Anorexia

[Lady_J]

My friend is starving herself to death. She is 5'6" and she weighs 86 lbs. They did tests on her yesterday, and her kidneys and liver aren't working properly. Of course, she could have a heart attack at any moment.

I guess I'm just looking for answers. Is anyone recovering from an ED? Is there anything friends and family can do to help? Should I give her space? She's not thinking clearly, and she's paranoid, and all I want to do is grab her and stuff food in her. Of course the hospital staff would probably frown upon that type pf therapy.

Give me some hope, I don't think I can lose a friend like this.

 

[Guest]

That's really a sad story.....sorry about the original ? mark.....

That's a disease I just can't comprehend. Sometimes I don't eat properly, but I'd never starve myself.

I just can't understand the mentality, though I've known a few myself.

Moon

 

[Starfish]

I wish I could give you hope. Finding out the root of the problem can help you conclude what to do.


Try talking to her to see what makes her do this.


I lost my father's sister, my aunt, to anorexia. I feel bad for you and your friend.

 

[QuickDuck]

I guess I'm just looking for answers. Is anyone recovering from an ED? Is there anything friends and family can do to help? Should I give her space? She's not thinking clearly, and she's paranoid, and all I want to do is grab her and stuff food in her. Of course the hospital staff would probably frown upon that type pf therapy.

*chuckle* probably not the best answer to the problem, but the reaction is certainly understandable

All i can suggest is to let her know she has your complete and total support.

/wave
QuickDuck

 

[Silverluna]

hon...

My SO is doing the same thing.....All I can give you is hope....that you aren't alone...this is a more common situation than most people want to admit...I wish that it wasn't but then...who decides these things? not i....



((hug))

The best thing is hospitialization....Victims cannot be fed to wellness....that much i do know....I am thankful my SO had a physical and they said he was fine....but that's what he told me...

 

[arleneX]

Why does this sort of thing happen ?

Is it cos the rest of us guzzlers dont have the time to be properly sympathetic and if so, how can that gap in our understanding be filled ?

 

[Silverluna]

with my SO ...it's like he said one night....i just don't feel like i'm worth anything.....not you...not anyone....You deserve someone better.....ect.


I'm sure there are other reasons......

 

[Ms_Lilith]

My friend is starving herself to death. She is 5'6" and she weighs 86 lbs. They did tests on her yesterday, and her kidneys and liver aren't working properly. Of course, she could have a heart attack at any moment.

I guess I'm just looking for answers. Is anyone recovering from an ED? Is there anything friends and family can do to help? Should I give her space? She's not thinking clearly, and she's paranoid, and all I want to do is grab her and stuff food in her. Of course the hospital staff would probably frown upon that type pf therapy.

Give me some hope, I don't think I can lose a friend like this.

Most people who suffer from an eating disorder don't actually think that they're fat. It might start that way, but it becomes an addiction. I always draw the parallel between eating disorders and alcoholism. They are diseases. I stopped throwing up 3 years ago (bullimia), and yet, I still consider myself to have the disease, because on rough days, I still want to purge. IT will always be with her, but what she needs is group help and therapy. There are groups for eating disorders (anorexics anon, eating disordered anon, stuff like that), and GET HER INTO THERAPY. There's a specific reason she's doing this, and it's not about weight. It might be about control. It might be about family relations. Just get her some psychological help. At her weight, she should be hospitalized. Do her a favour. Brush her hair. I bet some of it will fall out. Show her that. Leave it on her bed in front of her. Point out the little tiny white hairs that are beginning to cover her body. I know about those. It's her body trying to stay warm under such quickly changing circumstances.

GET HER HELP.

If you need me, feel free to PM me. I've been through and recovered from two eating disorders. I know what's going on, at least, somewhat. I can help.

 

[Lady_J]

Thanks for all the support.

Luckily C was very responsive to the idea of going into therapy, but she stopped a few months ago, and things got srastically worse. She's now in 24-hour care a clinic and she'll be doing out patient for a very long time I suppose. I just know that this won't work if she doesn't want to get better. As long as she continues to put stress on her body like this, she runs the risk of a heart attack.

She knows that she is sick. she sees her beautiful waist-length hair falling out, but she just doesn't believe she deserves to eat.

I am soooo mad at her family for being so messed up, but I guess we all have our family demons. It just isn't fair that children have to pay their whole lives for their parents' mistakes.

 

[Cara_f_32]

The broth of liptons cup a soup and 4 soda crackers

... less than 1/2 of an 8 oz glass of water. I lived on that for two months in the summer of 1996.It was a terrible time.

I didn't decide to stop eating one day, it truly just happened slowly over time. Why? I dont' think you ever get a real clear answer but there are several instances in life that change you. It is those instances that i had to learn to let go of and move on.

I know the wake up call for me to start eating again was a doctor telling me point blank in not so nice words that I was giving myself and eating disorder and you are going to end up on medication or hospitalized.

Starting to eat was painful..I had to retrain my taste buds, ketchup would burn my mouth and throat.

Not once did i ever think i was fat, i wasn't trying to lose weight. The rapid weight loss that happens has the worst consequences that last a life time. And you can bet before she was down to her lowest weight that someone said "oh you lost weight, you look good". Get her to a dentist and see how good she looks from the enamel which has worn off her teeth.

Visit her, talk to her about things she was previously interested in, do the littlest things often. Keep in mind you are dealing with one tired woman, it takes about 90% of your energy to just exist when you are barely eating.

The lack of food or to much food doesn't build an injured ego or dull your senses.

My prayers are with her.