does my daugher need help?

 

Dear ellen:

I noticed about six months ago or more that my daughter would make herself throw up after she would eat a heavy meal, and is continuing this, as far as i know,  on and off.  I have talked to her about this and she tells me she only makes herself throw up when she feels she has eaten too much. I have read up on the side effects and wanted to know if it is necessary for her to need counselling?  There is a counsellor she has seen in the past, would you recommend i contact her and let her know what is going on?

Thank you for your time and look forward to your reply.

C.A.

 

Dear C.:

Thank you for your email. The information you provide tells me that your daughter has developed, or is developing, a problematic relationship with food. Vomiting after a meal, regardless if it's heavy or not, is unhealthy and can lead to a serious eating disorder.  Once discovered, bulimia often seems like a smart thing to do, a way to eat what one wants, but not "pay a price" in terms of weight gain. It's a very addictive behavior. She may think that it's not a big deal or that she only does it in certain circumstances, but it's very easy to slip into a habit of bulimic behavior to cope with difficult emotions. Think about it - no one ever tries a drug thinking that they'll become addicted to it; they think it's something they can handle. I'm not saying that your daughter is bulimic at this time - I don't know what her habits are - but she's definitely playing with fire.
Unfortunately, T. is going to need to make the decision herself as to whether or not she needs help. I strongly suggest that you talk to her about your concerns and encourage her to see her counsellor again if she has a good relationship with him/her.
I would suggest that you learn all you can about bulimia and keep the lines of communication open with your daughter. Please feel free to visit my website at www.drdomm.com
good luck -
Ellen
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