Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 9/7/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I've always had a strange relationship with food, but this last year it changed. At first I vomited whatever I ate, and I still purge but not often and only when I'm home alone. But I started to become obsessed with my weight and what I ate, the calories and fat in all food even the food I wasn't eating. I'm unable to eat anything without feeling really bad about it, to the point that I'm ready to cry. I can just feel the fat settling in on my huge fatty body. I'd say I eat about 100-500 calories a day. And some days I just don't eat. And some days I over eat and stuff down a good 1000-1500 calories. It's like a bug that has gotten in to my head and i don't know what to do. Over the last two-three months I've lost about 30 pounds. I know it's not a lot, but still. I know I can't have an eating disorder, because I'm waaay to fat for that, I'm 5'5 and weigh 134 pounds. I don't want my mom or sister to ask me stuff, so I tell them I've eaten or I force a small amount of food down my throat, and take forever to eat it so they'll think I ate more, but I only eat with them once every two weeks or so, if even that. It annoys me if anyone comment on my body, and I get angry at them. I've been having crazy moodswings also, and gets mad about everything!
Sorry for just rambling, but I wanted to know if it's normal or just a bit odd?
/Jessica

ANSWER: Dear Jessica,

What you're experiencing is not normal nor odd!  You  do have an eating disorder.  Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified -- EDNOS.  You have a lot of the behaviors and have had a recent large drop in weight.  You have literally thrown your body into starvation mode --

An eating disorder has nothing to do with weight!  Just a minute, I'll say that again -- An eating disorder has nothing to do with weight.  You're very sensitive around your family and friends around your weight because there's a big part of you that wants to keep it all secret.  The moodswings are all part of the eating disorder.  You're not getting the kind of nutrition you need to have your body and brain operate normally.

Sweden is one of the few European countries that treats eating disorders very well!  There are a number of researchers and wonderful therapists there so you can get some help.  Being an anorexic is no fun -- & I suspect that's one of the reasons you're writing me.

Please keep in touch and let's figure out what it is that you need to do right now.

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

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again,
Thank you for taking your time to answer me, really nice of you.
It made me think some. Like if it's only EDNOS (what ever that means/is), then it can't be serious, right?
Because it's not like I'm anorexic, right? And since it's not serious, I don't need help, which I couldn't get anyway since I'm only 17 and don't want my parents involved.
About putting my body in to starvation mode, if I'm eating 100-500 a day, then it's not starvation mode. And starvation mode is only like if I don't eat at all for a few days.

Hope you'll answer me again,
/Jessica

ANSWER: Dear Jessica,

EDNOS is just as dangerous as anorexia or bulimia!  People can still become very ill or die from it.  You do need help!!  Eating nothing at all is starvation and eating 100-500 calories a day is starvation.  Eating 800 calories a day is starvation.

Here is some interesting information for you --

In Eating Disorders Not Otherwise  Specified, the “not otherwise specified” label often suggests to people that these disorders are not as important, as serious, or as common as anorexia or bulimia nervosa.  This is not true.  Far more individuals suffer from EDNOS than from bulimia and anorexia combined, and the risks associated with having EDNOS are often just as profound as with anorexia or bulimia because many people with EDNOS engage in the same risky, damaging behaviors seen in other eating disorders.

Individuals with EDNOS who are losing weight and restricting their caloric intake often report the same fears and obsessions as patients with anorexia.  They may be overly driven to be thin, have very disturbed body image, restrict their caloric intake to unnatural and unhealthy limits, and may eventually suffer the same psychological, physiological and social consequences of anorexic people.  Those who binge, purge, or binge and purge typically report the same concerns as people with bulimia, namely, that they feel they need to purge to control their weight, that they are afraid of getting out of control with their eating, and that bingeing and/or purging often turn into a very addictive, yet ineffective coping strategy that they feel they can not do without.  In all meaningful ways, people with EDNOS are very similar to those with anorexia or bulimia, and are just as likely to require extensive, specialized, multidisciplinary treatment.

Please get some help.  Start at your school or with an adult that you trust.  Let me know how I can help!

Warmly,
Jeanne

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jeanne,
Thanks again for answering me.
You wrote "...social consequences of anorexic people." I would just like to know what they might be.

I've withdrawn myself from almost everyone around me, lost al my friends but two, and avoid being around all people in general (even missed so much school last year, I'm repeating a year). I know they just see me and go: Look how fat she is! so that's also why I don't buy new clothes anymore, unless being forced.
I know people judge me when I eat, like: how can that fat pig eat? or: Does she really think she needs more food?
So I don't eat at school, or out in public. I try not to eat when I'm with my friends, but they bug me (so I'm not often with them) so I put on a smile and eat, counting all the calories as I'm dying inside.
Now, is this part of the EDNOS or something everybody feels (but some ignore)?

And I don't have anyone I trust, and my school is no good, they're just trying to get all up in my business (made me see the school shrink that told me I was depressed and needed medical help, and then kept bugging me about it).

Oh, and I found an EAT-26 test online, I got 56, is that good or bad? And how often is it normal to weigh yourself? I do it about five times a day.
Also, I get really mad if anyone says anything about my weight or my eating habits, I really snap at them after I've tried to lie to them and they don't believe me, Just me or does it have to do with the EDNOS?
If I eat 800 calories in one day, I gain 1-2 pounds!!

How you can help me? I would LOVE it if you'd keep answering my questions. or maybe you have another site or something you'd rather want me to send you questions... Let me know!
Thank you, it really means a lot having someone to answer my questions that's driving me crazy!

/Jessica

P.s. do I have to go to a doctor to get diagnosed, or are you sure based on what I've told you?

Answer
Dear Jessica,  

Go to a doctor who knows about eating disorders.  I'm sure you're anorexic!  

I'm more than willing to keep talking with you as long as you think about getting some help.  Your school has seen that you're depressed.  Depression goes hand in hand with the eating disorder.

Please get some help -- I don't want you to die!!

Warmly,
Jeanne