My eating problems are making me lose sleep!

This absolutely sucks. I'm 16, I have school, and I just can't stand losing sleep over my eating anymore. If I haven't had something i would qualify as a good day it completely consumes my thoughts to the point where I get a headache and have to go take Tylenol PM, even when I cannot possibly be thinking about my food, to the point where I have blocked it out, I still feel shaky and anxious and find myself up in the middle of the night doing things like.. this.

I'm not sure what kind of eating problems you are having, but maybe you could try some stress-reducing methods? Take a deep breath, calm down. Go for a walk or do some yoga to release those endorphins. Light a lavender scented candle. Drink some hot tea. Learn to meditate. If you're having problems sleeping, have some good carbs or nuts before bed like oatmeal w/ a banana, some air-popped popcorn, or walnuts or sesame seeds that produce serotonin and melotonin. Try not to get so worked up, everyone has a bad day now and then. It's ok :)

Can you expand on what kind of specific food problems are you having? How many cals do you eat each day? Do you think you eat too many or or too few? Are you trying to lose, gain or maintain? Do you have any history of issues with food or eating in the past? Sorry for all the question but with some more info maybe we can point you in the right direction as where you can get help or support. Have you checked out the Resource thread at the top of this forum?

Have you told a parent, close family friend, teacher, counselor or a doctor about your concerns?

Sleep is very important to a growing young woman like yourself as is eating healthfully, so I hope you can find the help and support you need to nip the issues in the bud.

Let us know if we can help.

Do your parents know you have an eating disorder? If not tell them and get some help. If you cannot talk to your parents talk to the counselor at your school. But definitely talk to someone today!

I'm really sorry about what you're going through. I can totally sympathize with you in that I've lost tons of sleep over eating as well—fretting over what to eat the next day or what you ate that day.

Here's what has been working for me:

• find something that you're passionate about.  I know it's hard—sometimes you won't remember what you like anymore!  But if there's anything that you know you love (for example: skiing, basketball, singing, et cetera), think about that!
• daydreaming.  Make up a story about something, anything!  Dream about jumping on a horse and riding through a jungle or something.  Daydream about something you love.  Personally, I've always wanted to write a book (hasn't everyone?), so I try to brainstorm ideas for that.

If these don't work, don't lose hope!  I know how incredibly frustrating it is, but sometimes the best thing to do is either just play a game, do a puzzle, read a book (if you can focus on it), or daydream.  I've been daydreaming myself to sleep for the past week or so, and I've been sleeping much better.  Your mind may still resist you at some point, but just keep trying to distract yourself with whimsical things that don't require too much attention.
Best of luck!  Feel free to message me if you have any questions.  :)

For the longest time I have always had body issues, I always thought I was fat. A few summers ago I decided to ''diet" which basically meant starve myself. Although I had no knowledge of nutrition and counting calories and such so it wasn't really when my ''eating disorder" started. I lost about 15 pounds that summer and kept it off all year, but that wasn't good enough. The next summer I became totally health conscious and barely ate and excercised everything off and I got really thin. I also ended up losing my period and I was sick and cold all the time and that school year was never able to get over my new weird eating habits. I stilll tried to eat as little as possible. Eventually when I tried eating my old foods again, I developed Binge Eating disorder and it was completely awful. It ruined everything for me. I was so ashamed and I went through months and months with this problem. I'd eat and eat and eat for weeks at a time and then I'd starve to try to lose the weight. I'm so ashamed, it is hard not to binge. There are so many reasons I do it but I can't pinpoint when and why it happens. My food issues have made me so depressed and made my lifelong problems with anxiety even worse. It's a daily struggle for me. I have always been big, I'm 5'11'', but it'a like people have to tiptoe around me or I get offended and become more self-concious. I hate dealing with this and being so young..I feel like i'm wasting my life away.

My mom knows  have eating problems but she never thought it was bad enough to get help. We can't afford it anyways and I don't really want it. I can't imagine not being like this anymore. I hate it but it's me know.

I understand and am sorry you are going through this. You might not want help but you need it. You cannot go through life like this. That is no way to live. Talk to your counselor at school. Make an appointment with your family doctor. There may be services available to you that you are unaware of. If your Mom has health insurance it may pay for treatment if the Dr. orders it. Don't let it go. People die from anorexia and other eating disorders. Please talk to your Mom again and then the Dr. and counselor. Also check this link for some suggestions. Skinny is not worth dying. http://www.ehow.com/how_17634_find-help-someo ne.html