Eating Disorders Forum


Anorexia	Join us now!

Medical Questions-> Health Forums -> Eating Disorders -> Anorexia

Medical Questions

Author

Message

stich

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 02 Aug 2005
Posts: 5

Anorexia Posted: 08-02-05 22:25pm


Can someone please set me straight!! I have recently been diagnosed with diabetes and through after that I was advised I have an eating disorder, which is anorexia. I have been having a really hard time believing this because I do not feel I fit into that "stereotypical" view of anorexia. I am overweight as I have been since I was born and because of back injuries I am limited in my physical activity. I don't use laxatives, however I skip many meals. I have done this for the last 8 to 10 years and when I found out I was diabetic, I tried eating three meals, but after two days I became extremely overwhelmed, depressed, guilty and a major sense of feeling out of control. I know I have issues with food because I had an abusive childhood due to my weight and I grew up being taught food was bad. I was forced into getting my stomach stappled when I was younger and because I was so stuck on my weight I chose to have it done again about 5 years ago and expected all my issues to be gone when I lost the weight. However that didn't happen and because of my physical limitations, I can only control what goes in my mouth. I hate eating in public and although I prefer to eat at home, I will also skip meals there as well. I am struggling with this a lot and I thought if I put this question out there someone may be able to help me with this. I can accept I have problems with my eating behavior, but I am not sure if it is as serious as these professionals believe. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Nikia

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 27 Nov 2003
Posts: 74
Location: Wisconsin

This Might Be More Serious Since You Are Diabetic Posted: 08-03-05 22:25pm


As I understand it, you are seriously messing with your blood sugar levels if you don't eat regularly. If you are diabetic, this can be deadly. Your body cannot adjust it easily like non diabetics. While doctors might not be as worried about the average overweight person with anorexic behaviors compared to someone who is already underweight, being diabetic puts you even at higher risk of serious damage or sudden death than an anorexic is mildly underweight. You need to work with a dietician to formulate a diet that will be healthy for your diabetes and that you can live with. If your attitudes are strong and you feel bad about sticking to a regular healthy diet or cannot do it, you might need some therapy. You are putting yourself in danger if you don't eat regularly even though you are not underweight because you have diabetes.

stich

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 02 Aug 2005
Posts: 5

I Am Just Really Confused! Posted: 08-04-05 17:11pm


I realize now that I am a diabetic I have to be very careful with watching my sugar, however since I have been on medication my sugars have come down. They are still up and down and I know that I have eat because not only am I diabetic, I am on medication, but when I tried to eat three meals a day when I was first diagnosed I became extremely overwhelmed and felt like I was loosing control and I thought it was better to stop eating and deal with the issues from my diabetes than feel like I am loosing control. It is really difficult because if I don't eat I feel terrible physically, however if I do eat, I feel terrible mentally. I have started seeing someone about my eating habits, which is where my original question came from. She stated I have anorexia and I don't believe I am. When I think of someone struggling with anorexia I don't see me. Like I said before, I just don't eat. I don't over exercise or use laxatives or other medications to loose weight. I am just having a really hard time believing that I have an eating disorder anorexia. When I seen this cite I thought someone would be able to help me understand what is happening and letting me know if they are right with their diagnosis. Thanks.

BrokenButterfly

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 28
Location: Ireland

Posted: 08-04-05 17:46pm


Hey hun, people who suffer from eating distress do not have to exercise or take laxatives etc. There are people who simply do not eat and some people do but very little. There are so many behaviours involved in eating distress that just because you do one thing and not the other doesn't mean you are not in distress. You are not anorexic, that is not who you are its what you do. Labels are terrible because you begin to think of yourself as a certain label and you are so much more then that. Eating distress is not being anorexic or bulimic etc, its about how you think and feel, its about who you are and finding yourself, the positive self. People who suffer from eating distress usually think very negativily about themselves, its like their negative mind over powers their positive mind and one of the things that you do when you are in recovery is shrink the negative and make the positive bigger. I know you said you are finding it hard to think of yourself as anorexic but you don't have to think of yourself like that, you can think of yourself as a beautiful human being, who is very intellegent and very sensitive but who along the way got a little lost along her path and is now going to get on track again. Although the food part is there and can be overwhelming at times, sure that is what we use to cope with life, food be it eating it or not eating it. We use food as a coping mechanism for life and through recovery we learn how to use other coping mechanisms which are less destructive to ourselves. You deserve to be happy with life and yourself, you are worth it. Wouldn't it be great for you to be able to go out and enjoy yourself, enjoy life without feeling bad about yourself? I think it would be so much better then living in such a lonely place. Remember there is always hope and you will get there, even if it does take awhile, there is hope. I wish you the best of luck in life and I know you will one day be living a life you have always dreamt of. Take care!

stich

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 02 Aug 2005
Posts: 5

Posted: 08-04-05 18:55pm


Thank you both for your reply. I completely agree with your statements about labels and I also feel they are used way too often, however once you are labeled by medical professionals, it is stuck with you forever. I wish I could be more positive about who I am, however because my entire childhood has been focused on my weight, it is hard not to do the same myself. I know I am a very intelligent person, however I have been told constantly by my parents how fat, ugly and stupid I was and therefore it is extremely difficult to not continue the negative thoughts around my body image. I am successful both professionally and academically and have continued to look for "things" to succeed in life to try and feel better about myself, however it always comes back to my weight. Which is likely why I feel I cannot eat and when I do I get so stressed out. I am just so frustrated because I know intellectually I have to eat because of my diabetes, however in my heart I can't get past that guilt and overwhelming feeling of loosing control. The biggest thing I get angry and frustrated with is when I don't eat I feel terrible, however when I do eat, I feel just as terrible. So how to I balance that? I will certianly continue to work with my social worker on trying to work through this, however it is extremely overwhelming and very frustrating. I guess I thought when I seen this cite I would be able to get guidance from others who may be in this situation, or can help with their knowledge about this topic. Therefore, anything people can tell me to help would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, stich

Anorexia