Bulimia..?

I have been bulimic for two years now. I have tried to stop, but it is addictive. Every time I eat I feel gross, and I purge. I think the cause of it was my family and their need to look as close to perfect as possible. I am not looking for pity, I am looking for answers. How can I stop? I can't afford intervention, and I don't want my family to know about it. Another question I have is about my weight. I am 5' 7" and I weigh 105...is that healthy? Please don't make fun when answering because it is nothing to make fun about. It is very serious and I need help...Thank you

Bulimia. Wow, that's tough. It's great that you know it's bad for you and that you need to stop. That is one huge step to take. But you need to take another big one.

Your parents should know. I would like to say "I can't believe they didn't notice!", but I know what those kinds of parents are like. I've got them. But this is a serious thing, and keeping it a secret is not going to get you anywhere. Talk to them, whether they like it or not, you're legally their responsibility until you hit 18, and morally until you die.

It's going to be terrible. You're going be ashamed and frightened, but it's just what you need to do. Tell them you need help, and you will most likely get it. If that doesn't work, you need to go to someone else, an adult. Try your doctor, school counsel, a coach, a friend's mom, or anyone you are close to. You can't do this on your own.

You are underweight. You are unhealthy. Your body is killing itself, or more specifically you are killing yourself. You need to stop.

Some advice. Don't ever hate yourself. You're a human being, and are therefore beautiful and unique. It's our society that is terrible and stupid, not you. Never doubt yourself. You will get through this.

the only way to beat it is intervention and it might just do your family good finding out so they can see the pressures they have put on you. Seriously if you cant tell them tell a friend, you need help...your insides are very sick and doing this for 2 years you could have caused serious internal damage and even to the point where your teeth will fall....go get some help NOW.

Treating yourself for bulimia is very difficult. Usually patients are given a certain limited (but healthy) portion of food to eat. Then they are put in a room where they can socialize, but have absolutely NO outlet to purge. In your case, I would try going out with your friends as much as you can, and be around them as much as you can (because you probably wouldn't purge in front of them). If you HAVE to go to the bathroom, then go and return immediately into their presence. If your confortable enough, maybe you could tell your friends and have them help you through it.

This is a strange situation, an underweight bulimic person. An overweight annorexic person would be even stranger if such people actually exist. You should be at least 120 pounds and not 105 pounds.

Of course, if you are actually 105 kilos (and not 105 pounds) that means you are actually about 230 pounds and in that case you are well and truly obese and you have a real problem.

If you are 105 kilos perhaps a web search for "lose weight naturally" might help and if you are 105 pounds perhaps a web search for "gain weight naturally" might help.

100 pounds is not healthy. That's for someone with a lower height. You really need to eat more.

Treatment focuses on breaking the binge-purge cycles. Outpatient treatment may include behavior modification techniques as well as individual, group, or family counseling.

Antidepressant drugs may also be used in cases that involve depression.


Self-help groups like Overeaters Anonymous may help some people with bulimia. The American Anorexia/Bulimia Association is a source of information about this disorder.

No. 5'7" weighing 105 pounds is extremely underweight, unhealthy and unattractive. The human body is a temporary machine and does not ever become perfect because appearance is a matter of personal judgement, depending on where you are and what you are taught to believe is beautiful or "perfect". NO one is ever perfect. Throwing up the food you eat is a most miserable way to live. See a doctor before it is too late for you. You will also benefit from talking to a good personal psychotherapist because your ideas about perfection are not only inaccurate (it looks just as ugly to be too skinny as it does to be too fat!) but your habits are self-destructive. You may be unaware that purging can destroy the enamel on your teeth and cause discolorations. See a counselor if you attend a public school or go to the web site at something fishy.org and click on counseling and free support groups. There are also numbers you can call for information. The public library in your town could also provide a source of free help. Someone else in your family could have a similar problem, so do not give up or be ashamed. Bulimia is an indication of a more serious underlying emotional problem. Get help ASAP and stop vomiting. Much better to even gain weight than to die of starvation. Best wishes.