Eating Disorders: A Teenager Needs Advice
by Dr. Jennifer Sowle
Dear Dr. J.
I am 16 years old and I think I think I have an eating disorder.
My mom loves me very much and she's always supported me in my
dream to be a model. Ever since I can remember, my mom has tried
to help me find the right clothes, talk right, and get exercise
and eat in a healthy way. Up until this year, I really thought I
wanted to be a model, but now I'm in my junior year of high
school and I think I want to go to college to be a teacher or
maybe join the Peace Corps. I've never had a boyfriend before
and now I'm going with Tim who thinks I'm beautiful whether I
wear makeup or not. In fact, he says he likes the "natural
look". I've stopped wearing so much makeup and I've been eating
more when I go out with Tim.
It was Tim who noticed that I hardly eat anything when I'm out.
He wonders if I have a problem. His sister had anorexia and had
to go away to a treatment place. He's worried about me. I'm
trying to show him that I don't have anorexia like his sister,
but now I feel terrible because I've been throwing up since I
was 13. I feel like I should tell him, but I don't want to lose
him. My mom is mad because she says I look "terrible" and that
I'm "letting myself go". I have gained a little bit of weight
and Tim thinks I look pretty. My mom keeps asking me if I'm
exercising. She made a deal with me that I could go out more if
I exercise and stop eating sweets. She had some chocolates
hidden up in the pantry and I got into them and ate some, and
she found out and was really mad.
Tim is really nice and is popular and studies and is planning to
go to college. His parents go to our church and are really nice
too. Now my mom says I'm spending too much time with Tim and
wants me to limit it to once every two weeks. I don't understand
why she's so mad.
I think I have bulemia. What should I do? I don't want to hurt
anybody's feelings, especially my mom, but I think she's too
much in my business. Everyday when I get home, she asks about
what this girl said, or that girl said. She wants to know
everything Tim says and then gets mad when I tell her. Maybe I
should just break up with Tim so he doesn't get hurt.
Marcie
Dear Marcie:
Yes, I certainly think you do have Bulemia Nervosa. You can
check the specific symptoms here on the website. If you are
vomiting after you eat as part of trying to control your weight,
you have a problem. It is very important for you to get help
with this right away.
Up until recently, your mother has been totally in charge of
your decisions. She decides what you should wear, eat, and do.
She is way too involved and way too controlling. Part of the
clinical picture for a Bulemic is an overinvolved mother. Your
mother needs to get therapy to help her find a more healthy way
of relating to a teenage daughter. Perhaps she could be a part
of your therapy at some point. It appears that your mother has
revolved her life around you and that isn't good. She may even
be trying to live her life vicariously through you. Because of
this, if you don't do as she expects, she becomes frustrated and
angry, and tries anything to get you back under her control. She
is going to try to break up your relationship with Tim because
he has an influence on you that is running contrary to hers. I
know this sounds harsh, but somebody has to say it...your
mother needs to back off and let you be who you want to be.
Hopefully, you will go away to college and at least create some
physical distance with your mother.
Because you have this enmeshed (too close) relationship with
your mother, you have never developed an internal guide to help
you make your own decisions. Now that you have Tim in your life,
you're now trying to please him too. The stress of being caught
between the needs of these two powerful people in your life
could make your eating disorder worse. As strange as this seems,
your eating disorder gives you a sense of control. Even though
you feel out of control when you're in it, it is the one thing
you do have control over. This does sound strange, and that's
why you need to get into therapy with somebody who understands
the complexities of this condition. Even if you attach yourself
to the therapist for a while and try to please her, at least you
will have the influence of somebody who has your best interests
at heart. Eventually, however, the purpose of the therapy is to
help you find your own inner voice which tells you what you need
and want. My guess is that you have anxiety about being perfect
and not making mistakes. You mentioned that Tim is your first
boyfriend and he's probably the first person outside the family
who has had a different opinion. This can throw you into quite a
turmoil on a very deep level. Depression and anxiety are
probably part of what you are experiencing right now. Check with
your school and see if they can help get you a referral to a
therapist or eating disorder group facilitated by a
professional. The school counselor could also be a valuable
mediator in approaching your mother about getting help. She will
be very threatened by your seeking therapy. She will be afraid
the therapist will blame her and I'm not sure her ego strength
is that solid. Whatever you do, do not take responsibility for
the feelings of these loved ones. It is up to them to deal with
their own feelings. It's your job to focus on yourself so that
you can begin to recover from this eating disorder.
Dr. Sowle
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