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How to handle it — body image & eating, in the moment

Moves for when the food or the mirror has its grip on you.

The compulsion's there — to binge, to skip, to undo it — and it's loud.

Right now

  • Ride the urge — it peaks and passes. Set a timer and get out of the kitchen or bathroom.
  • Ring or text someone, or get among people. The urge runs strongest alone.
  • Be gentle, not harsh — shame feeds the cycle, it doesn't break it.

Don't

  • Don't 'start fresh tomorrow' — that thinking keeps the loop going.

Later

  • This is treatable. The Butterfly Foundation 1800 33 4673 is there for exactly this.

More on this → Body image & eating

Body & food: the short version

  1. 1.Urges peak and pass — ride it, get among people.
  2. 2.Step away from the mirror. Your read isn't reliable now.
  3. 3.A slip isn't a failure — don't compensate.
  4. 4.Shame feeds it. Be gentle, carry on.
  5. 5.Treatable — Butterfly Foundation 1800 33 4673.
Doing it tough?Call Lifeline 13 11 14