Hello Friends,
My homework on eating disorders from what I know and lived and what others have lived.
My life with eating disorders: When I left home at age 12 to move in with Daddy, I was highly depressed, home sick and didn't feel welcomed home with Daddy. I was not allowed to talk to my mom much only a 5 minte phone call was allowed, so I couldn't talk to my sisters or my dad. Daddy was never in my life and when he caught word that my parents wanted to put me in a group home, that is when daddy interviend. Needless to say.. being new to a school was hard, I had no friends...was not allowed to have friends so it was a living nightmare being picked on in school. So I found comfort in not eating. I was 12 weighing 48 pounds. There was no controll in my life, I know kids don't need controll at that age, but they do need some. Like daddy or my step mom (Lynn) would pick my clothes out for the next day, tell me how to wear my hair, etc. One day in school I got very sick and passed out in the hallway. The school called Lynn and Daddy was pissed because she had to pick me up from school. Then daddy would force me to eat. It would take me 2-3 hrs to eat a small meal. I hated eating, I hated being with daddy. I wanted to go home with my family.
Back then Drs would classify eating disorders as Malnutrition. Back then Eating Disorders were never really heard of. I developed rituals such as making sure canned foods were all together such as corn lined up with corn, pease with peas, etc. My plate food was not allowed to touch each other, I would use different colored pens to write my essays, and my clothes had to be in color order. I would wear baggy clothes to hide my thinness. In my eyes I looked and felt fat. In reality I was a walking skeloton with skin.
Not realizing then I WAS KILLING MYSELF slowly.
Looking back now and seeing myself and what I did was stupid, and it is a life long disease. Yes I do struggle. Before I moved in with Bill, I did not eat for like 2 weeks, and when I did move in with him it still took me a few days to start eating again . Bill would sit down with me and help me with a diet that I could eat and get healthy. After many long talks with Bill, he finally got me to agree to a meal plan. He asked me to just try to eat one once of food at a time but try it several times a day. For breakfast, mabe a piece of fruit or a little bit of cereal. A few hours later, he would make me a little salad. He would just give me a little bit each time but it would always be something different. Fruit, vegetables, maybe some soup. After about a week or so of this I finally began eating more normal portions and actually began to gain a little weight back. It was a hard struggle to make myself eat, but my daughter needs me. I had no self esteem or self worth, no idea who I was, what I was about and what my purpose was here in life. And now I KNOW. I am here to share my story.
Did I struggle during pregnancy? YES! I had no cravings during my pregnancy, I ate only when I was hungry, I had to force myself to eat. So my baby would be healthy, THANK GOD she came out 5 pounds 9 ounces. She is very healthy and happy now..she weighs 36 pounds and a li'l over 3 ft tall.
Here is some information on Anorexia Nervosa:
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a dangerous condition in which people can literally starve themselves to death. People with this disorder eat very little even though they are already thin. They have an intense and overpowering fear of body fat and weight gain, repeated dieting attempts, and excessive weight loss. This particular eating disorder affects from 0.5% to 1% of the female adolescent population with an average age of onset between 14 and 18 years.3 Anorexia is identified in part by refusal to eat, an intense desire to be thin, repeated dieting attempts, and excessive weight loss. To maintain an abnormally low weight, people with anorexia may diet, fast, or over exercise. They often engage in behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas. People with anorexia believe that they are overweight even when they are extremely thin. Often, the beginning of illness will occur after a stressful life event such as initiation of puberty or moving out of the parents' home.
Those with anorexia are often characterized as perfectionists and overachievers who appear to be in control. In reality, they suffer from low self-esteem and confidence and overly criticize themselves. They are also very concerned about pleasing others.
Complications - The most severe and noticeable consequences of anorexia nervosa resemble those of starvation. The body reacts to the lack of food by becoming extremely thin, developing brittle hair and nails, dry skin, lowered pulse rate, cold intolerance, and constipation as well as occasional diarrhea. In addition, mild anemia, reduced muscle mass, loss of menstrual cycle and swelling of joints often accompany anorexia.
Beyond experiencing the immediate effects of anorexia nervosa, individuals suffer long-term consequences throughout the life cycle, regardless of treatment. In addition to the risks of recurrence, malnutrition may cause irregular heart rhythms and heart failure. Lack of calcium places anorexics at increased risk for osteoporosis both during their illness and in later life. A majority of anorexics also have clinical depression while others suffer from anxiety, personality disorders or substance abuse, and many are at risk for suicide. Approximately 1 in 10 women afflicted with anorexia will die of starvation, cardiac arrest, or other medical complication, making its death rate among the highest for a psychiatric disease.
Soon I will discuss Bulimia Nervosa
Thank you all for taking time in learning more about this disease and hopefully it will help someone out there. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Dodadagohvi, Aisv Nv Wa do hi ya oo
(Until we meet again, Walk in peace)
Ally