My younger sister is 16, she is about 5'6 and weighs about 90 pounds I would say she is extremely thin, and recently she has not been eating and when she does I think she purges, she always goes to the bathroom after we "eat" she barley eats anything, I am watching her for the whole summer and beginning of the school year for her, my parents are gone. She has a lot going for her and I have to protect her a lot because of the trouble she gets into with guys. but that's just her I guess. I don't know what to do about this, I am like a father to her and I know I can handle how to help her I just need A LOT of advice on what to do, please as many answers as possible, I am desperate. She thinks I don't know, but I do. This is a very serious case what do I do? Ryan
There isn't very much you can do. It's her body to do as she wants with. The best thing you can do for her is to just be there for her. Help her improve her self-estem, then she won't feel the need to starve herself in order to feel good. Maybe try and talk to her about whats going on in her world, she may even open up to you. If I was you I would stay clear of adressing it as her having mental illness or disease cause that will only make her feel worse about herself. And more alone. && if she is "pro ana" then calling her anorexic will seem like praise to her.
If you really feel that her situation is an emergency get professional medical help, however this will probably damage your relationship with her.
In addition to the suggestions I made to you via Fun Mail, see if she would agree to counseling with a therapist if you stop pressing for her to go to the hospital.
Although she is in a bad way, I don't think it is critical yet and because of her fear of the hospital the therapist idea might work.
Also, do you have anything in writing from your parents authorizing you to authorize medical care for her on your parents' behalf? If you don't, you might check into it. It usually has to be a parent to authorize medical treatment unless it is a dire emergency or the parent has given that authority in writing to someone else to act in their stead.
aww your such a good brother! anyways, I had a bout with anorexia and I dont think it was about losing weight for me, it was mostly because I had self esteem problems and didnt feel loved. you need to talk to her about it and she might not want to talk about her problems at first, so just tell her your worried about her and you dont want her to hurt herself. after a little while, shell come around and talk to you about it and you guys can figure out what to do together
This is serious, I hope you get a lot of answers, try talking to her first off, you need to find out why she's like this, sounds like anorexia to me, she'll be sensitive about it, but she needs to learn this eats away at her from the inside, it's not good, talk to her, explain consiquences, this is a tough time for girls this way, they do what they can to please everyone else, maybe try to get her on here and a lot of people can help her with any problems.
You need to talk to her but this is mostly up to her if she decides to open up to you. Let her know that this is serious and she needs help. Possibly rehab... I don't know much about this but it does sound very serious. Get her help. By the way, I'm glad you taking the responsibility to help her. That's very thoughtful and sweet of you.
Thank you for the advice, I am taking it all and thinking I still need a lot more advice though, she gets scared very easily. she hates hospitals like I have never seen anything like before. But I do think it is bad enough, I just really need help. Ryan
One of the advisors on here has a group where you can chat and talk to people who are trying to over come any eating disorders. You maybe to get advice there as well!
here is the link
http://www.funadvice.com/group/ethmer
