My cousin is Anorexic! Help!

[Stephanie]

My cousin is anorexic and I have absolutely no idea on how I can help her! She is really stubborn and chucks a fit if you even hint to her that she may possibly have an eating disorder. She doesn't think that she is and her mum refuses to believe that her daughter is. I really want her to stop doing this to herself but I don't know what I could do!!

She is getting extremly skinny but yet still believes that she is fat! The other day she told me and my other cousin that she wants to be a model but has to go on a diet to lose weight so she'll be skinny enough!! You can honestly not get any more skinny then she is right now!!

The signs that she is anorexic:

1. She only ever eats bread and only ever drinks water. She drinks way too much water for her own good. And when she isn't drinking water, she's drinking Diet pepsi or some other fat free drink.

2. She does not eat ANY meat what-so-ever and is beginning to form dark circles under her eyes from the lack of iron.

3. She never eats/drinks dairy products. The only milk she ever drinks is Soy milk!!

4. She mysteriously disapears straight after meals!

5. She practically lives on the scale machine! She is constantly weighing herself! She weighs herself (without fail) before and after meals and after a few hours spent in the toilet.

6. She will not eat/drink anything until she reads the fat content on the back of the box.

7. My brother accidentally walked into her room while she was looking at her stomach in the mirror and he said that her ribs were full on sticking out of her body!!

8. She honestly believes that she is fat. When there are photos taken of her she will always complain about how fat she looks in that photo, no matter how anorexic she actually looks!!


This is starting to really, really worry and sadden me and my brother! We really don't know what we can do to help her!! Please, anyone, do any of you know what we could possibly do to help her?!?!

[angelic-a]

hmmmmmm poor gal, she really has got herself into a right state. you could sit down next to her and explain to her that shes not fat, maybe if you could research on anorexia, find real live stories of girls who were anorexic and regret it now and sort of scare her that she'll become more like that if she doesnt stop.

was she always anorexic?

also, get to talk to her a bit more, why is she doing this to herself, it could be that some idiotic person said she was fat and maybe she took it to heart. explain to her that she shouldnt listen to what ppl say.

[*fender.chiq*]

I suggest that if she won't listen, find somebody who will. Express your worries to them, give them all this evidence you've given to us and explain just how much help you need on this. Get them to tell her mum. Once her mum realises exactly what IS happening, no matter how much she likes it or not, it needs to be dealt with, before it gets completely out of hand.

If she is either anorexic or bulimic, it needs to be addressed as soon as possible, before it goes too far and she seriously hurts herself.

It doesn't sound like she will listen to you, or her mum, so you need to get another responsible adult who you can confidently talk to about this, and maybe your brother too. If they can talk to her mum, then the problems are more likely to be sorted out in a shorter space of time, and right now, time is very important.

[Mamfy]

Is there another adult involved in her life? Her dad? Or a teacher? Or someone she maye be looks up to? Then you can tell them and they can tell your cousin, that way it will be easier for her to see what she is really doing to her body.

You really need to tell someone, like I said up there^^. It is so important that you do it quickly. Maybe if there isn't any other person you can tell, just pull her over to a corner, where it's just you and her, or you and your brother and her, and just tell her that you are worried about her and that you are looking out for her and don't wnat her to seriously hurt herself.

I hope it works out for you, it is terirble to be faced with something like this....:S

[in_love]

this may be irrelevant, but i was watching Lizzie McGuire a few days ago, and Miranda thought she was fat, Lizzie tries to talk to her but she just got angry at Lizzie. In the end, Miranda talked to Lizzie again, so I guess you should go and talk to your cousin about how worried you are about her weight, as even if she does hate you for a while, in the end she will love you even more than before.

[Entice]

When u say she mysteriously disappears after meals...
Anorexia is when they dont eat at all.
Bulimia is when they throw up...so maybe its a case of bulimia or a combo of both?

[*fender.chiq*]

I think it's possibly a combination, by the sounds of it.

She's not eating, but disappears after meals. The dark marks under/around here eyes could also be the bruising from throwing up, as constant vomiting bursts the blood vessils around the eyes. You also say she spends a long time in the bathroom, so she could be making herself sick.

Either way, she's going to become ill from malnutrition aswell as near starvation..

[Mikhael]

hhmm.. i think get her to see a doctor im sure (if that doctor is like mine ) he can Scare her into eating again ( dont ask ) . *shudders* bad memories

[D3c3p7ioN]

Lol I find this forum very funny....people have alot of problems.

Answer - Force Feeding.

[Entice]

^ its people like you who become our world leaders and then have to put up with the whole world hating you =P

[D3c3p7ioN]

Thanks I like the sound of it.

[Entice]

You shouldnt

[D3c3p7ioN]

I was joking T_T like I always am.

[Bob!]

Indeed.

[Mamfy]

Spam^^

[Entice]

I was joking T_T like I always am.

I wasn't.

[danster73]

she sounds like she is in a little trouble. Erm i think the only thing for you to do is confront her. if she still desides to make her self sick etc, try and get her to have some special diet milkshakes or vitamin tablets its the only thing you can really do. You could try talking to her doctor. gd look . let me know how it all goes!

[Jessicar]

Im not sure if iv posted here already, but i cant find any posts by me so here goes.
You need to tell an adult! Its a psychological disorder, she wont listen if you just confront her. She wont be able to get it out of her head that shes fat by someone just telling her she isnt. She needs help from professionals, or she'll end up even worse. It may be hard if she ends up needing treatment, but the sooner you try and help her, the easier it will be. She wont get stuck in this state of mind for as long if you go sooner.

[SG's lil babe]

Try to find out what caused her to think she was fat and what caused her to make herself sick and work from there but don't treat her as an invalid.

When u say she mysteriously disappears after meals...
Anorexia is when they dont eat at all.
Bulimia is when they throw up...so maybe its a case of bulimia or a combo of both?

Anorexia is not when they don't eat at all, it's when someone severly underweight thinks they are overweight. Quite often anorexia and bulimia are found together.

[BlueStar]

I went through a period of bad bulimia and and anorexia when I was 18. I knew I had a problem though, but I couldn't stop. I eventually ended up in the hospital after attempting suicide again.
I saw specialists previous to the suicide attempt. A physician to make sure I was in good health, a nutritionist and another psychologist. I was going to go to a facility for treating eating disorders, but because of previous suicide attempts they rejected me.
I don't eat meat and I do drink soy milk, I'm vegan, but I take vitamin b-12 suppliments. Anorexics are very stubborn and there needs to be interference. Scaring her might work, depending on her attitude.
A book called "Slim to None" describes a girls battle with anorexia and bulimia and she eventually dies from it. That might be an idea in helping her realize her problem and how serious it can be.
Good luck.