Dear Amy: I just finished high school.
A few months ago, I pushed myself to go on a diet. Though I am not fat, I knew I wasn’t at my ideal weight, and I wasn’t happy with the way I felt.
I live with my aunt, and she has been very supportive.
My diet had been going well until I developed a problem. Whenever my aunt isn’t around, I sneak into the kitchen and steal food.
Sometimes it is just one cookie, and at other times I totally binge.
I feel like a horrible pig when this happens, but it is as if I’m in a trance. I have tried stopping myself, but nothing works. Yet, I haven’t gained a ton of weight from this (I think I have a fast metabolism).
When I try to throw up after bingeing, I’m unable to (mentally). I also tried fasting but couldn’t.
This has been going on for several months, and I feel helpless. I don’t know why this is happening. Could it be an eating disorder? I have thought about going to my school counselor, but I didn’t feel comfortable doing that, and talking to my aunt is not an option.
I feel very ashamed of what is going on. Lately I am less motivated to do things, and I am in a bad mood when I’m at home and tempted to binge.
Can you help me?
– Helpless in Missouri
Dear Helpless: I shared your letter with Christopher Athas, vice president of the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. He says that your symptoms point to Binge Eating Disorder (BED), which is a potentially very serious eating disorder.
As you are experiencing, BED, like other eating disorders, can be triggered by dieting, gets progressively worse if left untreated and makes you feel unhealthy, depressed and out of control.
Please take the first step and call the ANAD help line, at 847-831-3438 (anad.org). It is staffed by volunteer young people who have suffered from eating disorders who can talk to you about what’s going on and refer you to a resource such as a doctor, therapist or support group. Their counseling is free of charge and anonymous. You’ll feel so much better once you start to open up about what’s going on with you.
Your eating disorder is not your fault. Your recovery will begin the day you reach out for help.
Send questions via e-mail to askamy@tribune.com or by mail to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.
