Am I an Anorexic?

Hi there,
I'm new here and I hate my body and always have. I am clinically bipolar and on medications that I think made me gain weight. I ballooned from 120 to 210! My family noticed and made rude comments, even my own mother. I tried "getting out more" but it didn't help & being on these pills just make me so tired. So I started to binge & purge with much pain and every time I eat there's GUILT like I've killed something. This only dropped my size a bit and the drs wouldn't help me so I stopped eating. The past 5 days I haven't eaten anything then I'll have a sandwich then feel guilt then 4 or 5 more days. I have taken hardcore diet pills despite being on antidepressants, I'm on hydroxcut now, I can't stop myself. The GUILT with food and feeling so ugly and unloved and gross when I eat is killing me. Am I am Anorexic? My mom came up to me crying today wanting me to eat, I just want to die I feel so powerless, thank you.

Regardless of whether this is anorexia or not, you should get help (preferably professional) immediately.

That said, I don't know enough about your situation or the diagnosis of anorexia to definitely say this is a case. But what I can definitely say is that even if it isn't classifiable as such just yet there's certainly a chance it could develop and worsen if you let this continue. Restricting food intake and feeling guilty about eating are two of the most severe problems any anorexic will encounter. You may be afraid of eating, but by not eating you will simply make the fear worse, and make life harder for yourself. Though I was only anorexic for two years, it nearly killed me several times.

Please take care of yourself, and do not take this lightly. My thoughts go out to you.

Giant Squid wrote:Regardless of whether this is anorexia or not, you should get help (preferably professional) immediately.

That said, I don't know enough about your situation or the diagnosis of anorexia to definitely say this is a case. But what I can definitely say is that even if it isn't classifiable as such just yet there's certainly a chance it could develop and worsen if you let this continue. Restricting food intake and feeling guilty about eating are two of the most severe problems any anorexic will encounter. You may be afraid of eating, but by not eating you will simply make the fear worse, and make life harder for yourself. Though I was only anorexic for two years, it nearly killed me several times.

Please take care of yourself, and do not take this lightly. My thoughts go out to you.

Thanks, I do restrict a lot and still haven't eaten a thing. When I think of the guilt of putting weight on it's the worst, for me eating seems to just cause more grief right now. I have lost over 9 pounds this week alone. Still feel so disgusting, I truly hate my body. I think I'm hooked on diet pills, haven't told the dr. I take them but thats just because I dunno if he'd care. Last apt. I had BEGGED him for help with my being overweight on antidepressants he was more worried about my infection. I told him I've starved myself and he never even flinched. Being bipolar, I'm used to people thinking I just want attention, when that couldn't be further from the truth. Thank you so much for your help I feel so hopeless.

Your best bet would be to go to see someone who specialises with eating disorders. Any decent doctor will do their best to keep you in good health, but anorexia can be misunderstood or go undiagnosed. You say he didn't react when you told him you were starving yourself, but did you suggest that it was part of a larger problem? Did you outright say you might have an eating disorder?

I went to several medical practitioners during the early stages of my anorexia. At this point we had never even used the word 'anorexia'. The first two said little more than 'come back in a few months and see if it's still a problem'. It wasn't until my mum took me to a hospital with a specialised anorexia clinic that someone recognised the problem and I really got any adequate help. I was hospitalised immediately; my heartbeat was only 30 beats per minute.

If you feel you can't do it yourself, get someone else to help you. But please - even if you're not sure if you have anorexia - contact someone who knows about this condition and might be able to treat you.

Giant Squid wrote:Your best bet would be to go to see someone who specialises with eating disorders. Any decent doctor will do their best to keep you in good health, but anorexia can be misunderstood or go undiagnosed. You say he didn't react when you told him you were starving yourself, but did you suggest that it was part of a larger problem? Did you outright say you might have an eating disorder?

I went to several medical practitioners during the early stages of my anorexia. At this point we had never even used the word 'anorexia'. The first two said little more than 'come back in a few months and see if it's still a problem'. It wasn't until my mum took me to a hospital with a specialised anorexia clinic that someone recognised the problem and I really got any adequate help. I was hospitalised immediately; my heartbeat was only 30 beats per minute.

If you feel you can't do it yourself, get someone else to help you. But please - even if you're not sure if you have anorexia - contact someone who knows about this condition and might be able to treat you.

Wow..I'm very sorry it took that long for anyone to help you. These days it is a more common known of problem then it was, I know metal heath issues used to be taboo but now not as much. I hadn't said Anorexia because really he was rushing me out of the office, he was behind & strapped for time. As it was I was almost in tears doctors are supposed to know these things, I'm bipolar & they sure don't flinch at giving me pills for that. Here I am now, in the blazing heat & no AC still not eating, I just don't feel anything inside anymore. When the hunger pangs got the worst the other day I grabbed some of my moms left over Mac ,n cheese from the fridge and started to chew then spit it out in a bowl for about 3 whole minutes! That's a first low of that nature for me, but I feel as though sometimes lows are bottomless. Up here in Canada we have to wait ages to see a specialist & a lot of docs just don't care. The price of medicare. I feel it's hopeless.