Expert: Meg - 5/6/2004

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I get told im anorexic at skool and its bugging me.  I dont like sandwiches or most of skools lunches so i dont usually eat at skool. i dont like milk. and i am in 8th grade. i am the smallest in my class i weight 73 pounds. i am 4"6 and most of my friends weight 100 summ and are 5"6 or so.  now that people call me that i am gonna start i just dont know how to i mean it shouldnt be hard. skools almost over and they will see what anerixic looks like!


-britney
Answer -
Hi Britney-

I'm not exactly sure what your question is, however I will try to address it as well as possible and if I'm not giving you the information you are needing...please email me another question.

It sounds like you are tired of people commenting on your weight/body at school (since you are the smallest in your grade) and that because of this...you are wanting to become anorexic over the summer?  I truly hope that is not the case, as anorexia is really a serious illness that not only makes you physically sick but also makes having a normal social life, a boyfriend, etc virtually impossible.  Please do not let some immature people at school have that much influence on you.

I remember how difficult middle school was and how just about everyone (even the so called *cool* kids) felt awkward.  Its kind of an inbetween time and its really natural to feel a little weird as you're between being a kid and being an adult and that is a difficult transition.  That said, this is no reason to make yourself sick or mess up your life...especially at the expense of some kids who probably are just feeling badly themselves and are making fun of you (and others) because they, themselves are insecure.  

I also bet that as you begin high school, you will see that people stop some of that immature behavior and begin to focus on other things (sports, dating, activities, clubs, etc).  It does get easier...I promise.

In the meantime, all I can say is that you have choices.  Always.  Yes, you can choose to have a crappy summer and make yourself sick, but that would be sad.  You can also choose to have a fun summer, spend time with your friends, do fun things and NOT let people's lame comments get in the way of enjoying your 3 month vacation.  I highly suggest going with the second option.

If you need more information about dealing/fighting eating disorders or information on how to get help for this type of thing, the Something's Fishy Website www.something-fishy.com or else ANAD www.anad.org both are full of good information.

I hope that I've at least sort of addressed your question an again apologize if I have not.  Please do let me know.

Take care of yourself and have a fun and healthy summer.  Its really so much more worth it.

Best,
Meg

thanks meg! i will just not eat at school then over the summer ill eat normal and when i am at home to show the kids at school what it looks like to be anerixoc.  well why did u deside to become anerixioc?
THANKS AGAIN BRITNEY
Answer -
Hi Britney-

Ack, I think I just sent you two responses (sorry).  I am so not good with computers sometimes.

In any case, there are many reasons that would cause someone to become anorexic-and none of them are good or healthy really.  Generally, it comes from feeling really badly about yourself and wanting to assert your control or voice-but not having a good way to do that.  Remember, anorexia is NOT cool...it is a disease that can kill you.  
Being anorexic is not going to help the kids at school like you and I really recommend finding other ways to use your voice and assert yourself.  I feel like letting their lame comments cause you to hurt yourself is giving them a LOT of power of you.  And, it sounds like they are not worth that at all.

Can you find some other ways to invent yourself this summer?  Get a cool haircut, find a new interest, make jewelry, learn to sing, join a sport.  I know this probably sounds cheesy (or at least, I"m sure when I was in junior high, the thought would have crossed my mind), BUT, this stuff is so much more interesting and will help you so much more than letting them mess up your life like this.  These things will not only make your summer fun, but give you something interesting to talk about when you start HS next year (and again...I swear, HS is SO much better than Jr. High).  

Again, please let me know if there is more I can do-and take care.

:)
Meg


so what made u deside to become anexoric?
Answer -
Hi again-

As I said, there are generally so many reasons and it usually starts for a lot of a people more as a diet gone too far rather than a choice to be anorexic.  Most people, myself included, would probably not choose to be sick or have what is clinically diagnosable as a mental ilness (even if it is one-thankfully that can be recovered from).

For me, I took a diet too far and it was out of my control and before I realized what had happened, I was sick.  

I think that everyone would probably have her own story, and again want to emphasize that "choosing" to get an eating disorder is really nothing more than choosing a faulty way to cope with problems.

Please don't do this...its not worth it.

Best,
Meg


I THINK I AM STARTING TO CHANGE MY MIND BUT HOW LONG DID YOURS LAST HOW LONG WERE U ANORIXIC AND DID U HAVE TO GO INTO THE HOSPITAL IF SO HOW LONG

Answer
Hello again, Brittany-

I'm glad that you are beginning to see that anorexia is not something that is fun/cool/to be messed around with.

Again, I really advise you to figure of some of the things that you love doing-and focus on that...rather than this.

To answer your question, I was anorexic on and off for almost 9 years with 2 of them being pretty severe.  This caused me to miss out of so many things as well as taking a toll on my body and self esteem.  I, thankfully, did not end up in the hospital, but I know many girls that did.  As with all of this, having to go into a hospital is something that further delays your life experiences and is NOT cool/fun either.

Please Britany, I am sure that you are a smart girl with lots going for her.  Try to focus on that stuff as you are wasting your time with this.  You deserve more.

Take care and good luck-
Meg