Eating Disorders

[eye of the divine]

I have a very close friend who is suffering from an eatting disorder after years of fighting it this horrible mental health problem is claiming him again.

I was wondering if anyone else had experianced this or knows of people that have and would be willing to share the experiances they've had. I could really do with some help with coping mechanisms for my friend.

 

[Catnip]

Back in Junior High, I had an eating disorder. I didn't know I had one though, I thought I was being quite safe. I was very ignorant to any facts of anorexia, and I had always thought (since this is what society tells us) that you can only be bone thin to have anorexia.

I used to look at videos on youtube called thinspiration videos to help keep myself motivated on losing weight. I used to be obsessed with counting calories and I would weigh myself constantly and I used to make excuses not to hang out with my friends at times because I simply did not have the energy. I used to suck it up, though, because going for a walk meant burning more calories. I also used to take pictures of myself in tight underwear. Very tight underwear to make me look like I had love-handles etc. I do regret those pictures, since one day my father saw one and he assumed it was for other, self-disrespecting reasons. I never found out which picture he saw, and I never explained myself to him because I was afraid. Instead, I let him think I have no self-worth and I think he might have thought I took that picture for a boy, which is a heart-breaking thought, since I know better than that.
It's an awful obsession.

I woke up one morning before school and fell down after rising from my bed. My head was pounding like crazy. You know that rush you get when you get up too fast? It was like that but, now I'm not exaggerating, but it was 20x worse and lasted all day. I didn't know what exactly was going on with me, but it was hell. I did have an idea and I assumed it was due to my eating only 150-200 calories a day for 3 weeks. Maybe it was less than 3 weeks, perhaps a little more than... I'm not sure.

Anyways, I think I got lucky. I had the worst headache imaginable for one day and even though it was completely awful, that was it. I later educated myself on anorexia and weight loss and I know and understand it all almost completely. Not only has being enlightened on the topic helped me, but I could share my knowledge with others and help them as well. I helped my sister, my cousin, and 3 friends, and they're all healthy as far as I know.

 

[eye of the divine]

wow thank you for sharing this I know its never easy to talk about these sort of topics.

When my friend was at his worst he was eatting 200 - 250 calories a day he went to the gym for about 1-3 hours a day and he eventually ended up going jaudiced (basically he turned yellow because his liver was failing) He's lost teeth as well. He was 10 stone then it dropped further

I don't think I could cope seeing him like that again.

 

[Rydia]

[My dad's cousin died from anorexia. The last time we ever saw her was at my uncle's funeral. It was the middle of July and she was wearing a heavy winter coat because she was so cold. I never saw how skinny she was that day. About a month later we got a call that she was found dead. And her family never did any thing about the disease which kind of upsets me.

Other than that, I have never been close to someone that had an eating disorder

 

[eye of the divine]

[My dad's cousin died from anorexia. The last time we ever saw her was at my uncle's funeral. It was the middle of July and she was wearing a heavy winter coat because she was so cold. I never saw how skinny she was that day. About a month later we got a call that she was found dead. And her family never did any thing about the disease which kind of upsets me.

I'm really sorry for your loss hun and thank you for sharing I know its never easy I musta re typed my original post 10 times before posting it.

 

[Crystal]

A classmate on elementary school had an eating disorder, she was one of a twin. She was fine back then, I hadn't seen her in a while but one day when I was on my way to high school I saw her father pushing her forwards in a wheelchair, I heard later from someone that her weight was around 35 kilo and she didn't have the strength to do anything.
It's horrible to see how people with an eating disorder suffer and that they don't even realize how worse their health is, it's really difficult to change their image of theirselves. Even though you see the bones clearly they still look at some 'fat' somewhere.
I don't really have any advise too bad, as I don't know anyone who has an eating disorder , but I hope your friend has the strength to fight against it again, eye of the divine.

 

[Jacqui]

I am a recovering bulimic/compulsive overeater. It's difficult. But I understand why people get funny about it. I started with my eating disorder when I was 19 or 20. Before that I couldn't get into my head why someone would do anything so destructive. I guess I was a little naive...I soon found out how people could do it. I was also a part of some pro-ana websites at one point- I was desperate for contact with other people in the same situation. But this video shows you just how destructive those sites can be. It's sad that people still live by those rules.

OK, I understand, I double posted and didn't realise that mine was the last post. But was deleting my post really necessary, considering it's importance?

Anyway, I am adding these links to my post because nobody here is qualified to diagnose eating disorders (go to your GP), and even if they are, they don't want hassling here

About Eating Disorders- http://www.b-eat.co.uk/AboutEatingDisorders
Help and Support- http://www.b-eat.co.uk/HelpandSupport
Contact b-eat UK charity- http://www.b-eat.co.uk/ContactUs
Online support regarding eating disorders- www.recoveryboat.com