Binge Eating Disorder and Concern Trolling

Binge eating disorder and concern trolling is common. When you have an eating disorder, like binge eating disorder, sometimes people act like you're incapable of taking care of yourself and you need as much help as you can get. This "concern," however, is infantilizing, humiliating, and does not do any actual good. Of course, a lot of people don't realize that what they're doing is unneeded, harmful and just concern trolling for binge eating disorder. They think they're helping.

What Does Concern Trolling Look Like for Binge Eating Disorder?

Concern trolling can take on many forms, but this type involves someone undermining a person's wishes, needs, and desires under the guise of being concerned about their health. This behavior can take on many forms when it relates to binge eating disorder. I have had people tell me to eat more food because I didn't consume enough for a full meal and they don't want me to be malnourished. I have also had people tell me to eat less food or else I'm going to get a stomach ache and feel sick.

Although these people claim to be coming from a place of care, both treat me as if I'm unable to choose for myself how much food I want to eat or know my limits. Also, neither person in this scenario had even a passing knowledge of gastric sleeve surgery or healthy eating habits for people who have undergone it. While they wanted what was best for my health, they intruded into my personal choices to dictate to me what I should be doing when they have no knowledge of abilities that would make them a better judge of it than I am.

How to Deal with Concern Trolls When You Have Binge Eating Disorder?

Concern trolls, by their own admission, are trying to help you. They think that they are doing good by reminding you of your limitations and guiding you to healthier eating when they know that you have a recognized eating disorder like binge eating disorder. As such, it usually works to remind concern trolls of the following facts about binge eating disorder:

1. You are an adult and you can make your own eating choices without their help.
2. They are not a doctor and should not be handing out medical advice.
3. They are not your doctor and have no clue about your, specific, medical history.
4. It's alienating and condescending for an adult to tell another grown person what they should or should not be putting into their bodies.

Usually, gentle redirection helps to remind people that they don't know what's best for you and it's insulting and harmful for them to pretend that they do. Othertimes it only works briefly because the person in question can't overcome their controlling behavior.

When Eating in Public with Binge Eating Disorder Becomes a Battlefield

When you're very open about your mental health issues, like binge eating disorder, some people interpret it that you are asking for help in your daily life. However, no one ever solved someone else's eating disorder because that's just not possible. No one directing your eating is going to fix the problems that you go through. While most people who concern troll are doing it from a place of genuine feeling, it's unfair to you to be treated as if you are incapable of making your own choices. If you allow it, it gives the false impression that their behavior is helpful or needed. In the end, your eating habits are your own and you have to make your own choices, whether other people like that or not.

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