Posts by Amanda Stewart7

P.S. People like that are always the hardest to convince that anything is actually wrong. At the end of the day, recovering from an eating disorder takes years of work. And you're looking at long-term treatment with a psychiatrist to make it stick.

Aaron Castillo9 said:I agree—it all comes down to her mindset. From an outsider's perspective, she doesn't look ill, even though people constantly tell her she needs to gain weight. She doesn't seem bothered by those comments at all.
She insists she has her weight under control, but living that way seems incredibly taxing. I worry that things could spiral out of control quite suddenly; it’s really just a matter of when.
I was thinking that maybe her boyfriend could eventually convince her to sit down with a professional...

Yeah, that's a smart move. Honestly, the person she lives with probably has the biggest influence on her.
Take my cousin, for example. She stayed with me for about a month, and let me tell you, it was brutal. She struggles with anorexia—she’s about 5'6" and weighed barely 108 pounds.
It was constant math with her food. She’d barely eat anything, maybe an egg or a banana once a day, and the second she did consume something, she’d bolt to the gym and grind away for hours. Every single day. There were times I’d make this really nice, light meal, and she’d just sit there moving food around her plate with a fork. Watching her do that actually made *me* lose my appetite. I tried telling her, "Look, you have a problem," but nothing worked.
Of course, she ended up in the ER a few times because she’d just collapse from starvation, and even now, she deals with some pretty serious health complications.

Aaron Castillo9 said:I’ve already suggested she go see a doctor, but she thinks it’s a waste of time. Her logic is that since her weight seems fine and she hasn't experienced any significant drops in the past, there isn't much to report. She keeps insisting that people have much more serious issues than she does and claims I'm just making a big deal out of nothing.🙄

I’m about 5'8", just a couple of pounds heavier than her. I eat totally normal meals, honestly. And frankly, constantly overthinking everything I eat? It’s just exhausting.
Look, it’s not even about the number on the scale. That doesn't matter right now. It only becomes a real issue when she ends up hooked up to an IV drip in a hospital bed. The actual problem here? It's her relationship with food.
Trying to actually get an appointment with a specialist around here? Honestly, it feels like a mission impossible.
She genuinely sees herself as overweight—it’s like her body image is totally warped. Honestly, she's heading straight toward an eating disorder.
She’s genuinely sick. Like, seriously unwell. She needs professional help—real medical intervention—but she just doesn't get it. In her head, everything is perfectly fine.

Alexander Lopez11 said:Thank you all so much for sharing your stories with me; I suppose it’s a bit of a relief to realize I’m not alone in this. Today, however, everything just feels especially heavy. I went out for a walk earlier and ran into an old acquaintance who invited me to grab a coffee, but when I saw how crowded the patio was, I just... I think I reached my breaking point and turned away immediately. I ended up back home crying harder than I ever have before. I can't help but feel like everyone is looking at me with such judgment, even people who don't even know who I am. To make matters worse, I have this massive exam tomorrow that seems to carry the weight of the entire school on its shoulders, yet I just can't seem to wrap my head around these last fifteen questions. I am trying so incredibly hard, I really am, but nothing is sticking. I fear that, somehow, I’m going to end up disappointing my parents, my teachers, and most of all, myself. I'm just terrified of failing again after promising myself 😢

See? You aren't alone in this. We're all thinking of you—check in later and let us know how the exam went!

Alexander Lopez11 said:I’ve been thinking about reaching out to a doctor lately, though I have to admit, the whole idea feels a bit daunting. I guess I worry that they might think I'm actually crazy, which isn't the case at all; it's just that I feel completely stuck and I'm not quite sure how to find my way out of this situation. 😢

You aren't crazy, and nobody is going to throw you in a mental hospital—you really don't have to worry about that.

Hey, please don't let those comments get to you. They were honestly just messing around...
Get back to me when you can and give me a real answer to those questions—you can always just shoot me a DM if that's easier!

Eric White10 said:Honestly, even if you actually wanted to check yourself into a psych ward today, they probably wouldn't even take you; getting an available bed in there is incredibly difficult right now.🤷
There just isn't enough space, too many people are looking for help, and our healthcare system is completely broke.

Her situation isn't about needing an asylum; she needs actual, immediate help!

Laura Morales5 said:There’s always a chance you might find someone just like yourself in a psych ward... and maybe you'll both end up happy together...

Seriously, please stop talking nonsense!!!!!

Alexander Lopez11 said:So, I’m nineteen years old now. About a year ago, I went through a really dark chapter in my life, where things got so heavy that I actually started self-harming. I don't think it was just some phase or kids being dramatic, because I see how much kids today seem to treat that kind of stuff like it's some sort of trend, but I didn't even tell anyone what was happening back then. I mostly just wore black, stayed inside almost all day except when I had to go to school, and I just... stopped caring about studying, eating, or even talking to people. It all really started because of some heartache with a guy. Once I finally found a boyfriend and felt happy again, that depression seemed to vanish, and I’ve been doing okay since then. But lately, those same old shadows are creeping back in. I feel exhausted constantly. I don't want to go out, I feel anxious around groups of people, and I just don't feel comfortable around anyone. I’m unhappy with everything. I can't sleep at night. And honestly, I just wish I could die. I don't mean I want to say things like "I'll jump off a balcony" or anything extreme like that, but if I could just pass away peacefully and without any struggle, I think I would do it in a heartbeat. I feel like I'm absolutely nobody in this world, and I worry that I'll never truly be happy or have a family of my own. A lot of my friends—and even just people I know—don't really get it, mostly because they see how guys always flock to me wherever I go. To me, none of that matters. I'm just not interested. Nothing interests me. I feel like I'd rather just vanish from this earth, even if it meant spending eternity in some dark, lonely grave; I think that might actually be better than being here. I don't fit in anywhere. Nobody understands me, and I've even started drinking in the middle of the day, though it doesn't help at all. I don't really know why this depression keeps hitting me, but it feels so tragic that I'm facing this for the second time already. I'm only nineteen, yet I can't seem to enjoy life the way everyone else does. Nothing brings me joy, even though I suppose I have everything I could ever want. I just want it all to end.

God, you're so young, what are you even talking about? Just hold on a second and think about it. You're young, beautiful, you have so much potential, and yet you're looking at your future as some dark, stinking grave????😢
You say nobody understands you? Trust me, it just feels that way... Tell me, why do you feel like this? Can you even guess why? Why do you think you don't fit in anywhere? Look, I understand you, and if even one person can understand, then you're wrong when you say NOBODY understands you....And you said you've started drinking, but it isn't helping...
Just imagine you're in a dark tunnel right now and you can't see the exit, but I promise you, it exists!
Just hang on a little longer until you reach the light at the end of that tunnel you're lost in..
It's not that you truly want to die; it's just your current state of mind, but please don't play around with these thoughts. Stop drinking immediately, and find the strength to go see a psychologist first.
Don't take any medications or alcohol. This doesn't sound like standard depression to me; there might be something else going on.
Pull yourself together. You can send me a PM if you want, or if you don't have the strength, please seek help as soon as possible!!!!

shadowviper6 said:First off, thanks. 😁
Let's move on to the answers.

1. I don't think I have a metabolism problem (I know quite a bit about it, I'm well-informed, and I'm certain a doctor would recognize it; it isn't exactly EASY for me to gain weight—not that I'd gain it instantly, but still faster than most lucky people) 😠

2. Could you explain that part about mirroring someone a bit more? (You confused me quite a bit 😕)—won't that just turn into a whole new obsession with copying her and being OBSESSED WITH IT???

3. I'm glad to hear that obsession is curable, and I had actually thought to myself that I need to avoid things that remind me of it— 🙄 —but I know it is going to be SO HARD

4. I know I need to eat rather than avoid food (because avoiding it would only make things worse and make me think about food even more, leading to greater obsession 😲), but it's so hard to control myself—it's either I eat (and I REALLY eat) or I don't eat at all

5. Unfortunately, I have to disagree with you on one thing 😁—I really think my friends can offer me a lot of support, so I'll give it a try

6. Not eating bread? Okay. But pastries (like rolls, croissants, danishes, strudels—basically anything from a bakery) are one of my biggest addictions—and that's also bread—so I honestly don't know how I'll pull that off

7. I do eat SnackWells, don't worry, BUT I do eat bread too 😁

Well, there you have it, so please feel free to weigh in with whatever thoughts or answers you can muster, and I really do appreciate the help in advance 😉

👋

Then just give it all up; you won't die of hunger. If it doesn't work, go see a Psyche.

And you actually just went ahead and gave someone some seriously toxic advice.

Paul Sullivan said:Hmm... I might have an idea, though it probably won't be easy given how utterly exhausted you are. Maybe you’re dealing with metabolic issues, just like me (if I accidentally go over 1,000 calories, everything just turns straight to fat, and even heavy workouts barely move the needle), but maybe try what didn't work for me, which a specialist actually suggested. Start paying attention to people, I guess. Find a woman you admire—on a TV show, online, wherever—and once you drop a pound, try to mimic her daily routine. Eat exactly what she eats (obviously pick someone with a decent build) and exercise when she does, and watch the clock. It might sound crazy, but since everyone is different yet fundamentally similar, there's a reason people say things like "don't eat after 7 PM" and stuff like that. Though, I suppose that isn't really your core issue.

Your actual problem is obsession. I spent months going to a specialist for free ( ☕ ) sessions, so I picked up a few things along the way. Obsession can be overcome, and you really need to avoid anything that triggers it. If you were strong enough to lose weight twice before, and did it quite successfully, then you should be capable of resisting this. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger... I guess.

Face food head-on. Eat, but definitely don't overdo it. Everyone likes food. Everyone enjoys it. Some more, some less. But certain feelings—especially those extreme physiological urges that have spiraled into an obsession—need to be dealt with. You don't need medication or friends for that; you just need to find strength within yourself. If all else fails, just limit your access to food. Maybe set aside a little cash or something.

And yeah.
Don't eat bread.

Eat a snack bar.

Personally, I'm not a fan. It's probably your thyroid acting up; everything else is just fairy tales. If it isn't your thyroid, then you're simply eating too much. It's basic math: you consume what you burn, period. I've never met anyone who barely eats and is still overweight.

Jeffrey Ramos4 said:My psychiatrist explained it to me this way: since certain behavioral patterns can actually manifest as a completely different diagnosis once you reach adulthood, they advised me to just wait and see how I develop as a person first... It’s a bit of a waiting game. Then there was the second doctor who was convinced it was schizophrenia, while a third one insisted I don't have any disorder at all—just a typical teenage identity crisis.

To pin down any psychiatric diagnosis, you first have to establish the premorbid personality structure. To put it simply, it's about understanding your core, foundational makeup. With a borderline diagnosis, for instance, you see this instability in self-perception, interpersonal relationships, and mood regulation.
That’s why it's so tough to lay down a definitive diagnosis right now; you really have to wait for the personality to "solidify." Generally speaking, with a borderline structure, you either don't have consistent patterns, or you have way too many of them. A serious professional isn't going to jump the gun on a diagnosis like that. In the meantime, try working on yourself rather than just waiting to "develop." If you're dealing with affective symptoms, maybe consider talking to a psychotherapist.
By the way, borderline issues are usually handled most effectively through psychotherapy rather than relying solely on medication.

Michelle Cook83 said:You’re looking at laser surgery, but honestly, it all comes down to the specific type of ablation they use. Most people go through with it, but the real kicker is timing. You want to get it done sooner rather than later—the earlier you act, the better your chances for clear vision. If you sit on it too long... well, the results just aren't as good.

The outcome really hinges on acting fast and, if you can help it, picking a top-tier specialist.
If things haven't cleared up after the procedure, and they tell you there's a two-week window to see improvement, then you probably shouldn't hold your breath. It likely isn't going to happen.

Jesse Rodriguez63 said:My vision is still blurry after the surgery. Is it normal to be seeing things this way 7 days out?

No, it shouldn't be. A friend of mine went through this exact same surgery, and she had that same blurriness afterward.
The problem was she waited too long to get checked out. It actually got worse—she ended up losing her sight entirely, or at least being able to tell nothing more than whether there was light or dark in that eye.
Even now, she hasn't regained her vision.