Am I anorexic?

[Darkeinu ♥]

The thought has crossed my mind many times. I don't eat. I avoid eating. Many times during the school year, I eat only breakfast and nothing else during the day, and that is only because I have to eat to take meds. I go through my day, and sometimes feel the feeling of hunger, and ignore it. I don't know why, maybe it's because all I feel is depressed and if not, then I'm numb, so maybe I enjoy feeling something else. To make matters worse, my mom gets on top of me for the slightest pound gained, because I am little so it shows. My therapist is worried about my eating habits. I don't count calories, I don't stare at the mirror and go "I'm fat". I do though deny anyone who tells me I'm beautiful or pretty, but that is more of self esteem. Am I anorexic? It's something I've been wondering for a while. I know that no one here is a certified doctor, but still.....

I put triggering to be on the safe side.

[aloharocker]

Only a doctor can diagnose you with an eating disorder, of any kind. Generally, an eating disorder is about control. Controlling intake, controlling weight... bringing order to a chaotic life and obsessing about details and being in control of something. It's usually not about the food/eating itself.

If your therapist is concerned, it's probably an issue. If you're intentionally not eating, for whatever reason... that's not healthy and is something that should probably be professionally addressed. But like I said, only a doctor can make that decision.

[Revolution]

Hey Amalia,

Anorexia is a very specific disorder, and few people are ever diagnosed with it. Even if you display symptoms of an eating disorder, and an eating disorder just as dangerous and unhealthy as another, it doesn't necessarily get categorized into the typical "Anorexia" or "Bulimia". These two disorders contain very specific criteria, as seen in the DSM IV, and when you do not meet the exact ones, you are thrown into the "Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified" (EDNOS) category. This doesn't mean you have "less of" an eating disorder, it just means you have a serious eating disorder that is not Anorexia or Bulimia.

I would recommend talking to your therapist about what you're doing, since they will be able to help you most. I would also talk to your therapist, along with your mother, about what she is doing and how it makes you feel. You do not deserve to have to suffer from her criticism without her at least knowing that it is hurting you. Good luck!

[Darkeinu ♥]

I hate food. I hate food. I just don't like how it takes that feeling of hunger away.

[FillingWithHope]

I don't think you are anorexic because it doesn't seem like you have most of the symptoms. You may hate food but there is probably a reason behind that. I remember I got so depressed that I felt like I didn't have any control and just didn't eat. I wasn't anorexic it was just how I was handling my depression at the time. If I were you just eat healthy. Don't feel like you can't eat anything just be careful what you eat. Just try eating healthier. If you can't, then maybe talk to your therapist about this, see what she says.