Therapist said I may have to be hospitalized if I do not get my eating under control

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your therapist is attempting to do the job you hired you for. Your appearance and affect are setting off warning signals for her. You can rationalize your way out of it, but before you stop going to sessions and carry on with the status quo, take a moment to consider that perhaps she is right. It may be that you are too scared to put the weight back on- but not eating is not a long term plan for managing that fear.

+1. My our therapist is concerne, and based on your postings here, I am as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It varies a lot - I really have no idea. On the low days, probably about 500-600 because I skip a lot of meals - small breakfast, snack for lunch, maybe very lgiht dinner. On the high days, like vacation, I have no idea. I try not to count calories but just eat healthy. My husband used to say a lot to me about my weight and getting in shape, so I used to keep track, but now I don't anymore since I don't want to go lower.

OP, you are anorexic and in denial. 500-600 calories/day is not enough to sustain you and will cause cognitive, emotional, and physical decline. Please listen to your therapist.

[Anonymous]

What kind of early childhood did you have?

[Anonymous]

Yes, as I previously said, I am on an anti-depressant as well as an anti-anxiety drug at night for sleep. My p doc is not my PCP but rather my psychiatrist, who manages my meds. He isn't the talking kind, which is why I have a therapist. He does the drugs. Nobody debates I'm depressed. She said it was "more than" the depression, which is why I was trying to figure out what that meant.

[Anonymous]

What kind of hospitalization is she talking about?
Psychiatric or medical? It's unclear.

[Anonymous]

Op I have been where you are. My not eating was because of the depression at first and then they fed off each other. If I didn't eat I would be teary, fearful and a basket case and that caused me to not want to eat. I was 5'3" and 96 pounds before someone got me help. It really sounds like your therapist doesn't want what happened to me to happen to you. I wish I had someone tell me to stop or get me help before I seriously messed up my metabolism. I was finally hospitalized and given an antidepressant that worked. I slowly increased my calories and felt better and the depression abated. Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like part of your problem is your DH "commenting" about your weight. Starving yourself thin so that he won't comment sounds like a whacked out relationship. I would try to get DH into couples counseling. At least part of your problem is your relationship.

[Anonymous]

I'd like to kick your DH where it counts.
Perhaps you do too but have instead turned these strong feelings against yourself to the point that you are punishing yourself and your body. You are denying yourself basic nourishment.

[Anonymous]

^^ the more he comments, the less you eat.
I say nourish yourself and kick him to the curb!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you have any relatives who have problems with addictions -- whether alcohol, sex, food, or drugs? If so you may want to look into whether you have an eating disorder. These things run in families.

Or OCD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It varies a lot - I really have no idea. On the low days, probably about 500-600 because I skip a lot of meals - small breakfast, snack for lunch, maybe very lgiht dinner. On the high days, like vacation, I have no idea. I try not to count calories but just eat healthy. My husband used to say a lot to me about my weight and getting in shape, so I used to keep track, but now I don't anymore since I don't want to go lower.

OP, you are anorexic and in denial. 500-600 calories/day is not enough to sustain you and will cause cognitive, emotional, and physical decline. Please listen to your therapist.

+1

Eating 500-600 calories is not okay and it's going to make you sicker and sicker. You've now dropped below your goal weight. This is dangerous and it's best to stop it before you get into real physical trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not planning to quit seeing my therapist. OP here. I weigh 110-112 right now and I am 5'4". My goal weight was 120, which is what I weighed when I go pregnant with my first child 12 years ago. I am in my late 40s, if that makes a difference.

I have taken the anorexia quizzes and I never score in the anorexia or even disordered eating range, so I am just trying to get some insight into her thinking.

Your weight seems pretty normal, a bit on the low side, but not dangerous.

However, eating 500-600cal a day is definitely disordered.

[Anonymous]

NP here- 5'4 and 99lbs. I would love to gain some weight too. It is just how I am built. After my last pregnancy it all just melted off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here- 5'4 and 99lbs. I would love to gain some weight too. It is just how I am built. After my last pregnancy it all just melted off.

Are you only eating 500-600 calories a day or are you eating like a healthy person?

People can eat a healthy amount and still be very thing. OP is not eating healthy amount. She isn't dangerously thin yet, but her therapist is right to be concerned.

[Anonymous]

Op - are you deliberately restricting? Do you have a distorted body image? Or do you just have no appetite or interest in food as part of your depression? It could be anorexia, it could just be your depression, it could be depression with psychotic features if you are getting paranoid about eating

Either way it isn't healthy and you body needs nourishment bot for survival and to fight the depression. If it takes you going into hospital to get healthy, then do it.