Expert: Melissa - 7/17/2009

Question
hi melissa,
im 17 and for the last years all i have been thinking about and doing is lossing weight.
It all began when i was diagnosed with a thyroid condition called graves disease. i have to have recent trips to the hospital for it (every 4-6 weeks) and i have to be weighed.
 on my first trip, i was weighed and i was 5'3" and 64kg. im on these steriods for it that makes you gain a little bit of weight. i thought to myself, that i was fat and overweight, i am determined to change.
 then it all really started, my mum was saying stuff like 'your piling on the pounds' she even grapped my hips in public and was saying how much weight i had gained in front of a room full of people she knew.
 not just my mum but also my exboyfriend (my boyfriend when this started) was calling me a fat ugly c*** everyday, he also used to hit me and threaten to leave me if i didnt loose weight.
 my mate (who was anorexic) gave me some advice on how to loose a little bit of weight. so i took her healthy eating advice and stuck to it like glue.
 i have got worse, my weight has come down to 54kg and i still feel fat, i feel sick all the time, just looking at food. my new boyfriend who i have been with for a month and a half says im beautiful and dont need to loose anymore weight. he tells me i should eat properly. but even thought he says these really nice things it still isnt enough!
 i have no breakfast, no dinner either. the only thing i have is lunch which normally consists of an apple and some no fat drink!
 my exanoreic best mate has been saying that i am becoming, if not already, anorexic. so i forces my self to eat a small jacket potato, which didnt stay down long. i dont force myself to be sick (thats why i think im not anorexic) but sometimes it just happens? im confused!
 i used to be a really bubbly person who was always upbeat, now i feel tired all the time, i fall asleep in lesson (which i never used to do), i fall asleep when i get home. i just have no energy! just last night i had a fainting spell, i didnt fully colapse, but the room was spinning and i felt really sick and wobbily!
 but dispite all these bad things, could i just have a common bug and not even be anorexic? no matter what my boyfriend or freinds say, it never seems to be enough! i feel fat and i dont want to be fat anymore, i am doing everything in my power to loose weight, i even stopped taking my steriods to loose weight, even though if i stop them it could put me in a coma, its still not enough to beat my determination to loose weight.
 i am scared that i could die like my mates and boyfriend keep telling me, but i dont want to be fat! i dont want my boyfriend to leave me either because of my fatness! he said he wont because im not fat! he is even begging me to gain weight, but it dont seem enough.
what is wrong with me?
am i actually anorexic?
please help!
kayleigh.
xxx

Answer
It sounds like to me your weight loss/obsession has more to do with the fact that your boyfriend is abusive and screwing with your head.
And now your boyfriend is scared because he sees your health is in danger so he is changing his tune.
For the sake of your health, you need to talk to your medical doctors about what's going on or like they said, you will die.
Melissa