Please help, really urgent?

Question

I have been a resident at a mental health adolescent unit for the past two months, i was put in with a case of severe depression.

I was diagnosed by the doctor there with an eating disorder, about three days ago, and it is really bothering me, as i had never thought of myself to have an actual eating disorder. Funny eating perhaps, but not a disorder.

These are the reasons he used to diagnose me, and to begin treatment for it:

I have days on end where i hardly eat, not because im starving myself, just because i am not hungry, and then suddenly i will be starving, and eat and eat and eat.

Often during these "binge" times, i make myself sick afterwards, sometimes to ease the discomfort of my stomache, sometimes through guilt.

I've gone through phases of using laxatives, something i did not admit to my doctor, but is probably important

I get obsessed with certain foods. For example, when i was little, i ate a marmite sandwich three times a day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Then one day just hated them, and havnt eaten one since. I have done this with thousands of different foods/meals over the years.

I am very weight concious, very self concious.

I am five foot 10, I weight 9 and a half stone, wich, in my opinion, is far too much. I hate certain parts of my body, and i try to cover them up

I can wake up some days, and get all dressed up, but then look in a mirror, and start to cry. I will instantly change into a baggy jumper and shorts.

I suppose I am preocupied with food, i am obsessed with it, even though I dont eat much of it.

It plays on my mind very much.

If i eat even the tiniest bit of lettuce, i will be convinced it has made me put on stones, and i have to get it out of my system

either by hours of excercise, or making myself throw up.

I hide food, and wont eat infront of other people.

It sounds kind of. bad when i put it like that

but. i mean. im not skinny enough to have an eating disorder

i ate a lot today,

and i mean. i dont know.

im 13. its just...well to me its just teenage weight obsession.

can you please tell me your opinions.

Answer 1

hunny, you certainly have some sort of eating disorder. I have that too, with me it started as a symptom of depression, i was low so lost weight as my appetite shrunk and that started it up.  Stay away from laxatives, i did that and now i have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

i'm glad your aware of it though. Its not a teenage thing, sure many go through it but it doesn't mean its healthy

x x x

Answer 2

Absolutely no insult to you at all, if you do have an eating disorder you may not be able to tell whether or not you're skinny enough to seem like you have one.  It does sound to me exactly like classic symptoms of an eating disorder - the binging and purging, the multiple days without eating, the guilt...etc.  And it's not teenage weight obsession - to a degree, I can understand why you'd say that, but from all of the things you're describing, its much more than just a few days out of a year when you think you feel a bit fat. The laxatives are very important (you're right), when you start actively taking steps that could be damaging to yourself just to lose some weight, you know you have a problem. I'd agree with your doctor.  It may have been something caused by the depression, it may have always been there - the important thing is that you've now been made aware of it. Don't let this bug you, though, or feel like it makes you weird or out of place, I'm sure you have enough to deal with as it is.  You'd be shocked to see the number of people (your age, older, younger, men and women...) who have eating disorders, depression, or both.  I'll bet you could find plenty just here on Yahoo Answers.  Don't let it panic you. It is a serious condition, though, and it needs to be stopped.  So now that you've found out about it, take some action! With the help of people in the unit, and friends and family, you can get through both the eating disorder and the depression.  It's going to take time though - don't give up!!

The very very best of luck to you...

Answer 3

What you've just described in your question, is the classic definition of an eating disorder. You have an unhealthy obsession with food, and exercise and it's a very good thing you are getting help. Best of luck, hope you recover soon!

Answer 4

Sweetie, I'm so sorry things are so hard for you right now, my heart goes out to you.Depression and eating disorders often go hand in hand. Although I'm not a psychiatrist, I've worked for many years in the medical field and have had a number of patients with eating disorders.  Everything you described are symptoms of an eating disorder. Many teenagers are a little obsessed with weight, you're right.  It's the obsession with food, the purging through vomiting and laxatives, the exercising obsessively (for a piece of lettuce!) and hiding of food that indicate you have something more going on. You may feel that you're not skinny enough to have an eating disorder, but another common symptom is an unrealistic perception of your weight. The very best thing you can do right now is to listen to your doctor; he/she is truly there to help you feel better, more confident, and to get you healthy. Be honest with the doctor about the laxatives; you're not going to be punished, but it's important that they know not just for your mental health, but for your physical health as well. Work with them, and you'll get better bit by bit.  Won't it be a relief to not obsess about food?  I guarantee, at thirteen there are much better things to be obsessed with!  I wish you the best, and I hope you begin to feel better soon.

Answer 5

You are 13 and all your life is in front of you..I have 6 children and each child had different problems , they were able to overcome,as adults they are all OK. .As you will be OK..God made each of us different and very special.. One son had social anxiety and could not be in crowds ..he now has a job that requires constant dealing with people..One child could not go outside without makeup...as a teenage girl I had what you have and overcame it...our society is extremely difficult for young girls...as young girls they see models all over the magi zines that have actually been air brushed..to look perfect,,,we are not meant to be perfect...the purging part will rot your teeth...I am glad you are able to get help with this...and hope you can begin to see yourself as God sees you....a very unique wonderful part of this world