Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 10/17/2009

Question
Hi
I'm a 28 yr old female 5'3" and I currently weigh 97 pounds. Normally I weigh around 107 but recently my fiance stood me up on my wedding day and I've had a hard time coping, thus my weight loss. I find that I obsess over this weight loss because I've always felt I'm too thin even at 107 and obsess over gaining weight. And since I lost more weight, its made me more obsessed. I weigh myself sometimes 2 or 3 times per day and count calories just to be able to gain weight. But in reality I'm not even eating enough to count as one meal per day. I find myself purposely not eating even if I'm hungry when I'm stressed or depressed or angry, which recently has been a lot because of the situation I'm in. But at the same time I feel so miserable about how sickly I look after all this weight loss and that I need to gain weight. Thinking about this has taken over my mind. With your expertise in the field of eating disorders can you tell me if I have a disorder and what is it? Thank you for all your help.

Answer
Dear Worried,

I'm so glad that you wrote!  Yes, you are probably within the weight range to be considered anorexic -- there is one factor that makes your case quite different.

You have suffered a severe trauma -- hence, you're not hungry because of the depression, anger, and possible post-traumatic stress.  I have treated several women who have had boyfriends and fiances leave them either on a wedding day or moving out when they were at work.  This truly counts as a severe trauma.

A couple of things you can do -- first of all see your doctor or a psychiatrist and see about getting some medication.  It would be really appropriate for you while you're healing from this.  Also find a therapist who deals with trauma and eating disorders.

I'm so sorry this happened to you..  It's horrible!

Please let me know how you do!!

Warmly,
Jeannie Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol Recovery Programs
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com