[beloiseau]

Hi, I was diagnosed with an eating disorder nos through my DBT intensive outpatient program...everytime I've been in therapy, they have asked about my eating and been concerned about it, but never enough to weigh me or really worry me too much. I was really surprised when I got my treatment plan and saw that diagnosis on it.

The psychiatrist asked me some simple questions and I thought I gave pretty normal answers. There have been times in my life where I have restricted food, sometimes related to feeling like I've gained too much weight, sometimes for the feeling of lightheadedness and power I get. I tend to do that when I'm more stressed out. Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve good food. But, I've never lost any weight because of it. That behavior eventually leads to me eating whatever and however much I want for a while, until the cycle repeats. I've never purged.

I am a very small person though, and sensitive about my weight because people have told me that I look heavier at times. I am not very tall. If I weigh more, I feel bad about myself, and I realize that is completely insane. I do not see myself as others see me though, I see myself as untoned and unfit, etc.

Anyway, sorry this post is long...I guess I'm just confused about the diagnosis because my weight never really fluctuates and I have never been hospitalized r/t eating problems.

[buttrfli42481]

I, too, have been diagnosed with ED-NOS with ana tendencies. I am also small framed and feel like if I weigh over X amount then I will be fat. However, I look at pictures of myself in my very un-healthy days and think to myself how disgusting I look because I am so skinny in those pictures. I am not happy no matter how thin or healthy I am. It is something that I am working on with therapists and a dietician.

You don't have to have been hospitalized for an ED in order to have one. Just like many people have never been hospitalized for depression, and still are diagnosed as depressed.
ED-NOS just means you don't fit the criteria for Anorexia or Bulimia. If you want a more thorough description, ask you psychiatrist or therapist.

[Grey Matter]

Many hugs to you. I hope we can offer support to you if you need it!

[eskielover]

Just a thought that crossed my mind when you were listing the questions & answers.......it seems in my mind that 90% or more of women would end up being dx'ed with ED-NOS on the basis of answering those questions.

Even very normal people have issues with food some time in their life. What's important is the mental state that goes along with it & what lingers on.

Anorexia hits me when I'm stressed.....it always has since I was a kid in grade school....studying for tests & midterms & finals & performances in college....I would feel sick to my stomach & not eat.....the longer the stress the more I would loose until it finally passed & I would get more back to normal.

I think the more aware people are of ED's the more they are wanting to Dx & treat so that what may become an ED doesn't.....& there is nothing wrong with that either.....preventive medicine has always been a reasonable practice.

When I was really struggling, my MD left the mental treatment up to my pdoc & T.....& he only took care of my physical needs when I got too physically ill to function.

A nutritionist is always a good idea.....even though I know what I should eat.....I find it very difficult to manage living alone with no real routine to my life.

[Karrebear]

That is what I was diagnosed with as well. I don't act on the behaviors as much as I did a few yrs ago but the thoughts are there everyday. to you

[Karrebear]

Originally Posted by eskielover

Anorexia hits me when I'm stressed.....it always has since I was a kid in grade school....studying for tests & midterms & finals & performances in college....I would feel sick to my stomach & not eat.....the longer the stress the more I would loose until it finally passed & I would get more back to normal.

I would not consider a situation like this an ED nos

[beloiseau]

I was in a week or so pattern of just really overeating and eating whatever I wanted. I had a meltdown over issues that are going on, and now I can tell that I'm heading back into a not eating cycle. It is happening slowly, but if my mood stays OK I might be able to stay out of it. I just need to learn how to regulate my eating habits.