Expert: Joanne - 12/11/2007

Question
Hi,
my name is Ivy. I'm 14, about 5'4 and I weigh about 94lbs fully dressed. I've lost about 20 lbs since last Christmas. I know I have some symptoms of anorexia, but I have always been skinny and have never thought of myself as fat. Sometimes I just don't feel like eating, sometimes it makes me feel sick to eat. I get cold flashes and weak spells, but I've never missed a period and I don't see any causes for my eating disorder. I do suffer from depression, but my doctor sees no reason for me to be depressed or loosing weight. I don't see any conections between me and the causes for eating disorders listed on the internet. People always say I'm too skinny and people at school say I'm anorexic. Do you think I'm anorexic?

Answer
Ivy

Eating disorders are often more to do with the thoughts behind the behaviours rather than the behaviours themselves.

By sounds of it, there is a chance that this may be a loss of appetite due to your depression rather than an eating disorder of its own right.  I do think that you should maybe talk to your Dr about this though and ask to be assessed for an eating disorder though, just so that if it is, they can start treatment for it as soon as possible.

If it is linked to the depression instead, you need to have the depression treated.  Sometimes there is no obvious reason for depression.  Some people just seem to be more vulnerable to it than others.  For some, it takes a huge negative incident to occur to cause depression, others it may take a few more minor things, and then for a few, everyday life can be enough.  You may never find an exact reason for you having depression, but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be treated

Please visit your Dr and ask for help!  If he doesn't feel that he can give you it, he should be referring you to someone that can!

All the best
Holly