Expert: Ginger - 7/29/2010

Question
Hi my name is Jessica and I am 17. I have always had bad eating habits like skipping lunch every day even dinner. I know my ninjas noticed little things but this past year it's gotten extremly worse. I have gone to extreme like using laxatives and water pills. I get head achs alot and I am always cold and tired. Iwabt to tell my mom this I just don't know how. My mom was bulimic and it would kill her if she found out I have been doing all that and making myself throw up my food. What I am asking is how should I tell my mom with out her being extremly disappointed?

    Thanks Jessica

Answer
Hi Jessica,

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, but glad you recognize that what you're doing isn't normal and want to tell your mom. The bad news is that there's probably not an easy way to do it. I know you think she'll be extremely disappointed, but I can promise you, she would be so much more disappointed if you ended up in hospital because of the laxatives/water pills/not eating/etc. Could you maybe write her a letter? You could explain to her how nervous you are about telling her because you don't want her to feel disappointed, but that you need her help. Your mom was bulimic herself, so I'm sure she will understand where you're coming from (maybe she even felt the same way with her own mom). Having your dad or a sibling or another relative you're close with talk to your mom for you might also be an option. If you live with your mom, she might already suspect something is going on, because she knows how to recognize signs of an eating disorder, having had one herself. I think her main reaction, when you tell her, is not going to be disappointment as much as it will be concern for you.

You're definitely doing the right thing in telling your mom. Abuse of laxatives and water pills is dangerous and can do serious damage to your body.

Good luck, Jessica,

Ginger