Success story from long-time reader and dear friend!

Although I don't post much anymore, I do read, suffer over, and treasure each and every email I get from readers. Today I received a note from a reader and friend whom I've known for many years because of this blog. She first wrote to me in 2005. She was determined to recover, but she was as doubtful and frightened as anyone who reads this today. In one 2005 email, she wrote:

"I feel soo alone michelle and soo ugly and soo fat and soo dumb, I have absolutely no self esteem left and I dont know what to do. Everyday seems harder and harder to go on... I have everything to be happy about: a new house that my parents bought for me, a dream job, a nice family but somehow I cant get out of this stupid food addiction and I feel soo dumb and soo desperate, everyday I tell myself that things are going to be better but they are not."

Does that sound familiar? I can't express to you just how so many of the emails I get sound exactly the same. Women and men from all over the world, even places so exotic and remote to me, write the same words to me, over and over and over.

In the past year, she has continued to write to me with increasingly hopeful and optimistic words. She even quoted from some of the books I recommend on the blog. She actually reads them! Today, she asked me to post the below note. I'm so incredibly happy for her. She did the work, she did the time, and now she deserves the pride, confidence, and boldness she has earned for having achieved so much!

What I would like to know from her, is what is she going to do now?? What will she focus on? What does she want to achieve and receive and create for herself in her life now? Bulimics are all, by nature (believe it or not), energetic and passionate and focused, once we have something personally meaningful to focus on. This woman is going to be very successful in whatever she finds important to her heart. I hope she will continue to share her exploits, successes and failures (hell, if we aren't failing on occasion, we're probably bored or depressed!!).

"Hello there readers of Michelle's wonderful blog. I wanted to write to you today to tell you a bit of my story and most importantly to bring a message of hope to you: Recovery is possible, recovery is achievable, we just each have to go through our own journey.

 

I was bulimic for 9 long years of my life and I was miserable. I had days when I did not even want to get out of bed because I thought life was not worth living. On those days I wish someone had told me that even though there are bad days, there is hope and that recovery is a process, if you hang on and keep believing you will eventually get there.

 

If you would like to contact me, you can obtain my e-mail from Michelle"

 

with respect,

Me"

 

I'm proud of you, my friend! You kicked some serious bulimia ass!

 

With all my love, pride, and excitement for the next phase of your life!

Michelle Hope

Comments

[jay]

i have binge eating disorder and no one understands me. i am so depressed and don't know what to do. can u help me? can i have your mail?

[me]

Hello Jay. I would love to help you. Please give me your e-mail address and I will get in contact with you. Hang in there... I promise you this will end.

with respect,
Michelle's reader

[tabitha]

hi..im 26 years old..female.i have been bulimic for nine years till now..i really want to recover but i dont know what to do..plis can you help me..can you give me you email.my email is tabithawhite@yahoo.com.plis help me im waiting for your reply

[me]

Calling out to Jay :) Please post your e-mail address here so that I can contact you. I am here for you my friend :)

[me]

Tabitha- I tried to email you but the email bounced back.. is the address in the above comment correct?

[Kiriyama]

Wow..to think I've struggled with eating disorders for years and *no one* bought me a house, nor did I have the money to go to school to get a "dream job" and no one cares about me. I wonder how the people who have nothing and no one they can trust in their lives do at attempting recovery?
Also, I find it rather ironic that as Ive been looking through here, I've been staring at the obnoxious ad where a fat person is illustrated and the caption says "Trick of a Tiny Belly..Click here".
^ I know this comment came across as being bitter, Im really sorry! I didn't mean it to come across that way. I actually have found your writing and your responses to many things refreshingly positive. I appreciate the fact that you have shown practical ways of thinking situations through. The only therapist I could ever afford to help me ( who sucked) was seemingly devoid of logic. I haven't had the opportunity to read a lot of this, but I'm glad I found it.

[Becky]

I there....I am currently struggling with bulimia/binge eating. I would love some advice/help, can I have your email address?

gibbs.becky@gmail.com

[gina]

I've created a blog of my own daily stuggles in hopes of finding a new support group for women struggling with bulimia. Its been a great way for me to put off urges and I think writing about my struggles in the open will be a huge help. Check it out, http://bsblab.blogspot.com

[Jakki Crosser]

I think this is the best thing I have found on the internet as far as helping with bulimia/binge eating. Michelle, I just purchased your guide to recovery. I want it so badly and I feel like it can happen now. I was bulimic for 7 years and haven't purged for 3 years now. However, I still have a problem with depression and binging, usually at the same time.

Thank you so much for having the strength to overcome your addiction, wanting to create this website and actually doing it!

I know this is going to take a lot of hard work, and I do have some questions on just where to begin with my recovery process. The question being.... Where exactly do I begin?

If it is not a bother and I can e-mail you sometime, my e-mail is jadesenglau@gmail.com

Again, thank you so very very much!

[Michelle Hope]

Hello Jakki! Thank you so much for posting and for buying the eBook. I am sending you a proper thank you by email as well.

As most of my readers can attest, I've become terrible about responding to emails. I feel like everything I had to say about recovery is already written here in the blog. I feel increasingly distant from the whole thing as time goes by. If I couldn't provide the magic answer at the time I was actually going through recovery, I certainly can't provide it now. I do believe the answers and guidance you need are here in the blog and in all the books/resources I've posted to the right. I'm sorry!

I'll write to you now . . .

[Jakki Crosser]

Michelle, I completely understand and I am already getting a lot out of reading the eBook. I am really going to delve into this website now and just go for it.

And to anyone else on this website going through recovery that wants an email buddy, please feel free to email me jadesenglau@gmail.com. I have posted things on eating disorder recovery websites before and have felt like I was just writing my thoughts, questions, and feelings into an abyss with no guidance. So, if anyone wants a buddy, I think I could use one :)

I am not the best today by the way, but feeling more hopeful than ever about being able to recover. Thank you again for that.

[Katya]

I am 22 and struggling with bulimia. My condition is pretty serious and I feel like i can't do it on my own;-( Please email: katerina8007@gmail.com

I need support, please, help me save my life

[LynneP]

I have been accepting bulimia for 12 years. I am currently writing from my hospital bed after just being released from the ICU for fatel levels of potassium due to my health. I am not no longer accepting my disease, and I am taking my first conscious, meaninful, personal steps to ending my agony. Can you please help me? I have no idea what to do, but I am willing to do anything to take care of myself and ensure that I have a long life to look forward to with my husband.

[Sydney]

I have not been struggling with this as long as a lot of people but I go day to day thinking I have recovered and I am over it but I find that I am not. I don't know how to heal. I hate myself. I hate everything about myself. I guess what I want is someone to talk to who understands. Counseling doesn't work. They don't understand what its like. I can't open up to anyone either. If you could try to help that would be great.....email: KikeneiHonu@yahoo.com

[Cristina]

I've been bulimia free for a year now, it controlled my life since I was 14, I'm now almost 32 years old. I have two children 9 and 7 they are the reasons I stopped, I'm hoping I didn't cause long term damage, since I've stopped my eyes are now yellowish tinted and I get heart burn a lot, I never thought I would beat this but I'm so glad I have :) I never told anyone about this I was so embarassed and ashamed......

[MMG]

can i have the email address??
grundiigal@yahoo.com

[Jocelyn]

Hello,I have a bulimic daughter and I'm really worry about her health,she even stop schooling, and I dnt know what to do, please help me, she''s only 15yrs old.

[sciencechick]

Can I have the email? runner.4.life@hotmail.com

[steven martinez]

Hi my name is Steven and I have been bulimic for 4 years now. I'm really scared that I will get cancer or some sort. I am willing to finally stop. Can you help me with information on this illness. Thank u. email: sportsfan626@gmail.com