Eating Disorders

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I'm curious if there's any other women on the spectrum struggling with an eating disorder.

I've been struggling with it for months now. It started off as a decrease of appetite through severe bouts of depression, I ended up losing alot of weight, and now I'm scared to gain it back. I've lost nearly thirty pounds that I never had to lose to begin with. Although my BMI is normal, even when I look in the mirror, I don't feel like myself anymore. I've always had big breasts and shapely hips - - I was soft, but in a feminine way. I was never overweight. Yet now, I don't feel small enough.

It amazes me how a logical person can act so irrational. I eat an average of about 300-500 calories in a day, yet often feel like I've eaten too much or that my stomach has expanded.

I'm not sure whether this post is appropriate or not. I'm just wondering if there's another person like me out there.

Because sadly, I know that I can't be the only one.

I think the average daily calorie intake is at least over 1,000.
Isn't it 1,200 or 1,500?

I had anorexia when I was 16. I didn't know what anorexia was; and it was something that was not well known at the time. I'm 45 now.

In my case, I wanted to lose weight, and saw myself as fat. I would limit my calories to about 200 to 300 a day. I didn't eat any fats or carbs like bread. After a while, my hair started falling out and I got brown rough patches of skin. It's malnutrition.

I used it to control my environment, and I had extremely low self esteem.

I think you might consider seeing a doctor; that sounds like anorexia to me.

Quoted for truth. I can still clearly recall stepping out of the shower one day when I was about 19 or 20, looking at myself in the mirror and seeing how much my ribs were showing. My first thought was, "My God, I have such big ribs!" and not "God, I'm getting too thin." It's so easily to get a warped sense of reality with this stuff, so I'd second the previous poster's suggestion about considering seeing a doctor or therapist.

To answer your original question, no, you are definitely not the only woman on the spectrum with problems with ED's, unfortunately. Actually, I recall reading an article with an ED expert who thought a high number of her patients she was treating for anorexia probably had undiagnosed Asperger's.

Cecilia,

Do you live with your family or have someone that you live with around all the time?
I'm asking because coming out of anorexia is not the easiest thing to do, and it often leads to Bulimia.


If I knew back then what I know now about nutrition, I would have tried to come out of my ED's in a healthier way....that's how a doc might be helpful if you're scared about doing this alone.


If you don't want to see a regular doc, maybe try a nutritionist, or someone who can advise a healthy eating routine. I needed that and I didn't do it at the time. If you don't want to see any specialists, try reading online and find a healthy diet with lots of veggies and fruits. You'll have less of an aversion to natural raw whole foods while you come out of this.


30 years later for me, I am not anorexic or bulimic anymore, and in fact I definitely need to lose weight. You can and will be cured too. I'm just sharing my experience because I wish I knew these things back then. I don't mean to sound like a "know-it-all". I'm not.


Believe in yourself. If you can control your eating to make it more healthy like you're controlling it now, then you'll have the will power to heal as well.

I'm in treatment for eating/food issues at the moment, and can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Going to the gym and getting stronger has been my safety valve of late, whereas before I'd have just starved after eating "too much".
My therapist today said I'm still too focused on calories and weight loss, but a month ago I was in the full grips of the thing,
and now I'm finding healthier ways to deal with my post-eating angst.

I agree, about the irrationality of it all.
I'm one of the most logical people I know, and am violently opposed to the emphasis put on women to look a certain way-
a way that I feel is downright unnatural if not harmful.
But when it comes to myself, that doesn't mean I don't feel enormous pressure to achieve that aesthetic, and set myself apart in so-doing,
even to the detriment of my health and relationships.

My BMI is normal, but both my family and psychiatrist have noted that I am thinner than I should be.

My bones don't protrude, but if I lose much more, they'll start to. Also, it should be noted, that having a traumatic medical history, there's no way I'd ever induce vomiting. I will admit, though, that I do abuse laxatives. I just can't stand the feeling of fullness in my stomach, which is why I'm eating alot of frozen yogurt, soup, berries, and oatmeal. Everything else makes me feel huge.

I'm very open with my family and doctors about my eating disorder. I've tried getting better, but it only backfires within a week. I just figure that when I'm ready, I'll be ready. But I'm just not yet.

This is a bit off topic, but what do you think about the pro ana/mia sites? I've never had an ED, but I heard about them somewhere and looked at them, and they do sort of promote it. Well some really promote it, others have disclaimers saying not to do this but if you are determined here is some harm reduction.

I do support their right to free speech, and promoting what they believe in on the internet is their right, but there are so many girls and women who are vulnerable to ED's that I just don't think it's a good idea to provide them with the how to's. I support their right to say it, but not what they say.

Not to derail the thread, but it reminded me of those sites, so I thought I would ask.

I wasn't just writing here to ask for support (though I appreciate it) but also for other women to talk about their own issues.

Pro-Ana is DISGUSTING. I joined one site for a while, hoping to find support. But it's just a contest, really, of who can make herself sicker.

No I am just underweight due to lack of appetite, but I don't actively refuse to eat or anything like that I just can't bring myself to do it often enough.

For a start The op wouldn't fit the DSM for anorexia or anorexia nervosa. Most likely she has EDNOS which is in no way less severe or dangerous but should not be mistaken for anorexia or bulemia.

I currently have EDNOS and it is not fun. I was in remission for a while but now it is back and I can feel it going towards the rhelm of anorexia and hopefully not anorexia nervosa again.

I would recommend talking to a doctor about your issues. Where I live EDNOS is not treated on a health care plan for people over a certain age so until I fit the DSM requirements for either binge eating, bulimia or anorexia, I can not get coverage.

Is there a difference between anorexia and anorexia nervosa?

I thought there were two types of anorexia, anorexia nervosa being one of them and bulimia, at least that is all we went over in my abnormal psychology class.

Hey,
Yes, I have had anorexia for 14 years. Currently doing alot better.
One really important issue that stands out to me is your body image of yourself. It is not healthy at all, and if you leave it without treatment you could get sick. I wish I had worked harder on my illness in the begining, the longer you have anorexia, the harder it is to recover......
Please go and talk to someone.
verticalmum.

Please don't, with the laxatives. I recently came off abusing them (read: three bottles of the saline stimulant kind a day) and I'm so so lucky I didn't permanently mess up my stomach- it can become desensitized over time where after you stop taking them, you CAN'T.

I'm still getting used to having food in me on a regular basis.

Yes, anorexia is a loss of appetite due to either illness or side effects from medicine. Anorexia Nervosa is the resistance to eating due to a psychological issue.

Many medicines list anorexia as a side effect. Stimulants are the first ones that come to mind. They used to be prescribed as diet pills back in the 70's, but I don't know if they do that anymore. My oldest son was on Ritalin for a while when he was in elementary school and it caused him to not want to eat very much and he lost weight.