A snapshot of myself:

I am exhausted by being me. I just reached an all time high on the scale today. I have struggled with my weight since I was 8 years old (in my 40's now.) I have a highly addictive personality, so let's just say that overeating is not my only problem. I drink too much; I binge and purge; and I've recently entertained the thought of starting to smoke again after 10 years free from tobacco. I struggle with depression and anxiety. After 5 years of trying to find the right combination of antidepressants for me, I swear my doctor would give up on me if he could. I have been to counselors, but have this horrible pattern of telling them what they want to hear because, frankly, I am embarassed by my inability to control myself. (Ironic for someone who is constantly labeled as a control freak). My environment is one that requires me to be a constant caretaker, so I repeatedly use food and alcohol as a method of numbing that feeling of being trapped in my life.

I need support that I cannot find around me. I need advice and understanding from others who might identify with any number of my issues. I want to lose about 45 pounds and I feel like I have to quit two addictions at once in order to make this happen... a daunting endeavor.

Anyone else out there??????

Sorry to hear you are struggling so much Well done on giving up smoking - keep up with that.

You will find a lot of support on the chicks in control forum and the anxiety and depression forum and some good advice there. I suffer from anxiety and from a binge eating disorder, also have an addictive personality (I don't think anyone would believe the way I misused food over the years when I am so against people using alcohol, drugs etc, in that way I convinced everyone it was pregnancy weight I couldn't lose). so I know what a battle it is. It certainly takes a lot of control to fight binge eating but to fight everything else you're dealing with - I just can't imagine.

I found I was using food to numb my feelings, and now I've stopped (most the time but only recently) I find it very difficult to feel out of control emotions but I'm having to learn to.

Hope you find the support and advice you need. I have found plenty of help here.

I'm new here too....and I totally understand what you are saying.

Here's hoping we can support each other!!!

Welcome Melshizzle! Thanks for the hug.

I'm right there with you! Food is my closest, always-there-for-me-when-I'm-down-friend! And I'm struggling with it.
Hope you find all the support you can handle and then some!