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Help! Do I have an eating disorder?

Posted , 3 users are following.

j25x
j25x

Hello,

Just wondered if anyone could shed some light on my situation? I'm a 26 year old female, 5ft 2 and weigh 7.5 stone.

I have always been selective with the food that I eat since I was a child. I still eat everything that I should but just less portions compared to others.

I've noticed that I don't like when my food touches one another in a plate. It has to be in small portions but separated.

I was diagnosed with something called Reative Hypoglycemia late last year. It means I have pre-diabetics and I have to control it with my diet. This means I have to eat regularly, every 3 hours to be exact or else I get dizzy, limbs start shaking and on ocassions I have had seizures.

Since I was diagnosed I have been eating much healthier as I had to cut out sugar and junk food from my diet. However, as I've never been a great lover of food, eating so regularly is starting to make me feel sick.

Do I have an eating disorder?!

Thank you

J

x

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • katlouise1989
    katlouise1989 j25x

    Posted

    Hi. It sounds like you need to talk to a medical professional not a random group of strangers.

    The question you need to ask yourself is what makes you feel like you do, if you didn't do what you do how would you feel and why?

    These can help you figure out whether you do or don't.

    Eating disorders don't just happen overnight they are a response to a build up of life factors.

    There is an official diagnosis called selective eating disorder, yes, but you shouldn't self diagnose.

    • j25x
      j25x katlouise1989

      Posted

      Hi Katlouise,

      Thanks for the reply. Guess I was curious to see if anyone had experienced the same issues as I thought it might all be in my imagination.

      Interesting to know there's such a thing as selective eating disorder. I'm seeing a dietitian and CBT in a few weeks so I may be able to get further info.

      Thanks again

      J

      x

    • katlouise1989
      katlouise1989 j25x

      Posted

      Yep, I didn't want to ward you off - this is a great place to discuss coping strategies and so on, but I often think it's dangerous to self-diagnose before consulting a GP. It sounds like you've been very brave and amazing news to be getting support so quickly...that's unheard of in most parts of the country at present!

      Yep, SED is a less known form, as is orthorexia, body dysmorphia, EDNOS and others which escape my mind.

      I mentioned my comment above about distinguishing between selective eating and selective eating disorder.  Lots of people are selective, fussy, difficult etc around food (and other things too). Where it becomes a disorder is when it takes over everything you do. The other element is considering the why, and how and feelings.

      The CBT will be useful for this regardless of whether it is a disorder or not (but make sure you do the homework otherwise it doesn't work). It gets you to challenge behaviours e.g. for me I eat with a teaspoon because of my anorexia and combating that has been really hard for me. Again always eating dinner in my PJs because of fear of fullness, tightness and so on. It's easier if I wear my PJs but I'm having to confront this too.

      Hope this is helpful.

      Kat

    • j25x
      j25x katlouise1989

      Posted

      Hi Kat,

      Very helpful. I'm pleased to hear that you've found a routine that's working for you.

      I'll probably learn more about what's behind my way of thinking when I see the specialists in a few weeks.

      I've noticed I like to have smaller portions: sometimes in small plates but mostly in big plates because in my mind it seems like there's less food as I can see more space on the plate. If it's not set out like this to begin with, I'll literally starve myself. My OCD might play a role in this too.

      Thank you again, much appreciated.

      J

      x

    • katlouise1989
      katlouise1989 j25x

      Posted

      I just saw this come up again and wondered how you are doing. The other thing that cropped my mind was it could be a selective eating disorder which is a thing too.

      But as said before, definitely consult a health professional rather than self diagnosisng. 

  • jabberwocky
    jabberwocky j25x

    Posted

    I dont think so...do you make yourself vomit? Do you eat all of one thing before you move on to the next ? Why does it make you sick?
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