"ANOREXIA" - LOVE HER, ADMIT - IT'S PERFECT

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

My weakness took my life. I am a cheerful sociable person, I like to dance, run in the morning, spend time with friends … But now this is in the past. Over the past year, I have examined everything that is possible: the brain, blood vessels, thyroid gland - everything is in order. The last clue of wild weakness was that this is genetic and the doctors prescribed a diet and some minerals to me. As soon as I feel the arrival of energy, I try to go for a walk in the park, but then my strength again leaves me and I can't even talk to anyone. I used to have a lot of complexes and problems with communication, but behavioral therapy helped me to overcome my fear of people, quickly and effectively. I got rid of bulimia myself, when one day my biggest fear that I would not be able to vomit happened - I ate and did not vomit … So I understood the futility of this whole venture and stopped causing vomiting. I understand that if doctors do not find anything, it is psychosomatics. Where does this weakness come from?

- Hello, I am Marina's mother, who was with you for a consultation last year about weakness. Marina is now very bad, she has no strength, she cannot speak to you even on Skype, she asked me. I'm worried, she says "you're losing me," and I don't know what else can be done. Could you help us somehow?

- Unfortunately, I cannot discuss with you what Marina told me, so for a complete picture, tell us all the main things you know about her psychological and physical condition.

- Marina is a very kind girl. I do not know what to say. She is very beautiful, intelligent, graduated from the institute with honors, she knows 3 languages perfectly. She is our pride! She didn't have much friends, but she had no time, studies, circles, we tried to go with her to exhibitions, theaters, so to speak, to instill culture from childhood … Previously, she helped me with everything around the house, we are very close. Friends appeared at the institute, then work was worn out, I got very tired, and then it began … I never had any problems with my health, and it seemed to be genetic, they say something with mitochondria. Did she tell you she had bulimia for several years?

- Why did you decide that she had bulimia?

- Well, she told. We have no secrets.

- Did she eat and then vomit?

- I don’t know, she didn’t eat at home somehow. For us she loved to cook, and she herself said that she had a bite at work … Just since her youth, Marina was embarrassed to eat in front of someone, she said that she looked so ugly. She then just liked one boy, but she was not very much with men at all. When her periods disappeared for several years, she said that apparently God did not want her to create a family with someone. And at work there all day on the run, there was not much time to eat. Maybe then I ate too much at a time, I did not see. I don't know, she said so, I believe her, we have no secrets.

- Sometimes we can all keep a little something or misunderstand each other … What is her height and weight?

- 174 cm, and now I will ask the weight … - 55 kg.

- She did not look at 55 kg … How does she know what her weight is if she does not go anywhere and does nothing? … BMI 18 is an extreme norm, with a weight of 54 kg it turns out to be insufficient weight. Why 55 kg?

“I don’t know… ask?

- Not necessary. Please tell us what you know about anorexia?

“Oh no, I know. This is not about us. Firstly, she never wanted to lose weight, it was unnecessary for her. Dancing, jogging, she worked out in the gym for 2 hours every day while she was strong, the figure was like a doll, all the girls envied … Even when there was bulimia, it was not for weight loss, it was just hard for her from the food she had eaten, physically bad, you know. It was dull, crushed, she generally has problems with the intestines. But she even ate fried potatoes as much as she wanted, she didn't even think about diets. She got rid of bulimia herself, easily and simply, without problems. And the diet that is now is the doctor prescribed. She has something with mitochondria, there is no dairy, porridge … well, a lot of things are not allowed.

- If I say that bulimia is only a visible part of anorexia, what will it mean for you?

- I do not care. We have put an end to this. She took care of herself from childhood, and bulimia appeared already in adulthood. She was always in shape, she does not need to lose weight. She has no problem with food, as I say, this is something genetic!

- You went to the geneticist together, what did he say?

- She drove herself, but she tells me everything, we have no secrets.

- What is she eating now?

“She’s just very weak, she doesn’t want anything at all, and she’s not allowed to go on a diet.

- What did she eat all day today?

- Porridge. Large portion! Spoons 2 for sure.

- What did she eat yesterday, a week ago, a month? Fruits, vegetables, meat, bread? I told Marina that the diet she was prescribed does not exclude foods, but replaces some with others.

- Well, maybe you can eat more varied. I'll try to feed her something else. But what should I do with her weakness?

- I do not have enough competence to diagnose Marina, but if we are really talking about anorexia, time is already working against us. And her phrase "you are losing me" takes on a different meaning.

- I assure you, this is not anorexia.

- We cannot know this until Marina undergoes a full examination, preferably in a hospital. Regardless of what happened to her, there she will be provided with qualified assistance and at least minimal forces will appear. We can't just wait for something to change. She herself will no longer go to the doctor.

“We're not going to a psychiatrist. In our city there are no normal psychiatrists at all. She had already walked once, she was prescribed gidazepam, before he helped her cope with anxiety attacks, and now it only makes it worse. You are a psychologist, you can do something like a psychologist!

- The only thing I can advise is that you consult a doctor as soon as possible to confirm or deny the diagnosis and change your diet. If you do not want to go to a psychiatrist, go to a neurologist, to a psychotherapist, to a gastroenterologist, to any doctor. If you cannot find it in your city, consult a doctor on the Internet. Just tell me that the psychologist asks to diagnose eating behavior and prescribe treatment. I really want to be wrong. If you go to a doctor, an eating specialist, and he says that I am a "layman", I will only be glad.

- Okay, I'll tell her about our conversation and do as she decides.