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Anorexia/Eating Disorders/I don't know if I am anorexic ?

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Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 1/23/2011


Question
I am 14, "5'6" and weigh 120.5 pounds. I hate my body and have thought this way since about 6th grade when I would look at all of the "popular girls" and saw that they were skinny and I wasn't. I thought I would need to be skinny in order to be popular. My parents got divorced, and food was one way that I could, in a way, "feed my feelings". I gained around 10 pounds from hiding and eating junk food. Then about a year ago, I lost all of that weight, because I absolutely hated my body. I am very very proud of myself for losing the weight, but now whenever I look at myself I say that I lost that weight so that means that maybe I can loose another 10 pounds ! I absolutely hate my body and I just want to lose weight. I would like to be 110 pounds and I feel like I would be extremely happy. Thank you for your time.

Answer

Jeannie Rust, PhD
Dear Erica,

I'm so sorry that you're so unhappy with yourself and that your self-esteem is so low!  It is terrible to feel that way.

You have figured out the reasons you developed an eating disorder.  I would say that your weight is pretty good right now -- you're slim, not overweight, if anything maybe just a teeny underweight.  Losing another ten pounds could begin to affect you physically as well as emotionally and mentally.

Try to start thinking about what you'd be feeling if you weren't worried about your weight.  Would you be depressed and feeling really sad?  Would you be feeling afraid or anxious?  Are you worried about school, etc.?  These are the kinds of things that are underneath the eating disordered behaviors.

Would you consider seeing a therapist, one who specializes in eating disorders?  She would be able to help you work on your self-esteem and help you realize that being skinny is not the reason girls are popular -- many kids are popular because they're happy and healthy -- they smile a lot and make other people feel good.

Please keep in touch with me and let me know how I can help!

Warmly,
Jeanne Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
8888-520-1700

Jeanne Rust, PhD

Expertise

I have been treating eating disorders for over 25 years and I have a doctorate in clinical psychology. I am an expert in anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders and in co-occurring disorders as well -- depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. I was the official eating disorder therapist for the University of Arizona athletic department and love working with girls and women of all ages! 12 years ago I started my own treatment centers in Arizona where we treat adolescents and adults. I love working with people and have been helping people online since 1994. My hearts go out to the people out there who are unable to find help, who aren't sure whether they need help, and who don't have much of an understanding of the terrible consequences, emotionally and physically, that go hand in hand with the eating disorder. I view eating disorders as coping mechanisms that people use when they are under stress. I believe that eating disorders most times have many similarities whether it is anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. The good news is that people can heal from an eating disorder and learn to create the lives they would like to live.

Experience

I have 25 years of experience in treating eating disorders of all kinds. I also do consultations for people who are starting treatment centers.

Education/Credentials
Northwestern University -- BA Masters in Counseling Doctorate in Clinical Psychology -- Saybrook institute

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