My best friend definately has Anorexia i need advice...?

Question

My best friend has anorexia and it is obvious because she barely eats at all and is suddenly really interested in excercise and, funnily enough, has been trying to make me and my other best friend eat as much as possible. Her nurse says that she will be on a drip within a week in the hospital if she does not eat. Worse still, she used to be a size6(which is very thin UK size) and now she is a UKsize 2!!! I am very worried about her. How do i takl to her about it and does anybody have first hand experiences on this matter?

Answer 1

I had an eating disorder and you have to realise that getting her to admit she has a problem is going to be one hell of mission. i think you should go see your GP and ask him for advice. I got sectioned, which is a last resort, but that's what it takes sometimes. I have seen girls swallow pebbles on walks outside so they look as thought they have put on weight so they get released and get sent home. She needs help, surely her parents have noticed? Her life is at risk every day she does not eat, a heart attack is a REAL possibility here, and the longer she goes untreated the less chance of a full recovery without serious side effects. Her bones and fertility could be destroyed for the rest of her life even if she does recover.
Please do everything you can to draw attention to her problem, you may well save her life.

Answer 2

Everyones advise has been really good especially, Joanne M. I have also suffered from anorexia in the past and my best friend was in your position. She confronted me and i denied it for a while, eventually she made me go to the doctors but i was still in denial and to be honest the doctor wasn't much good.

She had to get my family involved in the end which was going against what i had asked her to do but it was the right thing. By the time i eventually got help i was very ill and could have had a heart attack anyday.

The best thing you can do is try and ask her about it and help her to get help, she may decline this in which case you will have to go to her family or the doctors. I think you should think about getting outside help very quickly anyway.

I think it is also important for you to talk to someone about it as it is a big burden for you to carry all on your own and you need support to. Sometimes doctors are not that helpful and i would advise to get a second opinion, i have also given you a link to the eating disorders association website which i'm hoping may help you and direct you where to go. My family found that this is where they had to go to get help for me instead of the doctors.

You seem like a very good friend to have around, try and remember neither you or your friend are alone, the website address should have contacts to people you can talk to. I wish you the very best of luck.

http://www.b-eat.co.uk/Home

Answer 3

yeah defiantly sounds bad

my sister was in hospital for almost a year, she has anorexia nervous, and let me tell you its such a terrible illness to watch, affecting the individual and also immediate loved ones in their life

my sister is a twin and she still feeds the other one, as well as telling her what to eat she cant go a day without picking of her plate

my sisterwas under 4 stone at the age of around17-18 and needed primary school clothes and a piece of string to holdup her trousers

hey i believe that threes an underlying emotional factor that cause this illness, some kind of trauma that causes it

must anorexics will continue to purge throughout there life that's if it doesn't kill them

my sisters getting worse again, she forgets watch shes saying what shes done that day, had no energy and is always cold, its all about the bigger picture, help for your friend and her family, all sticking to a routine and helping each other

she needs professional help, my sister had to go to a place called the retreat in York which i feel kept her here today, good luck there are so many G.P's who wont help unless shes actually on her death bed, and none will help unless she asks, trust me or else if that bad she will be section under the mental health act for her own good

your a loving person for thinking of your friend she will need a lot of support x

Answer 4

I'm very sorry to hear about your friend. She is very fortunate to have a best friend that cares about her as much as you do. I know that has to be very hard on you to watch her starve herself. You should most definitely talk to her about how anorexia is a terrible eating disorder that could cost her her own life if it doesn't stop. Lots of people think that they can control their eating disorder. They think they can just stop at any time, but really, they cannot. People with anorexia usually see themselves as "fat", when in reality, they are terribly skinny and unhealthy.You mentioned that other people do know about your friends disorder. That is a VERY good thing. They are there to help her. I hope this helps. Also, look at www.remudaranch.com Remuda Ranch is kind of like a rehabilitation camp for girls with eating disorders. But the website can tell you more about anorexia. I wish you and your friend the best of luck.

Answer 5

I can tell you what you should do based on your friend's perspective, because I too am dealing with anorexia.. I know what your friend is thinking... ' i wish i was "that girl" that could be super thin and perfect and get all the guys attention' and because she wants to see results fast, she is resorting to not eating anything at all, and lets face it, it works... my best friend knows I am anorexic, and she watches out for me ALL the time, and I'm not gonna lie, it gets annoying, and no it doesnt help when shes constantly on my back... but what does work is when she doesnt push food at me, but instead suggests light, healthy things that make me think 'yeah, i guess thats ok to eat'... so it results in me at least eating SOMETHING.. you could try doing that with your friend, just as long as your not on her case all the time, because I promise you, its not her fault she has those thoughts and she won't listen to you if you bug her about it.. good luck though!

Answer 6

Normally I'd say that you have to wait for her to make the first move, but this seems like a pretty desperate situation. You need to intervene and get her help as soon as possible.

Is she close to her parents? If so, why don't you all do an intervention, explain how much her actions are hurting you and get her to a hospital to get the help she needs. Make sure she knows that you all love her and want to help and that she is protected, but needs professional help.

One way or another, you have to get her into a professional facility that will get her well again.

Answer 7

Unfortunately, many people with anorexia don't want treatment, at least initially. Their desire to remain thin overrides concerns about their health. Talk to your friend, urge her to talk to a doctor. But unless you have legal authority to do so, you can't force loved ones to get treatment.

Even for people who do want to get better, the pull of anorexia can be difficult to overcome. For some, anorexia is a lifelong battle. Even if symptoms subside, people with anorexia remain vulnerable and may have a relapse during periods of high stress or during triggering situations.

Answer 8

you just need to tell her how you feel about what she is doing to her body. If it were my friend i would want her to know how worried i was about her, and maybe this will stop and make her think about her actions. There are no ways to 'cure' anorexia, however with the support of a good friend (which it sounds like you are) she should be able to beat the problem. You need to be supportive, and offer your help and guidance whenever she asks for it.

Answer 9

Are you attempting to unfastened greater weight?? then you definately are turning out to be an ingesting affliction. yet once you're satisfied how u are you're high-quality. yet i'm able to relate in way because of the fact im shorter then you definately i'm 5'3" and that i weigh ninety-95pounds and im basically approximately turning 14 and that i could have an ingesting affliction so i could be attentive to the way you experience because of the fact i count quantity energy in many circumstances happening and weigh myself like obsessively in a single day yet i think of if u dont have an ingesting affliction u could basically be dealing with an element and are on a nutrition recurring reason i be attentive to how difficult that's for some people at our age. my pals experience an identical way If ur valuable u dont have an ingesting affliction and flow to the medical doctors ot seek advice from somebody on the ingredient of u approximately it like a sibling thats what i do because of the fact my mom gets mad or wont pay attention or care and that i dont choose my pals to be attentive to yet i think of ur high-quality and have no longer something to fret approximately basically encompass your self with good pals and believe. attempt looking in a mirror and asserting out loud the flaws you like approximately your self.

Answer 10

first thing is to teach her about the affects of anorexia which can kill a person or even make a person look like a money. honestly tell her that she looks skinny and ugly. guys don't like skinny girls, all you feel touchin' is bones and that's not what people want to see or touch. So my best advice is to confront her with true and absurd comments relevant to her body shape and nurture.