Expert: Joanne - 12/11/2008

Question
Hi i have been struggling with my e.d for the past couple years i recently started to see a therapist to takle all my problems ( not eating in general) last year my anorexia got really bad at the end be4 i decided it was time to get help i was in bed for 2 days not being able to get up because i was to weak my heath along with m y heart were about to give up and i knew i had to start getting better for my son who for a year i was to weak to play with and pick up. Now alot stronger physicly menatlly i still struggle every week i struggle with eating and i have seem to get myself in a patern where i will restrict for 2 days and than i will eat on the 3rd day so out of the week i eat 2 times and restrict 5 times in my head its ok cause im eating at least twice a week is this alright??

Thank you

Answer
Hi Jess

The fact that you are here asking about your eating patterns means that you know that it is not normal, nor ok.

You mention that you see a therapist, which is excellent, and it is important to deal with all your problems as they are most likely causing the eating disorder, but at the moment, it seems that you may be struggling a lot physically.  I think at this point in time, it may be worth trying to focus on the eating disorder first and get help trying to break the cycle you have got yourself into before trying to deal with the other issues.  Many of the issues that you are dealing with in therapy may cause your eating pattern to worsen when you are made to think about them and work through them initially, so it can be a good idea to get to a place where you are physically coping better with the eating disorder before trying to deal with the problems behind it.

Restricting is never a good idea, and alternating it with days in which you eat normally can really put a strain on your body as it is having to deal with having no food to run on for a few days, and then it has to use energy to try and digest the food that you are eating a few days later.  Yes, it is better that you are eating some days and not restricting all the time, but you know that it is still not good for you and you are still causing a lot of damage to your body.

I don't want you to get better for your son, but also for yourself.  Think about what you are missing out on when you are so low on energy, etc.  What happens if you don't live to see your son grow up, or you end up so weak that you end up hospitalised confined to bed?  You need to get better for yourself, first and foremost, but this eating disorder isn't just about what it is doing you, but the effects that it may have on your family.  

I think that you need to visit your doctor and ask to be referred to specialist eating disorder facilities or even health professionals within your area that can help you build eating plans, keep an eye on your health, and help you work on overcoming the problems you have with food, eating and everything that has caused them!

Joanne