I don't know whether I have an eating disorder?

[Aliladvice346]

Hi, I'm new here. So I am an underweight 18 year old currently in university. I don't know whether it is anxiety or low self-esteem, but I don't eat very much. Perhaps one meal a day, if anything. I just see eating as a chore, as something I need to do in order to have energy to read. I have been saying I want to gain weight for two years now. But somehow I always 'relapse' into this no food phase at some point in each term. Its not laziness, its just sometimes I don't see the point in getting any food because I am skinny and eating food today will not add several pounds overnight. Its like an unhealthy cycle which all comes down to my anxiety and low-self esteem. I haven't found an eating disorder that fits this. Is there or is this all in my head? It is affecting my heath, I am always tired, low on energy.

[kittens1989]

Hello. I'm sorry to hear about your struggles. It sounds like you have a difficult relationship with food and your body. That doesn't mean an eating disorder, but it can also be.

You mentioned anxiety and low mood, and this is caused by under-eating, irregular eating and low weight. At a low weight your body is on high alert and even systems like the nervous systems respond in a way that biologically expects danger, thus you feel more anxious. Where your body is low on energy, it also going to conserve the energy it does have making your mood very low, and a cause of lethargy.

Even if you don't have an eating disorder, it would be worth getting some support to deal with your low mood and anxiety.