Anorexia/Eating Disorders/am i anorexic?

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Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 12/23/2009


Question
hi im kate and im 13 and 8month. i weigh 112lbs and want to lose 26lbs. i know that sounds like a lot but i hate my body. i h8 my stomach cos its so lumpy, my butt cos its massive and basicly everywhere else. ive been obsessivly counting calories, weighing food and restricting my intake of kcals. im just sick of feeling fat all the time and ive been worried since i was 11. now ive finally got the hang of dieting and dont wanna give up untill im happy with my body.
do u fink im anorexic or just posting this cos im a hypocondriact?
plz answrr
love KateXx

Answer

Jeannie Rust, PhD
Dear Kate,

I'm so sorry that you feel like you need to lose so much weight.  I don't know how tall you are, but anyone who is 112 pounds is not fat.  It sounds to me as if you do have anorexia.

What I'm wondering is, if you weren't spending so much time hating your body, what would you be feeling?  What else could be going on in your life that could be making you unhappy?  An eating disorder is a coping mechanism.  People learn to use an eating disorder as a way of coping with stress and bad feelings in their lives.

Another question would be, if you weren't feeling fat, what would you be feeling?

It would be wonderful if you could see a therapist who specializes in eating disorders before you get really ill and your life is dramatically disrupted!  What happens is that anorexics never think they're thin enough -- even when they keep on losing more and more weight.  It is a disease that will kill you!

Let me know how you do, Kate.

Warmly,
Jeannie Rust, PhD
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
888-520-1700
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    Commentthanks a whole bunch for ansering my question, (i am 5ft 4 by the way ) it helped me to work out that mabye i am anorexic and i will talk to my therapist about it as i alredy have one 4 depression. thanks again Kate


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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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