I starve myself, but not to gain weight. is that anorexia?

(I know a lot of you will tell me to go to the doctor, but like millions of other Americans, I am too poor for health insurance but not poor enough for medical aid.)

I am naturally skinny and I don't think I need to loose any weight. However I methodically starve myself, in turn making me skinnier. One reason is that I enjoy the feeling of having a really empty stomach and I hate the way my stomach feels after I eat. I also starve myself to feel like I am in control of my life. When I have a problem where there is nothing I can do to solve it, I starve myself.

Information about anorexia always talks about people starving themselves to loose weight. However, I dont necesarily want to loose weight. I just don't want to eat.

Is this still considered anorexia? Is there another name for the condition I have? I want to find out more information on starvation for emotional (not weight loss) reasons.

ok this is really silly. what i meant to write was, "but not to LOOSE weight"
sorry for the confusion

It is a form of anorexia, but technically speaking it would be EDNOS. Eating disorder not otherwise specified.

I think you'd find this article very interesting. It's called "Addicted to Starvation": http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=addi...

Yes, anorexia is the act of not eating, no matter the reason.
They can deem elderly patients and even dogs as "anorexic" if they have a severe refusal to eat... It's not "the same" or may not happen for the same reasons as typical anorexia.

However, not eating is unhealthy, whatever the reason.
I think you should try a free clinic or some kind of public health counseling center.

Anorexia isn't about losing weight. It's about control.

Since it's not a distortion of body image, it's not anorexia; you are fasting, but for other psychological issues not related to body image --it doesn't make it any less serious though and you should talk to your doctor about this.

Also consider what you are eating, if you are eating heavy foods until you are full, then that might be why you have that nasty bloated feeling, eating lighter foods, and only eating until you are satisfied, and not "full" might help.

trust me, u r not in control wen u starve urself, u can get seriously damaged by that. There are alot of sicknesses tht can follow u starving urself. ITS NOT SAFE. u do have to go to a doctor if u want to know what kind of sickness u have and how to cure it. sry i cant help with anything else, but dont starve urself.

Yes, those are classic symptoms of anorexia nervosa. I suggest you look in your phone book right now for a psychiatrist. Most have sliding scales for patients, so there is no excuse not to get diagnosis and treatment.

Good luck.

I would consider you anorexic. you are starving yourself, it doesn't matter for what purpose.

if you don't like the feeling of when your stomach is full then eat light, you wont feel hungry ..but you wont feel full either. what youre doing isnt healthy sweetie.

well first try to eat but not much to make u full just enough to make u feel ok and alittle hungry and keep on doing that ull get used to it and ull eat more but not enough to gain weight and its now anorexia if ur anorexic thenu dont eat to lose weight so ur ok dont worry

Anorexia IS indeed a CONTROL issue! I'm so sorry you've had such a hard time :(


You should check out this website, i think it will give you a lot of answers and its totally trustable.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/...

my cousin is like that. but starving yourself for short periods doesnt make you loose weight but if you starve youre self completly you loose wight but that takes a while. and besides if you're naturall y skinny what weight is their to loose?

That is anorexia. you need to eat. it is really unhealthy not to. I'm not trying to scare you but people havce died from starving themselves. pretty much your killing yourself slow and painfully. you really need to eat. Good luck!

Im the SAME EXACT WAY!

I dont know what it is..Its weird.

I just posted up pictures of my stomach..
:(

Goodluck..
Im going to the doctor,,
<3

Yea staring yourself is starving yourself,, hun you need to eat a little bit,,,instead of starving yourself,, exersice after you eat.

ummm id say u have anorexia...but then again i could have no idea lol. im skinny and people are always telling me i am anorexic but i eat norammaly and stuff i just am skinny cause im athletic i guess

yeah it is. GET HELP you can die from it.

yes this is anorexia.

yeah are your ribs showing

You are anorexic.

You are just aware of the reason.

Most anorexics are just OCD-like compelled to lose weight, they feel like fat slobs and see a different person in the mirror.

Methodically starving yourself to feel better about your emotions and control your life is definitely anorexia -- because that's why anorexics who insist they need to lose weight, do it.

In other words, you're just a more enlightened anorexic.

You need to find another way to deal with the way that you feel and the need to control your life.

I would find a local support group for recovering anorexics -- that's free -- because not eating is just like any other addiction, really, but harder to stop and generally more dangerous to your health because unlike alcohol or drugs -- not eating almost always has deadly results if you don't stop quickly.

Some mental health clinics also charge on a sliding scale -- meaning, if you make too much money for medicaid they'll cut your fees.

Usually it's a Christian hospital association of some sort. (don't worry, that just means they are usually non-profit -- not that they are religious zealots)

Look into it, dear, or you may pay for this control over your emotions with your life.

My friend is exactly like you - not to worry! You need to start eating, but it may make you feel better to do something active about half an hour after eating. Even just going for a walk around the block, ride your bike/rollerblade for half an hour.. this will help you feel like you've accomplished something and you won't feel overly full/lazy after.

Other than that, just remember you need to eat to live! Some eat too much cause they love food, others are like yourself - there's nothing abnormal about either one, everyone's just different.

I'd also try to follow a foodguide.. make sure you're eating healthy food as often as possible.. good healthy food won't make you feel so gross after you eat them.

Hope this helps, good luck hun :)

thats wrong u better eat or your bones will be weak and crumble and its kind of emo to do it just because you fell your in control that is dumb seriously i know i sound harsh but its just killing your organs so u'll die but if u star eating again u have to start out with a little bit then eat more and more because your stomache is small now from not eating at all so slowly increase it u wont get fat ull just feel normal

Are you happy in life-really? If not then you may be wanting to take control of something and what you eat is in your control and you want to feel that.

If not it may be spiritual-That you want to challenge temptation and defy natural habbit to isolate yourself from the human race.

Eating issues normally distract people from the real problem. They occur for most from other issues like depression.

Actually I am kind of similar to you. I hate having food inside me and I just want to get rid of it-But its nothing to do with weight for me either as a boy I don't want to be skinny.

Anorexia is when your body starts eating your fat. But the psychological disorder anorexia nervosa is a 'fear of becoming fat or/and refusing to eat'.

Good Luck and be careful,
GSTOKES