I cant work out if i have an eating disorder or not?!


Question: I cant work out if i have an eating disorder or not.?
i make excuses to not eat, some days i binge eat and others i hardly eat. i don't feel comfortable eating in front of strangers.
in the past month i have thrown up my dinner twice, i go to the bathroom after eating and often want to throw up. i look in the mirror and wish my bones stuck out more. im pale, more than normal on some days and my period hasn't come at all this month.
i get sick quickly and am often tired and fatigue with a weak pulse.
people comment on my eating and also when they say im skinny, i look at them and think im fat compared to them.

im 15, weigh 50kgs and 164Cm's. i do dancing, ballet and Contemporary and this does make me look at my body very critically.

i really want to get help if i need it but i dont want to say anything until im sure theres something wrong because my mum said she would stop me dancing if i get an eating disorder =< please give me your advice x
Health Question & Answer


Answers:
From your description I would say ask for help.
You definitely have a "disordered eating" pattern. Not eating then binging and purging are symptoms of bulimia.
When you don't eat you body doesn't get nutrients it needs, this can cause malnutrition and health problems. When you purge you get rid of the nutrients you did get into your body, this leads to the same problem.
If it continues your body will will take the nutrients it needs from other places in your body (this is where you get a lot of health problems from).
For example, muscles need calcium to contract and work. If you are not getting enough calcium your body will take it out of your bones to keep your heart (which is a muscle) beating. Our bones only build into our 20's. After that we have to work on maintaining them for the rest of our lives. If they don't get enough calcium when you are young you will be more likely to develop osteoporosis when you get older and at a younger age.
I once watched a video with this little old lady who looked extremely fragile and could only walk with a walker and could not stand up straight. She said she was this way because she was a ballerina and had forced herself to stay skinny when she was young. I wish I knew what that video called so you could watch it. I don't know how anybody who watched that little old lady could continue to harm themselves.

Unfortunately body image pressures are very real in the dance world. I hope you can find happiness with your body and continue to dance if it is one of your life passions.
Please take care of your body. I want you to be physically able to dance for the rest of your life if that is what you want to do.

Please ask for help.Health Question & Answer

I believe that you should go for it. Sport (whether it is dancing, gym, or anything else) is a great tool to increase our self esteem. It is highly recommended in psycho problems and let's face it eating disorder are one of those.
I hope that if you continue dancing you will eat properly as your body will need more energy and will become stronger and even more beautiful :)
Good Luck!Health Question & Answer

Honey, it's not a matter of IF you need help - you do need to get help. Your body is already telling you this - throwing up, pale color, no period... these are all signs of a serious situation. It sounds like bulimia. You didn't say how long this has been going on, but it's a dangerous path - long term it has life-threatening consequences.

It's up to your doctor to tell you if you need to stop dancing. It will be hard if that happens, but your health is more important. You can resume dancing once you are well. But for now, talk to your doctor, talk to your mom, and get as much information as you can so you don't end up in the hospital.

By the way - bones sticking out are not attractive.Health Question & Answer



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