Is There A Connection?

Question

Is there a connection between eating disorders and self mutilation?
I'm 16 and I have had a slight eating disorder since the 6th grade and a severe problem with self mutilation since the 7th grade. My eating disorder has steadily gotten worse as time has gone on, so has the self mutilation to the point that I think about it almost all the time and I have an urge to do them whenever I get stressed or feel like I'm losing control. I feel like cutting myself because I feel fat (I'm 5 foot 3 and weight 140), I feel like I should have been better at keeping myself thin ( I used to weigh 115). I feel like I've failed at everything and I'm pissed at myself for now doing as well as everyone wanted me to. Also, my mom likes to hit me and verbally abuse me. I can't do anything about it at this point so I'm just trying to wait until college to get away. Do you guys think this stuff is connected? Is there a connectiong between eating disorders and self mutilation? I don't know what I should do.

I don't have a way to get therapy. I went to anger management twice with two different people and I didn't like either so I just lied to them the whole time. I don't have anyone I can talk to and I'm at a complete loss of what to do and I just feel like I have no control anymore and I don't have any close friends or family I can talk to. I have no clue what to do.

Answer 1

They can be. People with Borderline Personality Disorder often have eating disorder symptoms and self mutilation.

I'm not trying to say you have BPD; but I hope you can go to a medical doctor and get some help. Counseling can help too, but you might need to be put on medication to deal with these symptoms.

If your mother really is abusive to you, have you tried calling Social Services?

Answer 2

Yes, there is a connection. The connection is that right now you feel that those are the only things that you can control in your life.
First thing you need to do is stop being so hard on yourself. You have recognized that you have a problem, and now is the time to stop it. You say you have a "slight" eating disorder, but the truth is, any eating disorder is HUGE. (I had one for 14 years, and am just now learning to cope with it.



You say that you have no one to talk to. I am sure you have at least one friend who you can confide in, and possible thier mother. I am sure that you are ashamed of what you do, and therefor, are not wanting to speak out, but if you don't you could lose your life.

Answer 3

Yes they are connected. You have a mother that treats you badly. That leads to a lot of self hatred. You need to find someone, anyone to talk to about this. Someone to help release the stress. You said you have no good friends to talk to. If you do not pick one and try to talk to them. If you do not work through it, the self hatred will eat you alive. Please talk to anyone someone, it does not matter who.