worried a friend is anorexic

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-2004
worried a friend is anorexic
3
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 7:04pm
Hi,

I am worried about one of my roomates. She has gone from about 150-160 pounds to about 80-90 lbs. in about 8 mos. She started losing weight healthily but it has gone out of control. She started eating only raw veggies and salads with no dressing about Easter time last spring. When we left school in June she was prob. about 120. Now after the summer apart she looks horrible, like she'd break if I hugged her. I have never seen anything like it. Last spring my roomates and I confronted her and she was defensive and upset that we would suggest she had a problem, and her mom was very offended as well. She claims that over the summer an overactive thyroid prob. was discovered and that is why she has lost so much weight. I just don't know if I can believe her because she has all the symptoms of anorexia..please someone let me know what you think whether you know from experience or otherwise. Thanks so much!

Lauren

Her symtoms include:

exercising a lot, and secretively

defensive when we showed concern

sheepish at peoples compliments (this is when she looked good at first)

insomnia

fatique

always cold

stomach pains

severely reduced eating habits

now she is obsessed with cooking and food and cooking for all the roomates

extreme weight loss about 50 pounds in 5 months.

Thanks again, I am really worried about her and worried that she should not even have come back to school, but i want to know what is wrong with her so i can be there for her!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2004
Sat, 09-11-2004 - 6:57am
.


Edited 6/2/2009 2:33 am ET by inacolada
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 09-11-2004 - 6:01pm

Hi Candie,


It does sound like your roommate might have an eating disorder but at the same time that's really hard to determine. And unfortunately there is not much you can do unless she wants to get get help and get better. Actually, the first thing she has to do, if she

Love & hugs, Kristina

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2004
Sat, 09-11-2004 - 9:59pm
Hey Lauren,

I'm really sorry to hear that your friend is having such a hard time right now. Congrats to you on trying to find her help. It shows that you really care about her. When I told some of my friends that I was bulimic, they barely said two words about it. None of them talked to me about it, supported me, or tried to help me. And I can tell you right now that not having their support hurt me a lot. So although your friend might think you're just nagging her right now, one day she'll realize how lucky she is to have you. It's hard to say when she'll realize it, but she will. Just continue to be there for her. Tell her how much you care about her, and like Kristina said, don't force her into getting help. It has to be her decision.

What a lot of people don't understand about eating disorders is that they're not directly related to food. ED's are a way of dealing with emotions or events in our lives that have effected us in a big way. It might be a good idea for you, and possibly your other roommates, to read up on ED's so you get a better understanding of what your friend is really going through. Because unless you've actually been through one, you really have no idea of what it's like.

Above all, I wish you lots of luck. Just hang in there and keep being the great friend that you are. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. We're here for ya!

Hugs,

Stephanie