Anxiety/depression/eating disorder?

[Curious_warrior]

I've struggled with anxiety/ depression over the past few years.. well, i mean, at least I think its depression. I am 99% sure I have anxiety, because most of my days for the past few years has been me being anxious. But this year I had more symptoms of depression as well. I'm feeling okay in terms of the possible depression now, but my eating habits are absolutely crazy. I either want to eat 24/7 or don't eat for hours at a time. I used to be quite good with my eating, it was what you would consider mostly normal. Yes I LOVED food, but I could control how much I thought about it, and didn't want it every minute of the day. I've tried in the past to lose weight by eating very little -also due to the feeling of being hungry felt as if it covered up the anxiety, so it relieved me of that a bit...- but that affects me to this day because when I dont eat a lot for a long time, i get anxious. If I eat too much or feel like I can't stop eating, i get anxious, so I eat more, and eventually get to a point where I might try to get rid of it.

With my habits with food, it makes complete sense if I had an eating disorder... But at the same time, its not a full-blown one, i dont think? I mean I dont do "it" after every meal, only when I binge like crazy throughout the day and need to stop thinking about food... or when i eat because im emotional and then need to empty the emotions. Until today I hadn't done it in about 2 weeks... so it isn't happening as often as it used to a few weeks ago.

I'm not sure whether this is the result of me just finishing high school and not doing anything with my life at the moment, although as i said, ive had eating problems in the past, but its never been as out of control as it is now... And i can't seem to get myself to get a job either, so it doesn't really help to keep myself busy. But the feelings of depression were really bad this year- the loneliness, emptiness, feeling like im in a bubble and cant get out, purposely isolated myself mentally and sometimes physically, etc... most of the symptoms, I've felt, and some I still feel now. But I keep thinking im not sick enough to get help. Im not sure what to do. SHould I just leave it and wait till I can't take it anymore?

[SubduedBlues]

Hello Curious Warrior

Welcome to the BB Forums, and thank you for posting.

One should not self diagnose according to symptoms advised by Dr Google; it is very important that you seek professional medical advice and diagnosis (if such a diagnosis is forthcoming) so that you are provided the best available treatments for you.

Not eating for hours is not a problem, not eating for days is. Binge eating, could be problem, but that depends on a whole lot of other factors...again best discussed with your doctor.

"... most of the symptoms, I've felt..." you need to stop ticking off symptoms. Just because you have symptoms doesn't mean you have the illness.

For example, if I were consider these symptoms:
* shortness of breath
* sharp chest pain
* rapid heart rate
* rapid breathing
* sweating
All of these symptoms could indicate anxiety, but then they could also indicate pulmonary disease or just that I am physically unfit. Because symptoms can indicate many many different illnesses, disorders and diseases, it is essential that you are evaluated by a trained medical professional.

The above said, however, being that you are thinking about getting help, to me, says that you ought to see your doctor and get a positive/negative diagnosis. Only then, can you consider your next step and which treatments work for you (and if needed)

SB

 

[MsPurple]

HI Curious_warrior. And welcome to the forums

I want to give you a website to look up. Its called the Butterfly foundation. They offer great advice and have a chat line you can call if you have any concerns.

As I am a fellow user with a history of anxiety, depression and an eating disorder (was diagnosed with EDNOS 9 years ago, but since recovered) I can not give you a diagnosis or tell you if you have an eating disorder. I just want to add that an eating disorder can happen to any gender, any age, any ethnic group, any sexuality it can happen to anyone. Before I fell ill I was the last person anyone would expect to get an eating disorder. I loved food. I was a little chubby but not overweight. Then I reduced how much I ate and my eating became distorted. Now even if you don't have a 'full blown' eating disorder (as you said) it is still a good idea to get on top of it before it does (if it isn't already) get worse. Getting help for anxiety early is better than waiting till you become a agoraphobic would you say? It's the same thing. If you have a concern it is beneficial checking it out and getting support. I got help before I was diagnosed with full anorexia and I am so glad I did because recover becomes harder and the chances of relapse increase. Since I acknowledged my concern and reached out for help it made recovery easy because I wanted the help. Get the help now while you are in this stage is my suggestion.

Now finishing high school and not being sure what you want to do is tough. I have been there. Everyone has been there but some seem to take it better than others. I started uni and kept myself busy that way. I think it is better to figure out what you want to do before going to uni, because it is a lot of time and stress to go through without knowing if you want the outcome. I finished uni and I am struggling to find a job in my field and sometimes I wonder if I should have looked more into it. Don't stress to much if you don't know what you want to do. I know so many people that have gotten into fields they never initially imagined. I am holding onto this hope as well as hoping I'll get the dream job too.

Take home message. Don't take your concern lightly. Talk to a professional about this or at least go to the butterfly foundation website. Treatment/Therapy earlier can help recover/return to normal eating quicker.