Mind and meaning
When the noise goes quiet
What it is like when a lifelong background hum stops.
Many members describe a constant mental negotiation about food that had been running since childhood, and the strange experience of it stopping. Relief, mostly. Also grief, disorientation, and for some people a real unease at how much of their inner life that hum had been.
This circle is for the whole of that, including when the quiet ends and the hum returns — which happens, and which frightens people badly if they were not told it could.
Who this circle is for
- The mental noise around food has changed for you
- The quiet has ended and you are struggling with its return
- You are unsettled by how much space it was taking up
Agreements here
- We describe our own experience, not what anyone else should feel
- No calorie or intake talk — this circle is about the mind, not the plate
The quiet is not the same as peace
Tansy11 replies
Something I have been sitting with: The quiet is not the same as peace Not looking for advice so much as other people's experience. This is a difficult one to write and I have deleted it…
Ten months of quiet and then a stressful autumn
Anna9 replies
Something I have been sitting with: Ten months of quiet and then a stressful autumn Not looking for advice so much as other people's experience. Not asking anyone to fix this. Mostly…
What happened when I named this in therapy
Freya16 replies
What happened when I named this in therapy — putting it in its own thread so it does not get lost in the check-in. This is a difficult one to write and I have deleted it twice. What I…
Boredom I had been eating over, now visible
Osgar11 replies
Something I have been sitting with: Boredom I had been eating over, now visible Not looking for advice so much as other people's experience. Not asking anyone to fix this. Mostly saying it…
How I explained it to my therapist
Fionnuala17 replies
A question rather than an update: How I explained it to my therapist This is a difficult one to write and I have deleted it twice. Here is where I am. The medication side has been more or…
Is the hum coming back a sign the dose is wrong
Salma14 replies
Something I have been sitting with: Is the hum coming back a sign the dose is wrong Not looking for advice so much as other people's experience. I have been sitting on this for a month. I…
I filled the space with walking and then with reading
Hannah19 replies
I filled the space with walking and then with reading Writing it down partly to work out what I actually think. I have been sitting on this for a month. I have written down what has…
I miss looking forward to dinner
Brammy16 replies
I miss looking forward to dinner Writing it down partly to work out what I actually think. Not asking anyone to fix this. Mostly saying it out loud somewhere it will be read kindly. I have…
The first fortnight of quiet was disorienting rather than nice
Bronte18 replies
Something I have been sitting with: The first fortnight of quiet was disorienting rather than nice Not looking for advice so much as other people's experience. Not asking anyone to fix…
My relationship with cooking changed completely
Tavish13 replies
A question rather than an update: My relationship with cooking changed completely This is a difficult one to write and I have deleted it twice. I have read the guides here, which were more…
I did not know other people did not have this
Rin19 replies
I did not know other people did not have this Writing it down partly to work out what I actually think. Not asking anyone to fix this. Mostly saying it out loud somewhere it will be read…
Thirty years of negotiation, and then silence
Rin18 replies
A question rather than an update: Thirty years of negotiation, and then silence This is a difficult one to write and I have deleted it twice. Here is where I am. The medication side has…
Grief at losing something I hated
Tinuke17 replies
Grief at losing something I hated Writing it down partly to work out what I actually think. I have been sitting on this for a month. Here is where I am. The medication side has been more…
What was underneath it, once it went
Izzy11 replies
What was underneath it, once it went — putting it in its own thread so it does not get lost in the check-in. This is a difficult one to write and I have deleted it twice. The thing that…