Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

What Are The Symptoms Of An Eating Disorder?

I m an 18 year old female, I am 175 cm and 54 - 55 kilos, which gives me a BMI of 17. About 7 months ago, I went through my final exam period and dropped 5 kilos from stress and anxiety, initially being 60 kilos. Since then I have had an obsession with keeping the weight off and losing more and I never used to be like this. For the past month it has been quite bad. I have literally got into the habit of starving myself, feeling guilty if I even something as small as a sandwich. I will count the calories of everything. My new eating habit has turned into drinking energy drinks as meal replacement as well as diet pills. It has escalated to me feeling very disappointed if I can t go the whole day without eating. It is on my mind almost constantly. When I look in the mirror I don t feel I am thin or underweight. I don t however see myself as fat, I just see largeness in certain areas of my body that I want to go away. I am beginning to feel quite fatigued and ill, and have times where I ve felt I was going to pass out. I come from a family of 6, where everyone, except myself, is very overweight and I m not sure if this contributes to my behaviour. When someone tells me I look like a skeleton or sick from how thin I look, I take it as a compliment and it becomes encouragement to me. I know how sick this is but these are my initial reactions. From my understanding, anorexia nervosa is an obsessive compulsive disorder and is associated with extreme fear and terror. I don t have these feelings, however the idea on putting on weight is very upsetting to me. Can someone enlighten me as to what s happening? Is this just a phase or is this the early signs of an eating disorder?
Tue, 31 Mar 2015
Report Abuse
Psychiatrist 's  Response
Hello, I have gone thoroughly through your problem, and i am not feeling good to say you that it is not normal or any phasic variation. BMI is the basic parametre generally psychiatrist look for the diagnosis of eating disorder. Your age and female gender supports this. And you are probably suffering from this for more than 7 to 8 months. It is sufficient duration to let you know that you are in the begining of eating disorder. Your cognitive make up, life style, routine has all been changed. Your worry that eating disorder is an obsessive compulsive disorder and is associated with extreme fear and terror. But there are always personal variations and each and every patient is different. I would like to suggest you to take specialist consultation as early as possible.

Rgards
I find this answer helpful

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Recent questions on Anorexia


Loading Online Doctors....
What Are The Symptoms Of An Eating Disorder?

Hello, I have gone thoroughly through your problem, and i am not feeling good to say you that it is not normal or any phasic variation. BMI is the basic parametre generally psychiatrist look for the diagnosis of eating disorder. Your age and female gender supports this. And you are probably suffering from this for more than 7 to 8 months. It is sufficient duration to let you know that you are in the begining of eating disorder. Your cognitive make up, life style, routine has all been changed. Your worry that eating disorder is an obsessive compulsive disorder and is associated with extreme fear and terror. But there are always personal variations and each and every patient is different. I would like to suggest you to take specialist consultation as early as possible. Rgards