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Anorexia/Eating Disorders/purging anorexia + water fast

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Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 11/14/2009


Question
Hi to give a brief history - ive had anorexia for 6 years and more recently (the last year) its developed into purging anorexia. Im binging and purging 10-15 times per day.Im desperate to break the cycle, im under suicide watch from my local crisis team,because i cannot cope with the b/p. The only way i can stop it is by restricting or water fasting. Im no longer hugely under weight, my height is 167.5 and im 90 lbs (im female,21years old) I wil watch i dont lose too much weight,as this always leads to me being detained and in a coma twise. But... my question is, Why am i gaining weight from restricting/water fast? will i carry on gaining weight just from water, i dont understand? this doesnt normally happen.

please can you help me,i would be very greatful
Thankyou very much
marie

Answer

jeannie Rust, PhD
Dear Marie,

You have been very ill!  When a person starts to stop purging, there is always weight gain because you're retaining fluids.  It's hard, I know -- but in order to begin to heal, you just need to begin to do what the doctors and nutritionists are telling you to do.  I hope you're seeing a therapist or psychologist who specializes in eating disorders.  It sounds like you've had some close calls -- I don't think you want to die, or you wouldn't be writing -- but eating disorders kill people.  I have seen it happen a couple of times -- and I have the utmost respect for them.  They steal people's lives.  As long as you're completely involved in food, what you're going to eat or drink, weighing yourself, etc., you won't have a life --it'll be all eating disorder.

The good news is that you can recover completely.  You can be thin and not have to use an eating disorder to do this!

Warmly,
Jeannie Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol Recovery Centers
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
888-520-1700

Jeanne Rust, PhD

Expertise

I have been treating eating disorders for over 25 years and I have a doctorate in clinical psychology. I am an expert in anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders and in co-occurring disorders as well -- depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. I was the official eating disorder therapist for the University of Arizona athletic department and love working with girls and women of all ages! 12 years ago I started my own treatment centers in Arizona where we treat adolescents and adults. I love working with people and have been helping people online since 1994. My hearts go out to the people out there who are unable to find help, who aren't sure whether they need help, and who don't have much of an understanding of the terrible consequences, emotionally and physically, that go hand in hand with the eating disorder. I view eating disorders as coping mechanisms that people use when they are under stress. I believe that eating disorders most times have many similarities whether it is anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. The good news is that people can heal from an eating disorder and learn to create the lives they would like to live.

Experience

I have 25 years of experience in treating eating disorders of all kinds. I also do consultations for people who are starting treatment centers.

Education/Credentials
Northwestern University -- BA Masters in Counseling Doctorate in Clinical Psychology -- Saybrook institute

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