my teen refuses to eat?

Question

its as if she is in control, because i cannot force her to eat

she is also doing nothing all day, besides sitting around

how can i possibly with reverse psychology get her to eat

Answer 1

mmmm...Does she have any sort of eating disorder? Real thin? Depression? Maybe you should sit down and talk to her about it or take her to the doc.

Answer 2

If my mom told me not to, I did it. If my mom told me to do something, I didnt. I did the same thing. Kids will go through phases. Keep an eye on her, maybe offer her some soup or rice (the only things I would even consider putting in my mouth) Or maybe some tea etc. She will get hungry and eat -- trust me. If nothing else, monitor her weight etc. If you feel she has an eating disorder, you may consider getting her to the dr. But a lot of teen girls go through this kind of phase. Not sure how old she is, but I would say its pretty normal. The best you can do is give her some space and offer things like soup, crackers, etc. If she doesnt want to eat, well then you can't force her, but maybe just asking her why or if there is anything special you can make her etc. (though if I remember correctly my mom drove me insane asking if she could make me stuff LOL)

Answer 3

Does it bother you that she is in control, or that she's not eating? If you are a control freak maybe this is the one thing that she has found that you can't control, and the only way to fix it is to back off a little and let her make some decisions in her life. If she's not eating because she thinks she's fat or something, then explain to her that not eating will only cause her body to store fat and lower her metabloism, eventually making her fatter. Get her to a nutritionist that can explain her the healthy way to lose weight.

Answer 4

This is serious! Don't take it lightly. My 13 y/o son did this to me. Reverse psychology won't work. At first, I didn't realize what was going on, but he refused food and got so thin. When I took him to the doctor for his check up, they referred us to a psychological hospital where he was evaluated and they found that he was depressed, anorexic and had suicidal tendencies. Forcing food was only making it worse. and its not "as if she's in control"....she IS in control. It turned out my son was only partially doing it to lose weight, but mainly for control. He felt that he had no control over anything in his life except food...and the less he ate, the stronger he thought he was b/c he was controlling it--not me, not his teachers---nobody but him. If I hadn't gotten him to the doctor, he could have killed himself in a short time.

Talk to her openly. Let her know she can come to you and trust you with her problems. Don't get mad--she needs someone to listen to her more than anything. If she won't talk to you, take her to a therapist she WILL talk and listen to.

Answer 5

Mention two words--PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.

Anyone who won't do anything, and won't eat, may have a psychiatric problem--and you can commit her for a 72 hour observation/diagnosis period at any time.

She either needs to have a job or be in school, and she needs to eat regularly, small meals are okay, but you need to be able to watch and to keep her out of the bathroom for an hour or so (in case she vomits).

That is what I would do.

TX Mom
Mine are 17, 21

Answer 6

Your daughter is showing the tell-tale signs of someone who is in trouble. I would rush her to a doctor for a physical exam. If she is underweight and has a problem desiring food - she might be suffering from some type of withdrawal from food (anoxeria etc) Please don't take it lightly that she won't eat. There could be other circumstances involved - they get younger and younger these days with Bulemia and other disorders. Please have her checked out.

Answer 7

If your teen is overweight, fat, or the such she probably has become insecure of her being and wishes to loose wieght and not eating is not the method.
She also may have an eating disorder see doctor that.
Usually teens who dont eat sometimes are not comfortable with their weight even if it thier weight is only like 110 pounds or something. =/

Answer 8

Reverse Psychology would probably say to her

"IF YOU DONT EAT I DONT EAT"

Answer 9

teens don't normally eat as much as they used to but this is fine. she will go back to eating slowly. if she doesn't eat then tell her that when she feels hungry at night the only thing your going to eat was what for dinner. That way she will eat whatever is on that plate since she is probably really hungry.

Answer 10

Take the teen to the store and let them pick out some foods they like and tell them they have to promise to eat some thing healthy with what every they pick if it is not healthy.