[Nike007]

Hello. My brother is under 18, so I have used the children's BMI, and according that, he is between 15-16 kg/m^2 or whatever. He is in the 3rd percentile and is still losing weight. He barely eats anything, and exercises obsessively. He doesn't eat any desserts, no junk, which is good, but he won't eat like anything. When it was even worse, all he would eat was lettuce. Literally. He ordered a caeser salad at a restaurant with sauce on the side, didn't eat the croutons, bacon, and had no cheese on it. He has gotten better at eating, but he exercising more and more. He's exercising 1-2 hours a day on the treadmill. He doesn't want to gain weight and be fat. I have told him that he isn't fat at all and is fine. He's even growing and he's really underweight. He is under 18, and won't say more than that about his age, but he is 5' 4'' and he weighs about 90 pounds. Maybe more or less. He weighs the same as my sister, who is 2 years younger than him. And she is considered normal weight.

My mom doesn't care because he eats healthy and isn't fat, so she doesn't care how much he exercises. She tells him to eat more at times, but rarely. He doesn't eat much.

I want him to work at it, but he has no interest whatsoever in getting treatment for mental illness. As soon as I bring up the topic of mental illness, he says "I don't care". I'm afraid he could end up at the hospital soon. I know it's rare for men to develop anorexia, but I believe his friends made him become like this. Before being with these people, he was considered normal weight and everything. Now, he is underweight, and is obsessed about eating healthy. I really do want to help him. I see my pdoc for anxiety. Maybe I should ask my brother if he will go see someone? He doesn't think it's a problem though, I know that. It's really severe though. He's considered in the severe range of anorexia, it's terrible. What should I do? I know I can only help him and not force him to do anything at all, but I'm afraid about him being hospitalize for having body problems. I'm surprised this hasn't been picked up on though. He has to see these specialist because apparently my mom thinks he's really short, and they checked his bone thing and weight, and I know that having anorexia can cause certain things like that. It's linked to weight, so I'm surprised they haven't sent him to see someone for that.

Anyways, this post got long. I just want to help my brother. I really don't want to be like "screw him" because he doesn't want help. I kinda did that with my friend who won't get help for her anxiety. I have stopped bugging her about it because if she doesn't want to deal with that, that's her problem and not mine. If she is going to complain about panic attacks, go talk to a mental health specialist. I get them, and see my pdoc and talk to like 5 other people about them.

My brother though, is in denial really. Anyways, suggestions? Thanks for any responses .

Social anxiety disorder, GAD, OCD, and panic attacks

Lexapro, 10 mg

[Skeezyks]

Hello Nike007: If your brother simply won't seek treatment, & your mom doesn't see your brother's situation as being a problem, then there really is nothing you can do, except to assure your brother that you will be there for him if-&-when he needs you. Nor are you responsible for him. Your brother is a minor &, to the extent that someone is responsible, it is your mother. This is not a matter of you saying "screw him". It is simply the reality of the way things are at the present time.

From my perspective, all you can do now is to be there for your brother if-&-when he wants help. Then, perhaps, you can be of some assistance to him. But, in the meantime, it is important that you not allow your brother's situation to aggravate your own mental health issues. If you do, then you may be less able to able to help him if-&-when the time comes.

You mentioned that you see a pdoc. Do you also see a therapist? I would encourage you to talk, in depth, with a therapist, or other mental health professional, about your feelings regarding your brother's situation. At the present time, the greatest gift you can give your brother is to take good care of yourself.