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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Eating Disorders > Anorexia/Eating Disorders > Do I have an eating disorder?
Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 10/26/2009
Question
Many of my family and friends, as well as myself, have been wondering if I have an eating disorder. We can't seem to really place my eating habits under any of the common eating disorders. There are days that I will not eat a thing, this is common for me, and I become weak and will break down and eat, when I eat though I feel very ill. There are also days when I eat quite a lot, the following days I restrict my diet to very small foods (maybe some yogurt or some raisins) or will not eat at all, sometimes I will try my best to burn off the extra calories (this is a characteristic of bulimia?) I'm just not very sure of what is going on with me. I know it doesn't help but I'm a very picky eater; I'm a vegetarian and I HATE milk and eggs. I'm very thin and you can count my ribs, without me "sucking in" and my hips and collar bones stick out, oh, also, you can see the ribs on my chest very clearly. I'm also anemic and get dizzy extremely easily, sometimes I black out. I recently blacked out while getting out of the shower and fell into a wall, this was about a month or so ago and there is still evidence above my eyebrow where I hit the wall. I apologize for my horrible organization of this information but I will be very thankful of any information you can provide. Thank you :)
Answer
Dear Nikki,
My first question is what is your height and weight -- you sound very very thin and ill. My guess would be that you have anorexia combined with some bulimic features. The main thing though is not what we call it, but the fact that you're ill! You're having pretty severe health consequences now which will only get worse. Particularly since you're starting to pass out -- this can be extremely dangerous.
I know when people say, you can die from an eating disorder, lots of people go yeah, yeah. But it's true. In my 20 years of treating eating disorders as a therapist, I have had two people die -- and it's just dreadful. There is no fun or glamour in having anorexia -- it's dangerous and deadly!
Get to a doctor asap -- get a physical and then find a therapist and nutritionist who specializes in eating disorders. You don't have to live like this!
Please keep in touch and let me know how you are.
Warmly,
Jeannie Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol Treatment Centers
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
888-520-1700
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