I'm bulimic and my parents aren't helping...?!
Question: I'm bulimic and my parents aren't helping!.!.!.!?
About 2 weeks ago, I went to my school counselor and confessed that I've been living with bulimia for 8 months!. I allowed him to call my parents, as I would never have been able to tell them myself!. They were concerned for like, the first day!. My dad said that he was gonna get me a doctor's appointment, and my mom was watching me everytime I ate and wouldn't let me go to the bathroom!. But now it seems like they don't worry about it anymore, and they have not made any effort in getting me any help!. I feel like all that confessing has brought me is shame!. I've been so ashamed, and I hate talking about my eating disorder!.!.!. and all my mom is doing is just giving me unhealthy food to eat as if I don't care, when really, it just triggers me to purge!. I don't want to be bulimic anymore, I'm so tired of it and what it's doing to me!. I can't do this alone and there's nothing my friends can do!. Who should I turn to!? What should I do!? I'm so afraid!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Maybe it's not that your parents don't want to help, they may just not know the proper way to go about doing it!. Your mom may think that giving you unhealthy/junk food is tempting you to eat, which they may see as a solution to the problem!. They may just not understand bulimia and all its causes and effects!.
First of all, do not feel ashamed! This is a DISEASE!. You have no reason to feel embarrassed, especially since you have had the courage to come forward to someone!. I personally think you should try talking to your parents again, you may find it easier now that they already know about your condition!. Even if you say something as simple as, "So Dad, when is my doctor's appointment!?" or giving your mom suggestions as to what kind of food to make you, since she doesn't seem to know!. I have had bulimic family members, and they started out as vegetarians!. So afterward when their parents were cooking for them, they faced a lot of challenges!.!.!.the cooking had to be healthy, low-fat, and have no meat!. Things like whole grain pasta, orange juice, apple sauce, and salad certainly made their way into the households!. You can tell your mom, "Mom, can you make whole grain pasta for dinner tomorrow instead of the usual stuff!? I really want to start eating healthier!."
Your parents want to help, they just don't know how!. Any suggestions you can give them will do wonders!.
If you don't feel comfortable talking with them, try talking to another relative about the situation and how your parents don't seem to understand, or talk to a close friend!. Even though you say you're friends can't do anything, they may be able to talk to your parents for you and if your parents hear the worrying coming from a third party, they may be more inclined to worry themselves and therefore act!.
If these are not options, you can always go back to the school counselor and tell him that your parents don't seem to know what to do from here and ask him to give them a call, or he can call a social worker or nutritionist and get them to call your parents to set up an appointment and give suggestions!.
Most of all, keep in mind that you are not alone, this is a disease, and you can overcome it with the right help! Good luck with everything!Www@Answer-Health@Com
First of all, do not feel ashamed! This is a DISEASE!. You have no reason to feel embarrassed, especially since you have had the courage to come forward to someone!. I personally think you should try talking to your parents again, you may find it easier now that they already know about your condition!. Even if you say something as simple as, "So Dad, when is my doctor's appointment!?" or giving your mom suggestions as to what kind of food to make you, since she doesn't seem to know!. I have had bulimic family members, and they started out as vegetarians!. So afterward when their parents were cooking for them, they faced a lot of challenges!.!.!.the cooking had to be healthy, low-fat, and have no meat!. Things like whole grain pasta, orange juice, apple sauce, and salad certainly made their way into the households!. You can tell your mom, "Mom, can you make whole grain pasta for dinner tomorrow instead of the usual stuff!? I really want to start eating healthier!."
Your parents want to help, they just don't know how!. Any suggestions you can give them will do wonders!.
If you don't feel comfortable talking with them, try talking to another relative about the situation and how your parents don't seem to understand, or talk to a close friend!. Even though you say you're friends can't do anything, they may be able to talk to your parents for you and if your parents hear the worrying coming from a third party, they may be more inclined to worry themselves and therefore act!.
If these are not options, you can always go back to the school counselor and tell him that your parents don't seem to know what to do from here and ask him to give them a call, or he can call a social worker or nutritionist and get them to call your parents to set up an appointment and give suggestions!.
Most of all, keep in mind that you are not alone, this is a disease, and you can overcome it with the right help! Good luck with everything!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Stay strong!. Know that you are powerful and that you can take control over yourself!. Reading the Bible is a great way to help you I know it has for me!.Try to take control of yourself even if you feel like you can't!. Know that God loves you and doesn't want you to be in any pain!. He loves you sooo much and He wants the best for you!. I will keep you in my prayers!. God Bless!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If it makes you feel better, the same thing happened to me (more or less) when I told my parent a long time ago!. If you really need support, there are support groups, but I never went to those so I don't know much about them!. I just had to find the inner strength to deal with it on my own, but I have to admit that I'm not exactly "cured"!. I still b/p very occasionally, but I'm a lot better than I used to be!.
Maybe you aren't giving yourself enough credit - maybe you can find the strength to help yourself!. Otherwise, there are resources out there in the world that you can seek out on your own!.
Sorry if this wasn't any help, but you were very brave for "confessing", and I'm sorry your parents haven't been there for you!. It could just mean that they are ignorant about it and don't know how to help though!. If they are understanding parents, maybe you should tell them how you feel about all of this and try to educate them about eating disorders!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Maybe you aren't giving yourself enough credit - maybe you can find the strength to help yourself!. Otherwise, there are resources out there in the world that you can seek out on your own!.
Sorry if this wasn't any help, but you were very brave for "confessing", and I'm sorry your parents haven't been there for you!. It could just mean that they are ignorant about it and don't know how to help though!. If they are understanding parents, maybe you should tell them how you feel about all of this and try to educate them about eating disorders!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I want to commend you on your bravery and courage to admit that you have a problem!. A lot of people with any type of addiction (including drugs, alcohol, shopping, gambling) are in such a state of denial and put up a wall to not allow themselves to get well!. I'm really sorry that your parents are not being supportive to say the least!. They may be experiencing some denial themselves as it must be painful knowing that their child has such a serious problem albeit there is a lot of resources out there to help both the person suffering and the family members that are affected!.
Please talk with your school counselor once again and how your parents not really following up and looking into treatment!. It's crucial that a person with an eating disorder gets outside help to learn how to cope with issues and explore what led to the illness!. As you are probably aware, forced vomiting can cause a rupture of the esophagus (food tube that goes to the stomach), damage to enamel of teeth or even lost teeth and/or even cardiac arrest (heart stops beating) as in the case of Terry Schiavo of Florida where she ended up in a vegetative state thought to be from cardiac arrest due to bulimia!.
For resources on eating disorders including support groups and therapists: http://www!.something-fishy!.org
For Overeaters Anonymous meetings (Not run by professionals; free support group): http://www!.oa!.orgWww@Answer-Health@Com
Please talk with your school counselor once again and how your parents not really following up and looking into treatment!. It's crucial that a person with an eating disorder gets outside help to learn how to cope with issues and explore what led to the illness!. As you are probably aware, forced vomiting can cause a rupture of the esophagus (food tube that goes to the stomach), damage to enamel of teeth or even lost teeth and/or even cardiac arrest (heart stops beating) as in the case of Terry Schiavo of Florida where she ended up in a vegetative state thought to be from cardiac arrest due to bulimia!.
For resources on eating disorders including support groups and therapists: http://www!.something-fishy!.org
For Overeaters Anonymous meetings (Not run by professionals; free support group): http://www!.oa!.orgWww@Answer-Health@Com