people may not want to say anything and stay anonymous by doing the poll instead.

But thank you for starting the topic, because I know for a fact that alot of people struggle with aspects of their lives, Christians or not, and may find comfort in knowing they are not alone. And that they may find and receive great advice from you all. They may even find the strength to seek help.

So keep it up and God bless you all so very muchly.
 
G

goth4god

Guest
#14
#14
blargh....
after so long of noy cutting. I did.
 
A

AussieBritLu

Guest
#15
#15
hugs to you goth4god.

you can do it. you can break the cycle of cutting. through Jesus Christ, you will overcome! :eek:)
 
G

goth4god

Guest
#16
#16
yeah, thanks.
 
S

sisterinchrist

Guest
#17
#17
when i was trying to stop cutting i would concentrate on the cliched but very true saying that ur body is Gods temple, it made me think that when i was cutting i was hurting god... it really helped me to find other ways to deal with the emotional pain i was going through. its really hard babe but u can do it xxx
 
G

goth4god

Guest
#18
#18
yeah, im just kinda mad at myself cuz i hadnt cut in like a REALLY long time. and then i did! >_<
 
U

unfolding_wings

Guest
#19
#19
I know what you mean goth4god. It's been about 52 days since I last cut, and I know I'm going to be upset if/when I do cut again. *hugs* I'm here if you ever want to talk!
 
U

unfolding_wings

Guest
#20
#20
AussieBritLu said:
Hi unfolding_wings,

It's not that people don't take an interest in your post (though I know some have replied) but some people maybe scared to say anything for fear of being judged. Because surprisingly, some "Christians" will still judge. I am not saying anyone here does. But there is always that fear that they will be judged. Maybe from the past, when they've reached out to someone for help, they have been judged. Therefore feel too scared to mention again anything, for fear of being judged by anyone other than God Himself. Just thought I should say.

People have taken an interest in your topic, as they have done your poll. Just some people may want to keep very quiet about what is going on in their lives, because they've yet to come to terms with what they are doing? For first, they must recognise that they have a problem before they can say anything.

I hope this doesn't seem harsh or anything, I just had to say how some people may be feeling. And what some people may not want to say anything and stay anonymous by doing the poll instead.

But thank you for starting the topic, because I know for a fact that alot of people struggle with aspects of their lives, Christians or not, and may find comfort in knowing they are not alone. And that they may find and receive great advice from you all. They may even find the strength to seek help.

So keep it up and God bless you all so very muchly.
Click to expand...
Oh, I completely understand that Christians still judge others. I am remaining relatively anonymous on here because I don't really want to reveal who I actually am.

I have been quite pleased by the number of people who have responded to the poll, but I realize now that I should have put a "none of the above" option.

I hope that this topic has caused some people to realize that they are not alone and that there are people out there who are willing to talk about their struggles.
 
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