When do you need inpatient help? (trig)

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-25-2003
When do you need inpatient help? (trig)
2
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 10:16am

I am posting with calorie and weight information so be forewarned if that is a trigger. Sorry!!!

I have been battling anorexia for a year or two now, and have gotten progressively worse. I am currently 5'4 1/2" and weigh 83 pounds. My husband told me that he cannot look at me undressed anymore because I am so skeletal and hates to hug me because I feel like a "bag of sticks." I do eat - usually 1000 to 1100 calories a day and exercise 5 days a week by riding a bike and walking for 1/2 hour. I don't feel like I am totally starving myself because I do eat.

I guess my question is when and how do you determine whether you need outpatient or inpatient help? I know this disease is controlling me and I know I have a problem. I am lying to my family about how much I eat and even flushed my breakfast down the toilet Sunday when my husband wasn't looking. I did manage to eat 1500 calories yesterday but was wracked with guilt about it. BTW, I do not purge or anything. I just restrict.

Thanks for your advice.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 11:08am

Hi - welcome to the board!

I personally think inpatient is necessary if you are at risk of dying or having other serious health problems OR if you have tried therapy and other approaches and nothing has helped. The fact that you do eat is good and the fact that you are posting here and reaching out for help is good.

You did not mentioned whether you have tried seeing a therapist. If not, you may want to start by seeing someone on a weekly basis and see how it goes. Working with a nutritionist while you are in therapy can be very helpful as well. On both the therapist and the nutritionist I would try to find someone who has experience treating people with eating disorders. Often times a therapist can help you find a nutritionist.

Love & hugs, Kristina


“It helps to resign as the controller of your fate. All that energy we expend to keep things running right is not what keeps things running right.” ANNE LAMOTT



The opinions I have expressed here are from my own experience and are not intended as medical advice or to take the place of your own physician's advice.


Love & hugs, Kristina

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-06-2005
Thu, 01-19-2006 - 10:46am

Hi and welcome back,


I thought I recognized your name and looked back a bit.

 

 

~Diana~