Tag: alcoholism

This Is Why Your Eating Disorder Is Boring

On By Lindsey HallIn Anorexia, Binge Eating, Bulimia, Drunkorexia, Eating Disorders, Orthorexia, Recovery Tips, Rehab Truths, Relationships + ED11 Comments

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My partner and I have been arguing lately.

Likely because we’re at that point in a relationship where our “quirky” personality traits have lost their lusty splendor, and humanized into regular, every day irritations –

I was clearing the table after dinner last night.

In my view (which is, of course, the only one), I’d been helpful. The loving, easygoing girlfriend.

“Shit, did you clean this pan with soap?” I hear from the far side of the kitchen.

The aforementioned monologue in mind, I gripped down on the white plates that now peculiarly resembled killer frisbees:

“Yes.”

An exasperated sigh. “Damn, okay. This one can’t be cleaned with soap or it ruins the bottom.”

He stared at it like a child grieving ice cream that just fell out of the cone.

I lost it in that beautiful way people sometimes do. Slowly, subtly, and then with a rip-roaring bang.

It’s always easy to consider ourselves even-tempered, until we’re not.

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One Month Sober Sally

On By Lindsey HallIn Drunkorexia, Eating Disorders6 Comments

 

1 month sobaaa!

You never know how much wine is a part of your life till you let it go. In 31 days, I’ve gone to a wedding, baby shower, client meeting(s), office party, bar (x3), Halloween, had bad days, good days, happy hour, meetups, brunch, a 3-hour ex “what went wrong” phone call, and multiple Friday night Netflix reruns:

And the truth is I don’t regret any of them. It’s hard to not drink, and it’s hard to eat sober in public with an eating disorder – I thought after a month my skin would look superb and my growing crows feet less rigid- but alas, neither has happened thus far. Assumed that perhaps all the clarity I ever needed about life would come as well- but looks like I’m still working on that too. The beautiful part, however, is that I feel good. I feel healthy when I run. I feel talented right now and productive and mostly, honest.

Working on my eating disorder in the most active way I’ve ever known. I’m pushing myself to be uncomfortable- truly uncomfortable- being sober at times is handling discomfort, and I’m learnin’ how to sit with it.

Got no time limit on sobriety- but for now, I’m incredibly pleased and thankful to be doing this <3

The Truth About Being A Millennial Drunkorexic

On By Lindsey HallIn Drunkorexia, Eating Disorders, Rehab Truths14 Comments

This is Rehab Day 15:

And I’m sitting on the Renfrew community couch writing a letter when Lilly comes in and lays down beside me.

“I’m bored,” she mumbles – her limp hair falling in her face.

“Got a book?” I ask, barely looking over.

“Read them all.”

“Wanna play Bananagrams?”

“God no,” she makes a face. “But I do wanna get drunk.”

“Me too.”

“Like stupid drunk,” she says. “Like blow some shit up drunk.”

I put down the letter. “Okay, well that escalated,” I pause. “But yes, I’d love a Pinot Noir.”

She scoffs. “You and your rich girl sorority shit.” She sticks out her pinky and pretends to hold a champagne flute. “Oh yes sir,” she mimics. “I’ll have a touch of the Rosé if you could ever be so kind.”

I smile. “It’s not really like that, you know. I drink the same way you do, Lil.”

“Out of a bag?”

I snort. “Not anymore. But it’s happened.”

I think back to college frat parties, slapping Franzia bags.

“It’s all the same,” I say. “Everyone just trying to reach some place they can forget.”

She waves her hand at this. “You just don’t really strike me as the type to get all that drunk.”

“You’d be surprised,” I admit. “Got myself a DWI a few years ago. Bet ya didn’t know that?”

Her eyebrows raise. “That’s actually pretty shocking, yeah.”

“Was for my parents too.”

“So you’re a drunk then?”

“No,” I pause. “Not conventionally anyway.”

“Ah – more like a desperate housewife?”

“Something like that.”

“One too many glasses of wine a night?”

“A medicinal drunk, I’d call it. I don’t really need it; just prefer it.”

“A medicinal drunk. Nice,” she grins lazily. “I’ll use that in our next AA.”

“Go for it,” I say. “I’m taking a break from it once I’m out anyway.”

“From AA,” she asks. “Or alcohol?”

“Both, I think,” I say as I scratch my head, readily confirming my suspicions that this couch has lice.

“I need to anyway,” I continue – trying to forget about the lice. “I often drink to not eat so it’s not really something I should keep doing.”

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah – alright then,” she says- plopping her hairy legs in my lap.

I look down. “Have they literally not let you shave since you got here?”

“Three months,” she says. “But yeah, we’ll see about that no alcohol thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m just saying it’s hard,” she pauses. “I’ve been in and out of treatment more times than I can count and it’s hard to give up all your vices. You’re already dealing with your eating shit,” she says. “And you’re doing a good job with that- so just go with it.”

“And I’m not smoking,” I add smugly.

“Yeah well,” she pauses. “Don’t get pentecostal.” She lays her head back on a pillow- her tangled headphones on her chest. “I just think it’s harder than you know, to be back in the world and sober.” She nestles one of the earbuds in her ear. “Even if you are some yuppy bitch from Texas, you’ll want to go out with your friends.”

I smile. “Thanks for the advice.”

But she’s already lost in her world of Wu Tang Clan.

Leaning my head against the wall that day, I wonder if she’s right.

I wonder if I even mean what I’ve said:

It takes me 2 years to realize, I didn’t.

—

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