Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 10/24/2010

Question
Hi Dr. Rust,
I have had issues with eating since I was 14 years old (i'm now 20). Its always been in the back of my mind that I have some sort of problem, but only recently, in the last year-year and a half i guess I've grown to be somewhat concerned. I've never been to a doctor or diagnosed as anything but these are my current eating habits..
I'll go for weeks and/or months at a time restricting my calories to under 400 a day. I always try and plan what I am going to eat and if I go over or think I've eaten to much, I almost have a panic attack and get extremely nervous. When I am home from school(thursday-sunday) i take laxatives even if i have eaten under 400 calories or if I feel like I have gone over. When I was younger, I used to try to throw up but I can't, and sometimes I try now and have recently but I cant. Whenever I eat, even if its a small amount, I feel sick. I always drink coffee and tea and energy drinks because caffeine seems to make me not hungry.
I am a normal weight. nowhere near being under weight, and I get my period, but lately its been coming a week or so early (which it never has before) When I am not restricitng my calories, I feel like a failure and usually go through cycles of eating a lot and I feel so guilty and depressed. when I am restricting I feel so in control and comfortable. Food is on my mind all the time, 24/7.
Because Im not underweight, no one ever thinks anything is going on, and I dont feel like I have a problem because of the way I look.
Do I have Ednos or do I just have weird habits? If I do, where would I go to be diagnosed if i dont have a dr.?
Thanks,I appreciate it.

Answer
Hi, Caitlin!

I would love to know your height and weight to begin with.  I know that eating only 400 calories a day can have profound medical effects on a person.  The people in concentration camps in World War II only were given 800 calories a day and they looked like living skeletons.

Since you're talking laxatives, you could be consider bulimic as well as anorexic.  Technically you are EDNOS because you don't have all of the criteria right nos -- but let's not wait to find out!

What town do you live in?  You could go to www.edreferral.com and find a therapist in your town who specializes in eating disorders.  She/he would then send you to a doctor and probably a nutritionist.  Now is the time, my dear, to get well.

The good news is that you can be well, be thin, and not have to use eating disordered behaviors to be there!

Warmly,
Jeanne Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol, Inc.
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
1-888-520-1700