Introduction to Daina Frame, Author of ‘Binge Eating Recovery’

I’m Daina Frame, and I’m excited to join HealthyPlace and Binge Eating Recovery to write about my recovery with eating disorders. I am 34 years old, and I have struggled with eating disorders for almost 20 years. I only began talking about my disorders a year ago. Until then, I hid everything from everyone I know. I had always feared being honest about binge eating, bulimia, and anorexia. I was ashamed and scared to talk about the truth. While I have been able to stop purging and restricting, I still am working through binge eating disorder. In addition to eating disorders, I am in the process of recovery for bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Daina Frame’s Eating Disorder Recovery

I turned to food for comfort, escape, or relief. I have been overweight my entire life. I especially overeat when I am depressed. I also tend to binge when I feel out of control, overwhelmed, or anxious. As a mom of three kids, this is a fairly constant state. Binge eating disorder (BED) is the starting point of my eating disorders. I will binge, and as I gain weight, I become depressed, angry, etc. and I turn to bulimia and ultimately anorexia to lose the weight. I knew I had to stop this cycle when my hair began falling out. I also saw the look on my daughter’s face when she saw me eat for the first time in weeks: relief. While all of my triggers are still a factor in everyday life, I am committed to being healthy – for myself first and my children.

Honesty Is Helping Daina Frame Heal from Binge Eating Recovery

For 20 years, I was terrified of being honest about binge eating. By keeping quiet, I perpetuated the cycles that led me to bingeing. Since talking to my doctors, family, and friends, I am finding it easier to recover. I have tried many times before, but I would ultimately slip back into old patterns. Having the ability to talk openly and honestly about everything I am going through helps and I am hopeful to share my story and insights with the readers of Binge Eating Recovery. I’ve incorporated yoga, meditation, writing, and journaling as my tools to understanding myself, my triggers, and illnesses. They also are helping me become the person I have always wanted to be: happy. I’ve spent a lot of time being dependent on my reflection and numbers on a scale to dictate my happiness and I can’t live that way anymore.

Binge Eating Recovery Is a New Beginning Every Day

Life is about making today better than yesterday, every day. There’s no other choice.

My ex-husband told me this one day as I was sobbing to him, frustrated with how I was not getting better. Those words inspired every baby step I take, every day. I am letting go of holding myself to impossible standards in every facet of my life. The most important lesson I have learned in this journey is I cannot get anywhere if I don’t love myself. So, yes, I’m not skinny, I’m not at the weight I’d like to be, but it doesn’t matter. I’d rather live a few pounds heavier then lose out on my life as I have been for so long. I also want to be an example for my kids. I want to show them, by example, how to love themselves and not allow the opinions of others affect how they feel about themselves. I am hopeful, too, by sharing my story of eating disorder recovery I can help others find love and healing. I spent a lot of time ashamed of myself and I’d love to help as many people as I can overcome their shame, too.

More About Binge Eating Recovery and Daina Frame

Daina Frame shares more about her binge eating recovery and what she wants readers to get from this blog.