About Saffron Expertise I can answer most questions related to Anorexia and other eating disordered behaviors. I am not a medical professional but have read a tremendous amount of medical and other information related to eating disorders out of curiosity.
Experience My eating disorder started when I was 15. I was anorexic until the age of 27. I went through periods of being less and more anorexic but I did not have a period for 10 years. I was a very high-functioning anorexic. When I hit about 70 pounds I knew I was at a point where I couldn't continue living a normal life (going to work etc.). I did not want to be hospitalized and I knew I was on a downward spiral. I struggled with severe depression and was given a prescription for an anti-depressant. It was not long after that I was really able to think more clearly and did not have the same level of anxiety and believe it or not, I made a choice. I could die or I could live and let go of my need for such control and not care so much how people perceived me and admit that I did not have to be emaciated to look normal as I had convinced myself. My recover started when I was 27 and I've not been "anorexic" since but I don't think one ever becomes totally free in the food and body area as one was before it all started. But I am very healthy now, not underweight and not overweight and eat healthily.
Education/Credentials I have a BA from an Ivy League college but no professional credentials.
Question hi, since moving away from home last october, I lost weight instantly, not because I tried, I just did, I think it's because back home food was readily available and wholesome. I think I eat sensibly. But within the last few months my eating habits have been out of character- I've become a vegetarian, I chew and spit out packs of biscuits, hack my food up into chunks and chuck must of it away and now I've been eating just 2 bowls of porridge a day with fruit. I don't want to be skinny I just find myself doing these things...
Answer Dear Rosie:
There must be something (perhaps subconscious) that is causing the behavior. Are you sure you're underlying motive isn't to lose weight? Or to maintain this new weight after the weight loss? Why else would you be reluctant to swallow food? Is there anything else going on in your life that may be causing you to use these bizarre food rituals to deal with the stress -sort of as a distraction? Did you become a vegetarian willfully for health or ethical reasons or do you find yourself an accidental vegetarian? It's hard to understand the motivation of this behavior without having more information about your feelings and life and more general context.
But what you are eating is pretty healthy but not necessarily hearty.
Would need to know more before being able to provide any more insight.
