Anorexia/Eating Disorders/Anorexia

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Expert: Melissa - 8/12/2008


Question
While I was doing laundry I discovered diet pills in my daughters purse that she left in the laundry room. I was taking it up to her when I dropped her purse and found them. The past month I noticed a diffrence in how she acted and she also had been looking skinnier to me. When she went out with friends I did what I thought I never would have to do and that is snoop in her bedroom. I found a journal that was labeled weight goals. I glanced in it and noticed she had been keeping track of her calories intake, amount of exersize she done, and her weight. Accoring to her journal some days she don't eat more then three hundred calories and she has lost a total of 17 pounds in the last seven weeks. I looked up the symptoms for anorexics and bulimics but I'm not really sure what to make of it. Should I confront my daughter? She will be 16 in a couple weeks so I don't know if I should consult someone before I confront her about it or what. What would you suggest thanks.

Answer
Hi Rachel,
I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. I have been sick and in bed for the last week.

I can't diagnose your daughter or say anything for sure, but in my opinion, it doesn't sound good.

I do think you should confront your daughter. Diet pills can be very dangerous, especially at her age. Her rapid weight loss is also a very concerning sign.

I struggled with an eating disorder 5 years ago. I lost 30 lbs in a short period of time and my dad never said a word, even at my lowest weight. To this day, that really hurts me and it's hard for me to look at him the same way. I think it's important that you confront her but before you do, educate yourself on eating disorders.
I encourage you to read this website and the information they provide as to how to approach this subject:

http://www.something-fishy.org/helping/whatyoucando.php

This link in particular will bring you to a page that tells you how to and how not to confront her:
http://www.something-fishy.org/helping/yourapproach.php

Good luck and let me know if I can help further.

Anorexia/Eating Disorders

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Melissa

Expertise

I battled anorexia and bulimia for 6 years. I am not a doctor, but I learned a lot about the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of having an eating disorder and how scary it is to feel like you are alone in your illness. You are not alone. I can answer questions based on my experience with anything relating to anorexia and/or bulimia. I can provide information on treatment options, some specific treatment centers, resources that may help you find a treatment center, and my opinion on all of the above. I was a patient at a few outpatient and inpatient programs so I am happy to answer questions about those experiences. I am not affiliated with any of the resources I may provide. It’s strictly my opinion based on my experiences. I can NOT answer medical questions. I will NOT answer questions on how to become anorexic or bulimic or how to lose weight in an unhealthy matter.

Experience

I have recovered from a six year struggle with both anorexia and bulimia. I hope my experiences and the time I spent in and out of treatment will encourage others to never give up. I never thought I would or could recover because I couldn’t picture myself ever having a normal relationship with food. Since then, I have grown and learned that I can overcome what I once thought was impossible. Hold on to the idea that recovery is attainable!

Education/Credentials
I am attending college for an unrelated degree.

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