SelfhelpMagazine

by LuAnn Pierce, MSW, CMSW

Anorexia is a serious problem, especially among girls and young women. Because of the medical complications that can develop, it is potentially life threatening. I congratulate you on writing your question, and encourage you to keep looking for help. You are on the right track.

Overcoming Anorexia
While the issues you face are serious, but many people before you have succeeded in their battles with anorexia. You certainly are not alone. Many professionals are now educated about how to help people with eating disorders, so you can most likely start getting help within a week or two if you make your call today.

If you have insurance through your parents, talk to them about it and look for a number to call on the back of your insurance card. If yuo don't have private insurance, look for a school guidance counselor and make an apppointment.

No matter who you contact, be honest right away and ask for a specialist. You'll most likely find that dentists, physicians, as well as psychologists and other counselors have special training to help you with both the physical as well as the emotional sides of what's happening to you.

The causes of anorexia are pretty complex, and involve a few different but related issues. On the physical side, there can be chemical imbalances in your nervous system that influence how you think and behave. Sometimes, these imbalances can be so strong that they lead people to literally starve themselves to death, but they don't see it that way. They see themselves as being overweight and "feel fat".

People with anorexia also have other feeling distortions. For example, many feel the need to be perfect (which is impossible, so they never measure up). These feelings might be fueled by parents who place extremely high expectations on them, which can result in feelings of being controlled, as well as extreme stress and anxiety.

Others may also suffer from feelings that they are not good enough as a person, or that their body does not look good enough. Some theories say that people with anorexia have an unconscious wish to not grow up, or resist the bodily changes that occur as girls become young women.

Sometimes, girls who have been sexually abused or who are parented by someone who has been sexually abused have difficulty with her developing sexual bodies, which then leads to attempts to control or stop that body development by restricting food.

Other medical problems can also be involved. Have you read or seen the movie about Karen Carpenter's life story? If not, you may want to check it out. If you are interested, search for it online and see if it helps you understand what might be happening to you.

Regardless of the cause, professional help is usually required to systematically address the many variables that can be at work. You may want to read my response to another question written by a 14- year old who needed professional help but did not want her parents to be involved. You can read that response by going here.

No matter what else you do, talk to your parents or a trusted adult about your problem and find a professional in your area who can help you.

Good luck!

About the Author:

LuAnn Pierce, MSW, CMSW is the author of Growing up Sane (in uncertain times), Seminar Leader Growing Well Adjusted Kids, Editor-in-Chief Person to Person: Strengthening Youth & Families and Telephone Counselor Affinity Counseling Center.