do i have an eating disorder?

Question

i'm a 21 year old female, 5'2" and weigh 93 lbs today. but i dream of the day where i'll maintain 85 lbs only. gaining a pound or two makes me feel really disgusted with myself. most days i'm not hungry, or i ignore the hunger pains until they go away because i hate most foods and the process of eating. sometimes i care about how many calories my food has and sometimes i try not to think about it. lately this has become an obsession... i love seeing my ribs and hips stick out but no matter what i do, i feel like my body looks disgusting and fat. i've been this way since childhood basically. lately, i usually eat one food item during the day and then a small dinner at night. i feel like a failure because i can't fight my hunger any more. i'm eating way too much food! if i'm angry or upset, my appetite is the first to go and i can't eat for hours and hours. i used to exercise excessively but now my knees are shot. i'm just not sure if this is what it feels like to have anorexia?

Answer 1

Hunny, I known exactly how you feel. All the feelings of gaining a pound, which makes you feel worthless and have no control over your life. you definitly have an eating disorder, so let me tell you. its nothing to be proud of, the only way i got better was through tough love. my friends had to continuly reassure me that I needed to eat, and that my body was looking great. I know its hard to stop on your own, but if you are capable of doing this, then you have the strenght to stop. I finally figured out that life wasnt worth being obessed over my weight. (I had to learn the hard way by being hospitilized and loosing several loved ones from my addiction) I wish you the best sweetie! and just remember that you are always beautiful.

Answer 2

Yes. From what you are saying, you do have an eating disorder. You need professional help. I suggest doing it now while you are still somewhat able to recognize that it is not normal to act this way...because sooner or later this will become your reality and it will all make a sick sort of sense to you...you will be brainwashed, and people will have to fight with you to keep you alive.

I'm not overexaggerating here. That is the bottom line.

Do you have a good thing with your parents? If so, I would definitely make the step to reach out to them, and tell them that you need their help and ask them to help you find a hospital or a day program with a good reputation for helping people your age. You need some sort of rehab just like with any drug...because your mindset with regard to food has become very addictive compulsive.

Here is a biggie to prepare for. Should you accept help with this, you have to understand that your current thoughts about your eating and your food are incorrect and you need to learn new ones. The people helping you will not always seem like they are on your side. At the age of 21 you can sign yourself out for any "bullsh!t" you are going through. Chances are, everyone you are mad at in those moments will be in your corner, except YOU, when you are thinking this way. So, like any other rehab it will be full of hard moments but the best thing to do will be to talk about your feelings, put aside your own warped methods, and accept the help.

Stay there and get the help. With the right research and support system to choose the right program, you can trust what they want to teach you. Just remember that your judgment has become impaired re: food, exercise, and body image. If you want to be healthy, you will have to trust the people in your clinic and do what they say.

This is important because it will seem like night and day compared to what you think now. They will be asking a LOT of you, and you will be challenged, confronted, asked to explore your feelings, all that. You can do it but it isn't easy. For example, no one wants you to be fat but you will swear that they are trying to make you fat, etc. The right people will know how to nurture you through this process so you aren't being attacked at a personal level, just confronted about your food and exercise related behaviors.

Just remember that getting help and changing your ideas about food is being done FOR you, not TO you. It will save your life...and you don't sound very happy now, so what really do you have to lose? SO don't run when it starts to get hard.

Answer 3

um this does sound like some kind of eating disorder. you are really thin already. i wouldn't go down to 85lbs. you would be way too skinny. if you are worried what others are thinking,..or guys...just think that they do not like girls that are too skinny. I'm also 21 yrs old. im 5'8'' but im an average weight. it doesnt look good when you are too skinny. if its become an obsession and you exercise a lot, those are symptoms of anorexia. i would suggest getting help or just talking to someone about whats going on.

Answer 4

You absolutely have an eating disorder. There is also a very good chance that you have an electrolyte imbalance too. The disease of anorexia will lead to heart failure, blood problems, anemia, and decreased brain size. You can still be thin without killing your heart and brain. Please see a doctor immediately. If necessary, go to the ER and have your heart and blood checked. I don't want to be harsh, but this is killing you. You will die. This kind of death is long and rather painful (look at your knees). Your knees are proof that the process has long begun. Please see a doc now. Best of luck.

Only you have the power to help yourself now.

Answer 5

You do have an eating disorder and you KNOW it! So why the hell are you asking people on Yahoo Answers whether or not you have one instead of getting psychiatric help? I mean, your question--you are listing these things that everybody knows are associated with eating disorders, and it's like you are purposely emphasizing them, and then pretending like you don't know if you have an eating disorder or not. You know damn well it's an eating disorder, so stop putzing around and go get help.

Answer 6

I read an article about this. Yes it does sound like you do have a eating disorder. Try going to the docotr to help you and start getting rest and EAT healthy too and regualry each day.

Answer 7

The reason why your knees are shot is, you don't have enough nutrients in your system. Eat veggies and fruits and yogurt for dairies if you don't like milk. For your height, you can be up to 110 pounds. Don't worry yourself.

Answer 8

I think you do have an eating disorder. People with eating disorders have this image in their head that makes them think that they're fat when they're not. You're not fat and if you think you are then maybe you should talk to a doctor or a therapist.

Answer 9

most likely, you do. although, you can't be sure because i'm not a doctor. sure, everyone has things about their body they're not so proud of. but not eating enough can be very dangerous.

again, i'm not a doctor. just to be sure if you do have an eating disorder, just ask a professional.

Answer 10

YES you do please get help I have a friend with the same thing she is anorexic also but I helped her through it she didn't completely beat it but she now has some meat on her bones, and girl if you think you have to be really skinny to look good your wrong ask anyone of these people that are telling you to get help they don't know who you are but they care!!! I don't know who you are but I care!!!