can a person be anorexic all their life??

Question

iv had/have an ed.. iv had so many ups and downs.. will it ever go away?? anyone had same problem?? did u sort it?? its ruining my life and it has to stop! plez dont say the obvious thing.. 'eat' cos trust me i would do if i could and im not realy as bad at the moment as i have been

Answer 1

I struggled with an eating disorder a few years ago and I was healed by God from it.

The problem with eating disorders is that they are not stemmed from the obvious (as you mentioned, "Eat!") You cannot fix anorexia by eating food itself, because it is primarily an emotional disorder.

Many people who are anorexic are in desperate need to be in control. Not because they are "control freaks" but because there they feel that they themselves have been controlled their whole lives by other people and food is the one thing they feel they can control by themselves. I suspect that this is why many anorexics are angry when someone uncovers their "secret." Because they are very afraid that someone is going to try to "control" their eating habits like they've controlled other things in their lives.

I had a similar reason when I had an eating disorder, but I had also become very body-conscious and was terrified of eating. I was eating less than 500 calories a day and lost a large amount of weight in a short period of time. My family forced me to eat one night and I felt so sick afterwards. Secretly, it felt sort of good to have SOMETHING in my stomach, but the guilt and the shame that accompanied my eating (not to mention the stomach pains from having the first "normal size meal" in my stomach after so long) was painful and overwhelming.

I was given my first steps of delivery after reading a verse in the Bible. I was at a low point in my eating disorder and hadn't been able to go to the bathroom for an entire week (I had no food in my body to go). Even laxatives wouldn't work and I felt so scared. I wanted to feel free. I wanted to know what it felt like to be accepted just as I was, but also hated myself for all that I was. I couldn't imagine anyone really loving me unless I was smaller. I was terrified of food, but more terrified about my struggle, wondering if I could ever really be free from it's grip. I read this verse that night and just sobbed:

Psalm 107:18-21:

18 They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.

19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.

20 He sent forth his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.

21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men.

That was my first step of healing when I realized that my problem was bigger than I could handle--I needed God's help and other people's help to free me from my eating disorder.

It was a process that took a long time. I got rid of several magazine clippings that I used to obsess over--I wanted to look a certain way and would collect pictures of how I wanted to look. I forced myself to ask myself what I DID really like about myself. That was very difficult to do, because I didn't like anything about myself at that time. I constantly compared myself to others and always came up short. I still struggle sometimes, but I keep my eyes on Jesus. He likes me (and loves me) and there are things that I like about myself now. I know that I am unique and I know that my life has worth.

Your life has worth too. :) There is no one else like you and no matter how many people have hurt you, your value is not any less. You put a smile on God's face and He delights in you. You can hold your head up high, because even if you were in a sea of faces, He'd still pick you out and say, "That one...that one there. That one is special and beautiful." I hope that you feel unique and special and loved even in the midst of your disorder. God was there to help me and I believe that He will help you too. Hoping and praying for your freedom and hoping that you know that you are loved by God. :) Blessings.

PS:
There is a great place that helps people with eating disorders (see the Remuda Ranch link below). :)

Answer 2

I think you could safely say that the disorder known as anorexia nervosa is a complex combination of mental and physical attributes. In my opinion there would always be potential for recurring episodes. If you are a teenage girl there is help out there and treatment has shown to be very effective in controlling this behavior. Get help. an interesting tidbit of info I came across states that most eating disorders are based on control issues. Not on weight issues or body image. They can develop into much more complex problems..I hoped I helped.

Answer 3

Yes very much so. I worked with a friend who had twin daughters.
Yes, one turned out to be anorexic and she was dying. She was placed in many clinics, hospitals, and as a last resort sent to a place in Kansas City that is really the last stop to correct this mental problem. The Company spent over $1,000,000 on her treatment over a period of a few short years. This young lady was about twenty five years old. She did not make it.

Answer 4

i have suffered with anorexia nervousa for 18 yrs since a was 13 at 15 i was told i had weeks to live if a didnt eat i now have turned into bullimia and am also addicted to laxatives why did a get that disesase all a know i will have it for the rest of my life no matter what anyone says until ya been a sufferer of it then ya will understand theirs no cure for it all ya can do is try to fight it every day and its really hard at my worse i weighed 5 stone the only time i eat a proper meal is when am pregnant its a horrible way to live and answer to your q is yes ya will suffer all ya life

Answer 5

I think it can be managed with support and medical assistance but like many illnesses I believe that it is with the person even when they are "cured" so to speak, you maintain yourself so you dont relapse into the severe form of the illness but Im not sure you can ever be completely free of it until the reasons that caused it are dealt with effectively.

Answer 6

I have a friend who has suffered most of their life, but it will get better. Most help that people can give you is lots of love and reassurance. This is very important to give you more confidence in yourself and so that in turn you will start to love yourself more. There are lots of people in your life who are worried about you and you must try to help yourself by eating what you can. You must always be under medical care, so make those visits to your GP on a regular basis.
Good luck to you and remember how many people care about you!

Answer 7

I you feel like eating, eat if you don't then don't. Your stomoch will shrink and get to the stage food repuleses you. In that case drink soup or something, one things for sure. you aren't happy the way you have become or you would't have asked that. Your digestive juices start to eat you, if they have nothing else to eat.

Answer 8

it can be a battle throught most of someones life but it is one that they can win if they are prepared to accept help. Try turning some foods into drinks - that can help.

Answer 9

A lot of people are anorexic their whole life, it's just a very short life.

Answer 10

seek medical advice or from one of the service which tend to your problem