Expert: Reverend Abbott - 12/8/2006

Question
i think i have an eating disorder.
i have been restricting my food to 200cals a day and making myself sick.
if i can i wont eat at all - but make my self sick still on drinks such as squash.
i thought i was in control until i tried to not make my self sick one day ad i couldnt. i HAD to be sick.
i saw a little blood once but i think its where i scratched my throat.
i hate myself - i cant bear to look at myself im repulsive. i dont deserve to go out so have to stay in.i wont allow myself to go out or do things until i have reached my goal weight. and if i dont i dont know if i can carry on like this. im losing my friends and everyone.im 5ft 5" and weigh an awful 128lbs.
i told 1 person and her advise was to talk to my parents but i knew a girl with anorexia and they mocked it and said all tey have to do is eat. they really wouldnt understand and i dont have the control or bravery to tell them. also i dont think i colud tell my doctor. he has broken confidence before and i know he will do it again. i dont think i could blurt this out face to face to someone. im struggling to write this now.
please help i dont know what else to do

Answer
I can tell you that you're NOT repulsive until I turn shades of blue and violet, but it won't change a thing. If security and confidence isn't coming from within YOU, it's just a bandaid from anywhere else.

It's callous and sadly not uncommon for people who have never gone through an e.d. to wave it off. What doesn't occur to many laypersons (and far too many medical professionals) is that an anorexic can walk into the office at 300 lbs.  Why is it only taken seriously when they walk in at 80 lbs?  That's like finding a cancer when it's a pinpoint, but not treating it until it's the size of a basketball.

Telling an anorexic to "eat something" is as ignorant as telling a man to have a baby.

Anorexia is the number ONE most fatal of all psychological disorders known on earth. It's not a matter of food, it's a matter of mental illness.

You NEED to find an eating disorder clinic or support group and go on your own. Through them, you'll learn how to better treat yourself, approach others (or whether it's even worth telling anyone who is not a close family member).

Find help by calling your local mental health facilities and asking about eating disorder support groups (they are often low or NO cost); look in the yellow pages; call weight management DOCTORS' offices and ask for information about e.d. groups/help.  Perhaps a school counselor or clergy (although that's also not usually promising, you never know).

While many people have seen the movie of the week, some documentary or talk show and think they know 'all about eating disorders', it remains one of the most misunderstood and under-diagnosed psychological problems around.

Medical doctors are receiving much more training in med school with regard to this, but it's still not quite enough.
 It's up to us, as victims, to fight for our own lives.

If this is anorexia, you have a 100% chance of dying from complications from it. From heart failure to organ failure - no one survives starvation.

Bulimia is also apparent and just as serious.

Please check my site and find out more, plus the options you may have.

 www.GetTheReal.info

I'm really here for you.