Expert: Joanna Lhulier, Psy.D. - 6/21/2008

Question
i am 20 years old and have had an eating disroder for as long as i can remeber, i switch between anorexia and bullemia. last year i got to a low weight and i started my career as a model. my food was very restrictive and i was very controlled. in April i was sent to model oversees. when i realised that i was smaller than some of the models i decided to treat myself to certain food, like cakes and cookies, and it has totally spiralled out of control. i now eat HUGE amounts of food around 4 times per day and purge it up, i have been doing this for the past month non stop. i kept thinking 'im still skinny, would eat everything and then feel extremely guilty. the problem is i have gained alot of weight very fast (as i have been too exhausted to purge everything i eat up. my face is swollen, my stomach is swollen, when i purge there is always blood, my stomach has so much pain, and my throat is extremely painful, i have burst blood vessels in my face, i dont know what to do. i feel like my body is dying, but i cannot control what i am doing. i havent had my period for two years now, and everytime i eat or drink it is regurgitaed back into my mouth. my tongue is very painful, when i do eat normally my body doesent seem to be able to digest it at all, it seems to just not sit in my stomach and not move.  i no i have to get treatment, but i need to maintain a slightly lower weight than the average person due to my career. what type of treatment should i have? i no i am killing myself, i really need your help, i really dont think group therapy is going to cut it with me, i no i can be really manipulative and lie my way out of just about anything. are there places where you can be physically watched 247?? because i truly feel like i need this. please help

Answer
Hi-
I agree with you, you do need help and immediately.  The good news is that there are many residential facilities that treat only EDs.  The bad news is that you are going to have to take a break from modeling in order to get the necessary treatment.  It sounds like you travel a lot.  First you need to figure out where you want to be while getting treatment.  I would recommend a facility close to where your family is, assuming that they have a facility there.  If not, then somewhere sort of close by b/c the treatment center will want to include your family in the treatment process.  In order to find residential facilities (there are many) you can go to the www.somethingfishy.com.  they have a good treatment finder.
Please go and get help now, you are in a very dangerous place.  Let me know how it goes.  I wish you the best.
Dr. Joanna Lhulier