To meet DSM-5 criteria for anorexia you have to have a “significantly low body weight.” In previous versions of the DSM, that was marked at 85{c754d8f4a6af077a182a96e5a5e47e38ce50ff83c235579d09299c097124e52d} or less of what is normal for your height, age, and development, but in the current version there is no specific number. So that is how anorexia is equated with thinness. However, you can meet all other criteria of anorexia except that one and still be diagnosed with an eating disorder, typically Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (currently known as Feeding or Eating Disorders Not Elsewhere Classified). EDNOS (or OSFED) is typically diagnosed when the individual clearly has eating patterns and disturbances that warrant clinical attention, but they may not meet every single criteria of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or
Tag: anonymous
Is it possible to have an eating disorder where you avoid real food as much as you can, but then binge on candy and snacks? And then afterwards…
Absolutely. Basically if you avoid certain food groups for non-health/ethical reasons, or feel guilty after eating, you are definitely in eating disorder territory. Eating disorders do not all fall into the more well known anorexia or bulimia category. There are so many different ways which unhealthy food relationships manifest, and it is important to recognize thisIf it’s at all possible for you, please talk to a doctor.
Weight became my obsession and, in short, after a really harsh period between purging and not eating, I now am really skinny and on constant…
Don’t apologize darling. Unfortunately we can not make ourselves have a certain body type. Just as you can’t spot reduce when exercising, you can’t spot reduce when dieting. Your body is going to lose and gain weight in the way it can, not in the way you want, unfortunately.Losing more weight will not make you happier. Look at the message you wrote me, the time in your life that you loved your body was when you were curvy. When you had curves you were happy. To gain those curves back, you would need to gain weight. Losing weight will be the opposite of what once made you happy. Taking your individual self-happiness out of the picture, losing more weight in general will just make you
I’ve only been purging for about 2 weeks but the last few days I’ve noticed blood in my spit/vom when I purge. It’s not a lot and bright red but I…
The blood is not what is abnormal, it is the purging behaviors. Our bodies are not meant to purge up the food we eat (unless it is a natural reaction to being sick or eating something that does not agree with our body). If you see blood while you are purging it may be a sign of a ruptured esophagus or other internal bleeding, especially since it is not bright red. The only advice I have for you is to stop purging and seeking professional help. If after two weeks you have purged enough to make yourself bleed, that is a significant problem. Purging in itself is a significant problem. Please seek the help you need. A professional can help you recover and discover a more adaptive
I have really irregular and unhealthy eating habits and I’m scared that it’ll get worse and develop into an eating disorder. I restrict daily and…
I think you should talk to someone love. Your behaviors are clearly maladaptive and if you don’t already meet criteria for an eating disorder, you are on you way too, which it sounds like you are aware of and don’t want to happen. Research has continuously shown that early intervention leads to better outcomes in recovery. It can be scary at first to admit you have maladaptive eating behaviors, but find someone you trust to confide in. I would also really encourage you to get professional help from someone who specializes in eating disorders so instead of going backwards, you move forwards.Jessica
I just read your blog and think it’s amazing there are people like you. I recently started recovering from atypical anorexia. It has been a month and…
First of all, I am so proud of you for being a month and a half in recovery; that is amazing! Keep up the amazing work. I also want you to realize though that although a month and a half is amazing progress, you shouldn’t expect to be fully recovered in such a short time. Recovery is a process, and a hard one at that, but it is worth the journey.So to get to your question about self-control, the answer you get depends on who you talk to. There are certain people that are fully recovered from their eating disorder and never deal with ED thoughts again. There are others, like myself, that feel one is never “fully” recovered from an eating disorder. From personal
How can I get my adult 25 yr old child to agree to go for help or even an assessment? She was hospitalized at 12 for 5 months.
I don’t know your relationship with your daughter, or how dire of a situation they are in, so I don’t know how applicable my advice will be. Or what you’ve tried already. But I think you need to talk to her like an adult. Try reasoning with her, make sure she has all the information on what that would entail. Make sure she knows the consequences of her disorder if she doesn’t get help. It’s hard trying to get people to go for help, and it’s hard to change the minds of disordered people, because it’s not always them that you’re talking to, sometimes the only part that listens is the disorder. I think you just have to keep trying, because one day you will find the
My mom and dad trigger my anorexia constantly so I do not know how to get better. What do I do?
Tell them. You have to be open with the people around you in order to recover. I know that it’s awkward, and hard, and terrible trying to tell people things like that, but I think it will truly help you in the end. If that’s not a possibility for you, try finding a safe space for yourself where you can work through this without the judgement/pressure/triggers from your parents. If you can go to a doctor to talk about this, please do. It’s always helpful to talk to someone, especially when they are trained to help.Sorry for the delay dear, and I really hope all is well with you.-Emma
I wanted to follow your blog but it doesn’t look like you acknowledge the fact that binge eating disorder/compulsive overeating disorder actually…
I completely recognize that these are real and very serious eating disorders.It’s sometimes hard to find good, legitimate posts pertaining to these disorders, and I don’t have the knowledge or experience to be able to provide much information on them. I am in no way trying to deny or ignore their existence, but I don’t want to be providing false information. We’re not doctors, or experts, just two girls in university trying to make a bit of a difference. I would encourage anyone who has any kind of poor relationship with food to seek help. And, as always, if anyone has any stories, knowledge, or information to share, please please do. -Emma
I know you’re not a doctor but I was just wondering what taking too many laxatives can negatively affect? Will I just mess up my digestive system or…
There are a lot of negative side effects of laxative abuse including dehydration (which can lead to other problems such as kidney failure and death), electrolyte imbalances, and internal organ damage such as a stretched colon, colon infection, IBS, and in rare cases, liver damage. Also, it is a myth that laxatives help you lose weight. They help you “lose” weight by getting rid of water weight, which is why you get dehydrated. It is not an effective method for weight loss by any means, and the side effects of abusing laxatives can be life threatening. Jessica
I’ve recently lost a lot of weight and I’ve become obsessed with what I eat and trying to be healthy but it’s just resulted in obsessive calorie…
I would highly suggest you talk to your parents. Obsessing over what you eat, restricting your caloric intake, and over-exercising are all symptoms of anorexia. Additionally, if other people are noticing it, that causes a lot of concern and raises some red flag for me. It can definitely be scary to talk to your parents, but if you want to get help, that is the best first step. Just tell them what you have told me and go from there. For eating disorders, early intervention is key to positive outcomes.Jessica