Expert: Leigh-Anne Persing, PA-C - 11/7/2006

Question
I have been struggling for a very long time. When I got into my freshman year of highschool i started to develop. Weight began to be put on, metabolism slowed down. I was in 3 sports st the time yet i felt overwhelmed by what was happening to my body. I heard about anorexia and i knew with my eating habits i was unable to stop eating or to slow it down. When i heard you could eat what you want and then get rid of it, i fell into its control. I have been off and on, depending on my day, or what i feel i need to do to look good. I am so sick and tired of dealing with it and want to stop but my mind seems to comtiue to over power me. I am now a sophmore in college and its alomst worse now than its ever been. I sometimes puke 4 to 5 times a days. I try to eat and tell myself its ok and that i need it to live and get over this, but i always end up purging. I hate that I have to do it, and the feeling is so horrible. I am so tired of feeling this way and want to get over it, but I'm hoping i can do so without a therapist. Do you know anything I can do mentally, physically(that can fit into my schedule), so I can overcome the hardest and scariest thing I have ever had to deal with. I don't want to end up dead or haveing problems the rest of my life because of this, please help me.

Answer
It's hard to deal with this without having some type of therapy. You need to deal with the real reason why all of this started and it won't likely be properly dealt with nless you enter therapy. However, I can relate to your need/want to try to deal with it on your own. Your best bet and trying to change your ways on your own is to come up with a very stringent routine: what you are going to eat and when. Keep yourself busy all of the time... when you are not working or studying keep yourself busy with other things (hobbies, exercise, reading, journaling, etc). If you are still in school there is probably a school counselor you can see on a confidential basis. It's a good way to start trying to sort through the feelings and emotions involved with your eating disorder.

If it hasn't already, the amount you are purging will soon catch up with you and you will begin to see/feel the effects of your disorder and it will start to take a toll on your body.

Good luck, and if I can be of any more assistance please let me know.