Anorexic? I don't THINK so!

Hmm the title is weird.

I was looking at some videos today of girls who were saying that to be anorexic, you must be thin. They pulled out the definition and surely enough, anorexia nervosa means you have to be skinny or have a decent weight loss.

So that means I'm not anorexic because I'm not skinny.

So what am I?
Suddenly I'm nothing ... again.
I'm just a girl, who thinks she's anorexic, but she's not.
Does that make me a wannabe?
A try-hard?
A fluffy? (someone who pretends to be anorexic, but isn't)

Does all the things I do count or do they mean nothing because I'm not skinny?

Will nobody listen to me until I am underweight?

I'm so confused. So many questions.

Suddenly I don't know what I am anymore.
Suddenly I actually care.


*reads over post*
Wow, that's a lot of blabbering.

Ok that's going to be hard to reply to, so hugs would be just grand, thankyou. Hugs would be grand.

The technical meaning may be very different to what it really is. Not everyone is a text book case.

If you are obsessed with your weight, thinking your fat when actually you are quite thin, not eating, constantly dieting, dropping weight and then gorging. All of these are signs of Anorexia.

If you are doing all or even some of these things then perhaps you need to seek help.

Oh and a big hug too heheheeh.

jesusmysaviour76 said:

The technical meaning may be very different to what it really is. Not everyone is a text book case.

If you are obsessed with your weight, thinking your fat when actually you are quite thin, not eating, constantly dieting, dropping weight and then gorging. All of these are signs of Anorexia.

If you are doing all or even some of these things then perhaps you need to seek help.

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I have previously been anorexic. (ie. I have previously been down to a very low weight). I went through recovery (for about the fourth or fifth time) and I have put on recovery weight and now I'm taking it off again. For about 10 years, I've struggled with eating - basically I just don't eat. I know it's unhealthy etc. But it's just a part of me now, it's what I do.

I guess the video really got me thinking because it's sort of cruel. I have *finally* admitted that I have a problem and that I am anorexic, yet now I'm not. Are you still anorexic if you put on recovery weight? Or are you only anorexic when you are at a low weight?

jesusmysaviour76 said:

Oh and a big hug too heheheeh.

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Thankyou for the hug, that made me smile.

Hey Gorgeous,
Hugs I can do . But you already know that I’m sending hugs your way and that I pray for you every day. You matter, ok? You matter so much.

You already know what I think about those videos and how worried I am that you watched them. And I don’t know for sure why you did it, although I think I can probably guess

When God made you He didn’t rush. He had the perfect design in mind and He molded you with the same passion that we hear about when they talk about His love. Like a potter molds his clay with precision and care. You are as beautiful and as unique as a glistening snowflake – no two are the same. But because we’re all different we also do things differently. Sweetie, you know no two people have exactly the same eating disorder – they’re given names and labels because that’s what we do in society. Everything with a label, everything in the right place.

But we’re not files in storage – we can’t be defined quite so simply. I’m fine with eating disorders being given names because in many senses it helps, but don’t ever assume you are less of a person just because you don’t fit some man-made checklist. Even if you took the ED away there would still be you. The musician who plays a crazy amount of instruments – but not just plays them: plays them well. The singer who wants to be heard but is still a little unsure of herself. The girlfriend who knows she’s dating a great guy and is thankful for him. The ‘goes-out-of-her-way-to-help-others’ girl who is always there when I and others want to talk. The teacher who wants to pass on her love for music and learning. Squiggle, there is so much more to you, even though I know it seems that your ED is you.

Sweetie, I can’t answer your questions about whether or not you’re anorexic. I’m not a doctor and I try not to attach to many labels to people if I can help it. I do know that you have an ED though and that no matter how much you tell me it’s all ok, you really do want the life of happiness. You know that on these forums we do listen to you and we care so much, but we can’t do that much through the internet. You said you once considered going to see the counsellor at uni and I still think that’s a great idea.

I’m always here if you want to talk Sweetie.

Shalom,
Steffi

Steffi, I love you I'm actually tearing up at the moment. I read every word of your post and it was so helpful and so beautiful, thankyou. Honestly, I am so glad God sent you to this forum. You are such a help

I know I am not anorexic. I guess it's just confusing. It's like, once I do put a label on myself, I turn around and I'm not supposed to be that anymore. I don't know. I know I shouldn't be watching those videos.

Anyway. I'm not sure what my post was supposed to mean. I read over it and still couldnt' work out my own point, so thankyou guys for replying, that means a lot. If you could take the time to read through and attempt to figure out what I meant, it shows you care.

I have had an eating dissorder for 21 years,when it first started I was anorexic,as I became older(30)they changed my diag.to anorexic/bulimic.I started out around 110lbs,now I weigh 164-just lost 14 pounds,so NO you do not have to be skinny to be diag,with anorexia,I eat sometimes,then I don't.I just started working out at the YMCA,I have back and neck problems,keeps me from doing everyday things at times.I have used laxatives,diuretics,diet pills,you name it I have tried it,about a year ago my body almost shut down,keep in mind I weighed about 180.I've been hospitalized a few times.I lost my teeth from the purging,I now have to get a vitamin B-12 shot monthly,I'm almost anemic even with the shot,I have to take folic acid also.I'm trying to get this under control,when you have done this for as many years that I have it is hard to shake,not that I'm not trying.I freak everytime I get on the scale and gain 1-2 pounds.I've come along way and I have a long way to go,I know that someday I will be delievered of this,I try to take one day at a time,so don't run yourself down,not that I'm trying to label you,butt you don't have to feel like a wannabe,or any of the other negative feelings you may have,I thank the Lord for bringing me as far as he had,I'll be praying for you,God Bless you!

Well, I WAS diagnosed anorexic purging type when I was inpatient. I was also at a low/normal weight.

Hi,

I haven't much to say about your current situation. I don't know if you know this or not, but you don't have to be skinny, or underweight to be anorexic. Let me inclued if I may that's a very good thing to remember about Anorexia:


It's important to realize that you're health if affected not matter what you weigh. It's just that the skinny ones get more attention. I hope I have helped you in some way. Take care, and know that I understand all too well what you're going through. Oh and: here's a big hug from me.

Liz

squigglemonster said:

Hmm the title is weird.

I was looking at some videos today of girls who were saying that to be anorexic, you must be thin. They pulled out the definition and surely enough, anorexia nervosa means you have to be skinny or have a decent weight loss.

So that means I'm not anorexic because I'm not skinny.

So what am I?
Suddenly I'm nothing ... again.
I'm just a girl, who thinks she's anorexic, but she's not.
Does that make me a wannabe?
A try-hard?
A fluffy? (someone who pretends to be anorexic, but isn't)

Does all the things I do count or do they mean nothing because I'm not skinny?

Will nobody listen to me until I am underweight?

I'm so confused. So many questions.

Suddenly I don't know what I am anymore.
Suddenly I actually care.


*reads over post*
Wow, that's a lot of blabbering.

Ok that's going to be hard to reply to, so hugs would be just grand, thankyou. Hugs would be grand.

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((((((((((Squiggle))))))))))))))

I could have written that post about myself

- Shaz

Sorry it's been a while since I was on. I wanted to say thankyou for all of your posts. I have read them each, a couple times over, and they mean a lot to me.

squiggle over here he he

goldenviolet said:

squiggle over here he he

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Thanks Dee That made me smile.

lol, i'm glad.

squigglemonster said:

Sorry it's been a while since I was on. I wanted to say thankyou for all of your posts. I have read them each, a couple times over, and they mean a lot to me.

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i wanted to comment on your post if thats ok.

just because you are not underweight does not mean you do not have a serious eating disorder.

though a dianostic criteria for anorexia nervousa is to be (correct me if I am wrong) 85% of ideal body weight, that does not mean if you do not fit into that discription that you do not have a life threatening eating disorder.

i had a really bad relapse a few years ago where i went from being overweight (was first time ever in my life) to being at bottom of normal weight on the ideal body weight chart.... in three months. my body was so damaged, and i was so sick that i HAD to go inpatient or i could have died. My heart was palpatating, my blood pressure was very low... my pulse was very slow, i could not fight off infection. i got a kidney infection that i could not heal from, my joints got a virus in them so they ached horribly. but i was still within my "ideal weight" range. yet i was very sick. my hair fell out, my gums were inflamed, my skin was chalky colored, my nails brittle, i grew the lanugo hair on my face (tiny hairs to keep me body warm).... in essance... all the things that happen to a body that is emaciated happened to me because i deprived myself of nutrients.

when i went ip the dianostic label they gave me was
"eating disorder not otherwise specified" and i was outraged.... how could they do that? i thought.... i am clearly anorexic.... that is only a label.... and it is never an IDENTITY....

the point is that it is an addiction, and it is dangerous and can and will kill you. kill you dead.... no more breath, no more life. dead. and i have lost friends to this disorder and it will take you if you don't get help.

i nearly died several times over course of my years of treatments and relapses. but i did not have a relationship with Jesus that I have now then. And maybe if I did, i would not have suffered so much, maybe i would have still. maybe God wanted me to suffer so i could help others. now i want to be nurse and work in a treatment center for eating disorders to help others recover.... it is passion of mine, to help those be set free from this horrible addiction.

it sucked 15 years of my life out of me. at 30, i have lasting effects. damaged nerves, brittle bones, chronic dry skin, weak nails and brittle hair. i still get heart palpataions sometimes, and my blood pressure is very sensative too.... its still can go low if i don't keep very very hydrated...

please..... i encourage you to seek some help to deal with this before it takes you under..... I feel God tugging on my heart to tell you this. i don't know you full background, nor how truely bad off you are, but God is clearly speaking to me to minister to you...He loves you and wants you to know that..... and believe that. Man may have failed you, but He never ever will. Trust in Him. He will heal you deliver you and restore you....

Dawn

Dawn thankyou so much for your reply. You have so much strength in you and it is inspirational. Thankyou for caring

squigglemonster said:

Dawn thankyou so much for your reply. You have so much strength in you and it is inspirational. Thankyou for caring

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your welcome... I give glory to God... because without His healing and mercy I would not be able to minister to anyone....

i am praying for you and everyone else who is still being tortured by this horrid disease....

Dawn

docs usually reserve the label anorexic for cases that meet the requirements (or most thereof) of the DSM-IV. If the patient doesn't fit in those requirements, they are given the label ED-NOS. not everyone super skinny is anorexic, same as a person can be really skinny and way below the normal weight range for that age bracket but not be suffering from an ED at all. it's not just about the weight, although this is a considerable factor when other factors are taken into consideration.