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Anorexia/Eating Disorders/What eating disorder could i have and how could i get help?

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Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 5/4/2011


Question
Hi, I'm 13 years old (14 in august). For the past 2 months I have been bingeing and purging. It started out just doing it a couple times a week but now I'm up to on average 3 times per day. For the past week its been 4 or 5 times a day. I don't even really binge that much its just large snacks or meals and I just feel like I need to do it, even if i don't get everything up. I also binged and restricted for about 6 months probably, before I started purging. I have noticed "side effects" from purging and have started to get nervous. I have very bad chest pains, almost constantly a soar throat, swollen glands in my cheeks, a lot of the time I'm lightheaded, and while I was purging yesterday I blacked out and almost fainted. Could I possibly have bulimia or anorexia even though its only been 2 months since I started to purge? And this is starting to scare me because I am really depressed and started to cut myself recently to deal with sadness and anxiety. I think I need help but I don't know where to start. Please help me, I'm sorry if this is too medical to answer.


Thank you,
Nicole

Answer

Jeanne Rust, PhD
Dear Nicole,

I am so glad that you wrote!!  You definitely are bulimic.  Can you tell me your height and weight?  Have you mentioned any of this to your parents?

I'm happy to help you figure out what to do.  You are getting quite severe -- the first thing you need to do is to go to a doctor and have some blood work done.  Your electrolytes are really out of balance.  Almost blacking out is another very serious sign.  The cutting also tells me that your anxiety is serious as well.

Please write me back and like I said, I'll help you!

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

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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