Eating Disorders / Question
Published: August 14, 2002
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I have been dealing with anorexia and bulimia for about 2 years now and I'm getting sick of it. I go to a therapist and a nutritionist but none of it has helped. I want to get better and be like all of my other friends..."normal" but then I don't, and I keep wanting to lose weight. Should I keep losing weight? I am 15 years old, 4 foot 11 inches and I weigh 82 pounds. I want help and I just don't know how to get food off of my mind what should I do?
Signed: Getting Over An Eating Disorder
Dear Getting Over An Eating Disorder,
You should be proud of yourself for realizing that you have an eating disorder and are taking steps to get better. For many people, recovery can take several years, so know that the frustrations you are feeling about not becoming "normal" again overnight are very common. Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia can sometimes be thought of as "food addictions". Addictions to things like drugs or alcohol are often easier to "cure" because you can simply avoid them forever once you begin to heal. But you need to eat to live, and thus you have to face food multiple times every day. And figuring out what your body needs and how you feel about eating it can become a daily struggle that is very tiring. After two years of battling with anorexia and bulimia, you might not even remember what normal eating patterns are. However, an eating disorder is a challenge that can be overcome- it just takes some time and hard work, but it is definitely worth it.
You should NOT keep losing weight. Losing more weight could cause serious physical damage to your body and might land you in the hospital. Eating disorders often hinder your body's growth and development, your bones become weak and brittle and can break easily, and your teeth and throat can be damaged due to excess vomiting. If you get too thin, your organs may stop working correctly, and you might develop kidney problems and poor heart functioning.
One of the most important things to realize when getting over an eating disorder is that until you make the decision to change your behaviors, you are not going to get better. It might seem easier to fall back into old bad habits of restricting food and exercising, but it will not help you become "normal" again. You have to remember that recovery will be gradual - trying to regain weight and begin accepting food all at once can be overwhelming and frustrating. Here is some advice you might want to take:
- Remember that your body needs time to heal. Take it step by step.
- Try to eat more fruits & vegetables, they will clean your system and slowly your appetite will return.
- Avoid refined sugar and soft drinks.
- Avoid processed and junk food. They contain additives and preservatives that will increase your aversion to eating.
- Try to exercise IN MODERATION, this will help you relax and boost your self-confidence.
Since you have been in therapy, you probably know that eating disorders are not about the food itself, but rather the effects of other things that are bothering you in your life. Manipulating food can give you a sense of having control over at least one part of your life. It is important for you to try to figure out what made you want to start losing weight in the first place - for some people it is low self-esteem or a feeling of not fitting in. For others, it is something larger, like a parents' divorce or the death of a loved one. Once you can determine what set off the spiral of unhealthy eating patterns, you can confront the issue and try to deal with it. This makes recovery a lot easier.
Getting food off your mind is one of the hardest parts of recovering from an eating disorder. Trying to keep busy sometimes helps, but it is not easy. Building up your self-confidence can be very helpful and make you think about things other than food. One website that offers some good advice on how you can do this is www.angelfire.com/ego/already_perfect/Body_Image.html. And, know that you are not alone in the struggle to recover. TeenHealthFX has answered similar concerns in Love To Eat and Former Anorexic, Recovering and Gaining, and How to Get Over an Eating Disorder.
Keep up the hard work in the recovery process. It will be worth it in the end!
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Teens with untreated depression are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, leading to higher rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
