Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 1/11/2010

Question
So, a little background... My eating disorder developed when I was eleven and I went through various stages of anorexia (type 2), over exercising, bulimia, and after an unsuccessful recovery, to the other end of the spectrum, over-eating (This all spanned 10 years). My weight has ranged from 80lbs to 250lbs and I hate to say that now I am towards the top again. I am always careful about my health in the sense that now I am bigger, but I can still go out and walk 5kms around our local lake, or run around with neighborhood kids... BP is always fine, sugar... blood levels... I'm 'healthy' but fat.

But recently, I've found myself having a problem. I'm two years out from actively pursuing/taking part in ED behaviours, but since getting back from a vacation where I ate minimal amounts of food at strict times of the day, I am unable to eat very much (wanted to be finished with lunch after 3 slices of cucumber today, but made myself eat some more for the good of myself)... When I returned from holidays, I spent about 80USD on food to 'restock' my house. I have so much food, and have put it away so prettily in my cupboard, and i love looking at it. But every time I walk in to the kitchen I think " I Have NOTHING to eat!" I can't bring myself to eat anything in my house. I've lost 8lbs in 10 days and while secretly excited, I know that is not okay.

So, basically, I'm not hoarding in the sense that I'm hiding it to binge... but I can't stop buying it. My cupboards are full, and my fridge is full, but I can't eat it. I've also recently had an obsession with going to the gym. I'm always wary of how much I go, because I don't want to become compulsive with it again.

What can I do to try and head this off before it becomes a bigger problem? I should probably state that I live in a remote area of a third world country and thus finding a therapist isn't an option here. I just really want to stop this before it gets worse, or takes off on its own...

Thank you for taking time to read this. I appreciate a response, but understand if you are unable.
Again, Thank you.

Answer
Dear Mel,

It's time for you to find a good therapist or counselor who can help you -- it sounds to me as if you have a type of obsessive-compulsive thing going on.  Ii can't really make the diagnosis -- but I do know that you need some professional help right now.

Let me know what they find out!!  There are medications that can help tremendously with this!

Warmly,
Jeanne Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol, Inc.
888-520-1700
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
@jeanniemirasol
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannerustmirasol