Is this allowed?!?!?
I'm posting this here cause I feel it can apply to wide range of EDs
So I've been off and on this app with eating struggles and was recently diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (restrictive). Although the diagnosis sucks because that means I actually have to accept I have a problem, I was sort of relieved because it gave some explanation to a lot of my thoughts, actions and feelings.
The next part is what's really getting to me: My parents care about me a lot, but they are threatening me if I don't change. For example, if they catch me working out they're gonna take away my car. If I don't "fix myself" (yes they said that), they're gonna make me drop out of school, which is literally the ONLY thing keeping me from completely falling off the deep end.
I have no doubt in my mind that my parents love me and want me to be healthy, I'm very fortunate to have parents like them. But if I could fix it on my own, I would. If this truly is a mental illness (which I'm still having trouble accepting), is punishing your child gonna fix the problem??? I already agreed to treatment, but threatening to take away my favorite thing in the whole world as a punishment to my actions is just gonna make me stressed out and therefore restrict more. Punishing your child for having a mental illness is almost like punishing your kid for having cancer...it's not gonna fix the problem, just increase the stress.
@mmklemm It doesn't sound like your parents are being rational when they make these threats.
On the other hand, anorexia nervosa is a very scary illness. It's the most lethal of all the mental illnesses. For some scary figures, see: Deadliest Psychiatric Disorder: Anorexia. If your parents have been told the facts, I don't imagine it's easy for them to know how to respond.
It's great that you're going to have treatment. I'd hope that whoever is in charge of your treatment will be able to talk to your parents and calm them down a bit. I think you're correct to point out that you need support from them, not punishment, and I think your doctor and therapist will be on your side in this.
If you'd ever like to chat about things, feel free to message me.
Charlie
@mmklemm Feeling this. My parents did the same. Luckily I moved out of their place a few months after getting the diagnosis, so I can do whatever I want.
