For my semester project, I am doing a term paper on eating disorders. I believe no one can help me out more than someone who has had this experience. I am frusterated with all the senseless books. I go to a school were eating disorders are a big part of alot of girls lifes and I would really like to inform them of what they are doing to themselves. Please if there is anything you think I should include in my paper that might have made you think twice about starving yourself or starting the binging and purging cycle, reply back. The story written by meghan has already influenced some of my paper. I would gladly appreciate any comments.

I don't really think that your paper could prevent someone from getting an eating disorder.I know I never realize I have a problem until i'm in pretty deep and have lost a lot of weight. I do think that your paper could influence someone to get help. I don't even really know most of the medical facts. A big part of that is that I don't want to hear them b/c I don't want to stop at this point. An important thing to remember about eating disorders is that they really don't have anything to do with food most of the time. The thought of giving up the control I have over myself right now really scares me. Eating disorders are the result of something a lot deeper than food.
I know I wasn't much help but I just thought I would tell you that.
Lily

Hi AF,
I agree with LilyElise that you can't really prevent someone from falling into the ED trap, but you can expose some of the uglier facts about EDs. For instance, bulimia causes serious bad breath, cavitites and yellow teeth due to the excess of stomach acid that backs up into the mouth. Anorexia and bulimia cause dehydration which can make the skin look grayish and after only a few years wrinkly! Can you imagine being 25 and looking like you're 40? It happens. The malnutrition that results from an ED can cause hair to fall out, nails to break, night sweats, mood swings and loss of concentration.

Besides making someone look sick outwarding, a person can cause serious harm internally. There is a valve in the esophogus that prevents food from backing up into the mouth. This valve can break after only a few months of bulimic behavior (unfortunately I have some personal experience with this one). What does this mean? It means that if I bend over after eating, I'll throw up without trying. Not a pleasant side effect to have, huh? EDs can also cause irregular heart beats, and a host of other problems.

Good luck with your paper! I hope you can reach people with it. BTW, if you have any particular questions, or just want to talk to someone about EDs you can email me.
trickykiddie@yahoo.com

I had a problem a year ago. I was with an abusive (mentally & physically) person who made me feel like I was noone. Food comforts me, so I would eat until I couldn't eat anymore. I would then feel guilty about eating until I vomited. I did this for some time. I caught him with my best friend, we split up, and I quit eating all together. I lost 60lbs. I was so happy to lose that, but I wasn't doing it heathly. My new boyfriend didn't like me not eating, so he would make me eat with him, so he knew that I ate. We are now married, and sometimes I would feel guilty about eating and would throw it up. I was an emotional wreck. He has helped me though. He talks to me, doesn't get mad, just worried. It's been about 4 months since I've perged my food. I've gained 20lbs., but I'm exercising, so hopefully this will help me lose it, before I feel out of control again.

Hope your paper goes well!
Mel

I must say that personally that fact that Tricky mentioned about the valve in your esophagus breaking has me kinda freaked out!

Me too LilBear! I have wondered if stomach acid can burn a hole into an esophagus. I never knew that there is a valve that performs that function which can break!