I am afraid to eat and think about my weight all the time. Is this anorexia?
If you strictly limit food, fear gaining weight even at a low weight, see yourself as bigger than you are and thoughts about food take up most of your day, it looks like anorexia nervosa. It is a serious illness, not weak willpower or a whim. The earlier treatment starts, the better: start with a GP, who will refer you to a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. Recovery is possible, but it takes time and support.
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Signs worth looking at
Anorexia can start at any weight and often cannot be seen from outside. Pay attention if you recognise yourself:
- you eat very little, skip meals, count every calorie
- you are very afraid of gaining weight and weigh yourself many times a day
- you see yourself as bigger than others see you
- your periods have stopped, you feel dizzy, you are always cold
- you hide how much you eat or wear yourself out with exercise
What to do, step by step
- Tell one person you trust. It is the hardest and most important step.
- See a GP: they will check your heart and blood tests and refer you to a psychiatrist or psychotherapist.
- Specialists choose the treatment: usually psychotherapy and gradually restoring eating under a doctor’s care.
- Do not start new diets or read weight loss groups: they feed the illness.
- If you are a mother and see this in your teenage daughter, go to the doctor together: family therapy often helps teenagers.
Where the Ladder fits
The Ladder method does not treat anorexia and does not replace a doctor. It can help alongside treatment: to see whose words about your body and weight (you are fat, who would want you like that) stand in the way of your real goal. The free diagnostics takes 10 minutes, no sign up.
Call emergency services urgently (103 in Kazakhstan) if you have fainted, your heart beats irregularly or very slowly, your legs swell or you have had seizures. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, in Kazakhstan call 112, in other countries your local emergency number.
Psychological work goes alongside treatment, not instead of it. A psychiatrist makes the diagnosis, and a GP checks the state of the body.
Frequently asked questions
Can I deal with anorexia on my own?
It is better not to try alone: it is a serious illness that affects the heart, bones and hormones. You need a doctor and psychotherapy.
Does anorexia only happen to very thin people?
No. At the start your weight may be normal. What matters more is the fear of food, the restriction and how much room weight takes up in your head.
Why have my periods stopped?
When the body lacks energy, it switches off the cycle. It is a reason to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Is recovery possible?
Yes, many people recover. But it takes time, sometimes years, and it goes easier with support from loved ones and specialists.
See what is holding you back.
In 10 minutes, the Ladder shows past events, other people’s words and your fears on one map. You get your own map at the end.
Take the free diagnosticFree · no sign-up, no payment · 10 minutes · on your phone