EDNOS

Hi,

I'm 16 and recovering from anorexia, which i have had for just over 2 and half years. I think with regards to EDNOS, people are not really as aware of it because there are no "typical" symptoms or classification for someone suffering from it, so it is harder to portray.

Also, with so much in the media all the time about obesity, size zero and dieting, I hate to say it but I think people regard it as alongside that rather than a mental illness. I think people's views should be changed to realise that the internal problems are most important and not the weight side of things. I certainly see that people at my school tiptoed around me when i was a really low weight and in hospital and they knew I was ill, whereas now I am nearer a healthy weight, they seem to assume everything is "fine". It's very frustrating!

Hope you are getting the help you need!

xxx

hey xhelenx

I hope things are going well for you at the moment??

I think you are right that people tend to think that it is more a fact of vanity than it is a mental illness and they couldn't be more wrong!!!

It's sooo hard to get through the day when you know that everyone around you thinks that everything is fine.

lexy -xxx-

Hey, I still don't really fully understand what EDNOS is to be honest, but I know what you mean when you say that if you are a normal weight, nobody suspects or believes that you have an eating disorder as there aren't any obvious side-effects, so I think that definitely needs to be addressed. I think that if someone has never had an eating disorder, then they can never understand it properly and that's why sometimes on TV programmes it comes across completely wrong. Hope you are doing ok, Take care Hannah xxx

hey han x

EDNOS is when you have some of the symptoms of anorexia/bulimia/BED, but for, say, anorexia you are not yet underweight or are still having your periods etc. (I think lol)

I guess it's kind of hard for someone who hasn't had an ed to understand what it is like, just as it is difficult for someone who has never had schiophrenia to fully understand how difficult things can be for someone with the illness.

take care,

lexy -xxx-

Hey lexy Thanks for filling me in on that one. lol. I know it must be difficult and everything, but it just annoys me when people jump to conclusions and stuff. Anyway, I have spoken to you a couple of times before, don't know if you had noticed. Thanks for all your support, it really is much appreciated. Hope you are ok, Han xxx

hey han x

of course I've noticed!!! =D

I hate it when people jump to conclusions as well hunni.

you are more than welcome for the support sweetheart, whenever you need it.

keep in touch sweetie,

take care,

lexy -xxx-

Heya,

I definately think that the media should do something on ENDOS.  Your right lexy it's mostly based on anoerxia the meda that is.  I do not think that ENDOS has been addressed properly and a lot of people do not know what it is and how it affects the sufferer. 

I wonder what the critiera is the media has to have to work on when deciding what documentary to do and show next.  ENDOS should be something that the world addresses and the mental health system.  It seems to say to me that if you do not have ana or mia or BED then you do not suffer from a true ED.

take care everyone.

xxxx

hey butterflies,

that is exactly how I felt to begin with. I knew my eating wasn't right, but I didn't have anorexia or bulimia so I couldn't possibly have an eating disorder, but I do!

I have written to my local MP and he has sent me a letter saying he will address it with others and will get back to me to let me know what is happening but I haven't heard anything as of yet.

take care,

lexy -xxx-

Heya lexy,

That's great that your local MP is thinking about doing something about it it means that he also has recognised that there is a problem.

The fact that people with ENDOS is not diagnosed with a 'true' ED only makes the ED worse and more out of control.  It should be stopped before it gets worse.

take care.

xxx

hey butterflies,

I know what you mean about people not really noticing EDNOS means that it makes th ed worse. people think that they need to get worse before they will be taken seriously and it is wrong.

take care,

lexy -xxx-

Yeah that is true,

to get help you do need to get to a critical state before you are taking seriously.

take care

xxx

hey sweetheart,

it is so wrong that most people need to get to a critical stage before anybody will sit up and take notice as eating disorders are mental illnesses, which unfortunately happens to affect our physical health as well.

I also feel that those who are suffering with ed's that cause them to gain weight rather than lose weight tend to get less help when they are suffering just as much!

take care sweetheart,

lexy -xxx-

Heya lexy,

Yeah I agree the view on that is that people tend to think that those who are over weight with an ED that causes this, have put it on themselves and therefore should do something about losing it themselves but it is not that easy or simple for them. 

As the world goes you have to be anorexic to get help.

take care.

xxx

I completely agree and have felt for a while that there should be more indification for EDNOS as it is getting increasingly more common and for many sufferers it only gets worse and worse as they don't get help because their weight is not deemed 'low' enough for an ED.

I recently read a short feature in a magazine on ED's and they had ana and mia in there, but they also acknowledged that there are other types of ED that aren't as easy to classify and that there are numerous warning signs that can be an indicating factor as to whether or not someone has eating issues.

I sometimes get annoyed that people try to tell you what is going on with you when they haven't really got a clue, but then I guess it is the same as with so many illnesses, you can't fully understand unless you have first hand experience.

I hope you hear from your MP soon.

Take care of yourselves everybody, love xxx

hey sweetheart,

it can be very frustrating when people try and tell you what you are thinking/feeling. my mum was watching a television programme a few months ago and I had to walk out of the room as I could feel myself getting really angry at the way they were portraying things.

let me know how things are going,

take care sweetheart,

lexy -xxx-

Hey,

Thank you, people's kind words can sometimes make the world of difference.

I know what you mean about getting angry, I'm so over-sensitive to things at the mo, little things get me annoyed, especially with the media. It feels as though they don't really care about what they are saying, as long as they are making money. It's really irritating I know.

How are things with you? Take care

Love, ashera xx

hey sweetheart,

any time!!

I'm quite over sensitive to things at the moment as well, but I guess that's just another part of the illness that we have to deal with unfortunately.

things are a bit stressful, but I'm sure they will get better soon.

take care,

lexy -xxx-

a while ago i ws reding i magazine about a type of ED, that wasn't one of the more publicied type something which ihad suffered from and occasionally do now still, and i thought i had a made up it up until i read it. i heard others reading it saying how silly it was, but it is so annoying cos they dont understand! y cant the media be truthful ratehr than put a spin on everything!

it made feel a sense of relif that others suffer with the same thing.i get fed up with certain EDs going unoticed just cos u dont fit the 'stereotype' of a person with and ED

grr!

xx

hey sweetheart,

I think it is soooo wrong how the media 'stereotype' people - every single person is different, even if they are thought to be suffering of a similar ed!

hope you are okay beautiful,

take care gorgeous,

lexy -xxx-

Heyy

I agree with you both aswell how its annoying when people stereotype people and how there doesn't seem to be many things on EDNOS because it is getting more common and more people should be made aware of it.

So i know this is kind of off the topic a bit but it gets me a bit angry aswell  when i hear about these thinspiration and proana/mia sites and I find that all the "wannarexia" stuff destracts from the disorder itself and it makes me feel like nobody takes eating disorders seriously anymore which is such a problem because it's such a life-threatening disorder.

Sorry i rambled on a bit there

Hope your ok

Take care
xXxXx 

hey sweetheart,

I know what you mean about sites that distract from the seriousness of the illness - they are sooooo frustrating!!!

hope you are okay?

take care gorgeous,

lexy -xxx-

hey,

Well not really=[ everything just seems to be going downhill at the moment and i can't cope with it all. Everytime i put up a fight i always end up losing and now I'm just giving up all hope that i had. Sorry to be a bit miserable =(

Are you ok anyway?

xXxXxXx

hey sweetheart,

not really - just been told I have IBS as well which gives me another reason to avoid food.

take care gorgeous,

lexy -xxx-

aww no =( that sucks.
Have you been diagnosed with it? and do you no maybe what types of food trigger it?

xXxXxXx 

hey sweetheart,

no idea what foods trigger it yet unfortunately.

was diagnosed with it on wednesday.

how are things for you??

take care gorgeous,

lexy -xxx-

Hey
Sorry for late reply things aren't too good infact there getting a lot worse everything is just going downhill :(
Hope things are all ok for you?

Take care

xXxXx

hey sweetheart,

no worries for the late reply.

things are pretty rubbish here too.

take care,

lexy -xxx-