Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 9/17/2011

Question
For about 2 years now i have what all my friends are saying is anorexia. It seemed to start off slowly it wasnt noticable...then I just stopped eating. I lost 10 pounds in less than three weeks. I then had a siezure and my mom took me to the doctor and they monitored my eating for awhile until I gained that back. I then decided that if I was gong to do anything it had to be subtle. So it was subtle. I weighed 138 now I weigh 120. People are commenting on my "thiness" and teling me to eat and they basically shove food down my throat sometimes.I have used purging, restricting, laxatives, weight loss pills and exercise. Im so scared to be fat mostly because I dont want to loose control :'( Im still 99% convinced Im fine and nothing is really wrong with my eating habits. Im so sad and when I dont eat for a day or 2 it makes me happy, I know tha may sound odd but it does. I dont know what to do. No one really sees me for me and no one can see that this helps me not fell so..depressed. I could really use your input. Please.

Answer
Dear Nicole,

This is so weird because I've answered your questions before -- but you must not have gotten the email!! I'm so sorry!

You are essentially anorexic and bulimic.  I hope I can bring you out of denial by saying that everything is not fine.  Eating disorders are conditions that will kill people.  All of the methods you're using -- restricting, purging, laxatives, diet pills, and exercise -- all are ways to keep from gaining weight that are actually quite harmful.  Over some time, maybe not immediately, you'll begin to have medical consequences.  You know yourself (otherwise you wouldn't be writing me) that what you're doing is eating disordered behavior.

I'm also hearing you quite loudly -- you don't want to lose control and you feel no one can see you for you.  You feel depressed -- and depression and anxiety certainly go along with an eating disorder as does low self-esteem.

Would you believe me if I told you that you can still be in control and not have to use an eating disorder and a scale to do that?  You can still be thin, exercise normally, and not have to purge or restrict.  You can control the healthy you are.

I would suggest that you find a therapist who specializes in eating disorders.  Go to www.edreferral.com.  If a therapist is out of the question, write me back right away and we'll go to plan B!

I'm so glad you wrote!

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