Any advice please?

[Sophie99]

I don't know what is wrong. I'm a teenager and have recently been struggling a lot. I'm unsure whether I have an eating disorder or not but I've been restricting food a lot and really want to lose weight even though I have lost lots and have a underweight BMI. Friends have told me they are worried but my family do not think there is anything wrong. I feel the need to be thinner and something in my mind stops me making good food choices and sometimes leads me to fast or purge if I feel out of control. What should I do?

[joanna21]

Hi Sophie, Please please ask a close family member to take you to the Dr asap.Eating disorders are a really horrible illness and the quicker you start getting some help the better.

Other sources of help could be a teacher from your school but I am sure deep down your family are worried too and will be glad to help.

Also the Beat website is worth looking at too.

I hope you start getting the help you need soon

Best of luck xx

[Sophie99 in reply to joanna21]

Thanks for the advice but I'm scared of going to the doctor because they'll make me eat horrible fat food! And then I won't have any control so I don't know what to do! Also my parents are really busy so I don't want to worry them and so don't tell them my problems. Should I?

[Hidden]

Hello Sophie99 I wonder if you're spending more time with your friends and maybe that's why your family think everything with you is ok?? It not fair on your body to binge or purge. Why can't you find a balance? You are doing long term harm to yourself, you can stop this downward spiral. You must stop it now, unfortunately you won't have the choice later. What can you do? Be really honest with yourself - really sit down and think "what is all this about?" Then if you cant find your balance, off to your GP

[Sophie99 in reply to Hidden]

I don't spend much time with my family at the moment as they are really busy with work. I don't feel really ill but I'm only worried about the fact I'm cold even though it is a hot summer. I'm not sure if I really am hurting myself. It seems that all my mind can think about is food and calories but I'm not sure what that means. Anyway thanks for the reply!

[Hidden in reply to Sophie99]

Good morning Sophie99 You will do the right thing by yourself, we all beleive in you ♡ You mjght think you feel well, but being cold in a heatwave, is your body's way of telling you "I'm not well". Please take all the great advice you've been given. Nothing terrible is going to happen to you or your loved ones by getting medical intervention. You can do it. Julie xo

[crazycrossstitcher]

My ED started just as your sounds to be - don't wait - I know how scary it is to talk to anyone about it and how scary it is to have to eat things you don't feel you want to eat - but the alternative - and I speak with experience - is a life time of suffering - both mentally and physically - so please, please talk to your GP - a school counsellor - or ring Anorexia and Bulimia care (03000111213) or BEAT who both have supportive helplines - however scared you feel - that is the anorexia taking over your mind - and if you are starting to purge the physical effects can be extremely dangerous and long term - you really do need professional help - you have an illness and that needs treating urgently - and if your BMI is low now - if you are ill for any reason your body will not have the reserves to fight it - your parents may be busy - but when I talked to mine I had not realised how worried they were - and how they didn't know how to talk to me - it was the start of getting help - so don't leave it too late when the ED becomes chronic and you end up in hospital.

[Sophie99 in reply to crazycrossstitcher]

I will try talking to my parents but I'm not sure I want them to tell a professional because then they might get in trouble or it might be too much hassle for them so I might just wait and see how it goes first. I know I should tell but now it's starting to feel normal and I don't want to lose control of what I eat but I know only having under 500 calories a day is not healthy. My biggest fear is gaining weight and I know that is what telling will mean. But I don't want to get sick. I don't know why but I think that because I only purge a few times a day after meals it isn't a big problem and I can handle things on my own. Thank you so much for your help I'll think about telling someone!

[crazycrossstitcher]

Purging that often is a serious problem - you really do need to get urgent help as eating 500 cals and purging is going to seriously cause you damage - just telling your parents that you are worried about your low weight might be a start - perhaps you can see your GP alone so that you don't have to discuss everything with your parents - they will not be in any trouble I assure you - but please please don't do nothing - you really are in great need of help.

[Sophie99 in reply to crazycrossstitcher]

Is 6 stone (or 6 and a bit I'm not sure) for 5''3-5"4 a really low weight? And I'm scared the GP will tell my parents everything and then they will worry? Also could they send me to hospital if they think I'm bad?

[crazycrossstitcher in reply to Sophie99]

Weight is not the only difficulty you are facing - just as crucially is the purging and the restrictive diet - and these are important issues to address - please go and see your GP - you really do need help.

[emmaABC]

Hi Sophie

Sorry to read about your struggles but we are here to support you. Perhaps you'd like to e-mail us at [e-mail] where we can talk about this further. Did you know we have a youth befriending service? We match people who have recovered from an eating disorder with those who are struggling to offer support and encouragement. Please contact us for more information.

Emma

[Sophie99]

Hi it's Sophie!

Thank you for all the time you spent with your responses and encouragement, I didn't expect anyone to reply!!! Unfortunately I'm still too scared to tell a professional because I'm terrified of gaining weight because when I look at myself all I see is fat...

I DEFINITELY will tell my parents if this gets any worse. But I'm still losing weight and pass out quite often now (and sometimes hurt myself in the process - I hit my head really hard the other day) so that might be soon.

Anyway thanks again for all your support I'm surprised anyone read it or wanted to reply! x

[Jsssp]

Why wouldn't you tell someone...

You're not going to help yourself by not not telling anyone obviously. It's stupid to think anything will change if you don't. You need to sort yourself out and get help.