Has the anorexia caused the anxiety????

I have had anorexia since i was 13 and i am nearly 20. I am only 5"0 so i am short by the way. Although i do cope alot better than i did, like i dont 'not eat', I think i still struggle with the anorexis more than i let on.

I now have anxiety dissorder and i have really anoying symptoms from this which is the worst thig ever and I really want them to go.

Although i have acsepted and realised it is anxiety (as for months i thought i have something physical wrong with me), I still have the symptoms.

And like i said i have come along way in the anorexia but tbh i am still quite strick even though i tell myself i am alot better. like at the moment i find it hard to go over 1500 calories, I have to do two 20 minute walks a day (or equivelent) as that was what i was allowed in hospital so i now forever think this is what i have to do, I find it hard to be sat down in the day time thinking that i have to be doing something productive not just sedentary.

I really want the anxiety symptoms to go as thy are ruining my life but I dont know is what has/is causing it is the past histiry of anorexia and it never quite going away. But is it isnt that then i dont know and it sort of makes me feel less determind to give up the anorexia further if that makes sense??? Hope it does.

Thanks.xxxxxxxxxxx

I suppose the answer could be different for everyone, or that it could be a little bit of both---anorexia contributes to the anxiety, and anxiety contributes to the anorexia.

In my history, I started out with depression and anxiety symptoms, and used anorexia to cope with those.

But when I relapsed recently, I started out with anorexia and then the anxiety came back.

I don't think it matters which came first (kinda like the saying about the chicken or the egg). The point is that you need to address BOTH issues in order to fully recover from both.

I would suggest seeing a counselor and a nutritionist.

I am on waiting list for counselor but it will be a few months.

I dont know how to adress both though. Do you think that helping one will help the other? And do you have to know what causes the anxiety for it to go. Because i am not really sure i know that is why i talked about having the anorexia??

Does anyone have any tips on the issues i mentioned that i struggle with, with the anorexia?

thx again.

xxxxxx

Yes, I think helping one will help the other... but ultimately both need to be faced. A counselor can help you address both the anxiety and anorexia, but you should see a nutritionist to help you with the anorexia as well. A nutritionist can help you with dietary guidelines, how to increase your calories, how much exercise you can or can't do.

My nutritionist doesn't want me doing any cardio exercise outside of normal activities right now. But perhaps you can substitute yoga for your walks? That's helped me to feel like I'm "doing" something without overdoing the exercise.

As for the calories, I have trouble physically eating enough too because I get so full (and scared, too). There are things you can eat to get more calories in, though... higher fat dairy, dried fruits and nuts, or supplemental drinks. I drink Carnation Instant Breakfast shakes, which are similar to Boost or Ensure. I'm sure there are other brands too.

Good luck!

Whe you say you do yoga, how often do you do it and for how long?

Do you have days where you just stay in all day watching film, computer ect.?? Because i find this hard, i feel like i should do something everyday or else what is the point of eating, espicially eating the same amount as i would if i did do something.

xxxxxx

There's a 45 minute long yoga class available to me 2-3 times per week.

Yes, there are days that I don't do any real physical activity. I work in an office during the week where I just sit in front of a computer. It does make me feel restless.

So I know it's hard, but you need to get your calories up and not compensate with exercise. Your body can't repair itself if you're constantly working off what you're taking in. I promise your weight won't sky rocket out of control!