Eating Disorders and signs to look for if you suspect.

So many in this world have Eating Disorders and so many of them go unnoticed. Don't let your loved one be one of them.

The things listed below are common symptoms of Eating Disorders

• Self-starvation

• Binge eating

• Purging

• Obsessive thoughts surrounding food • Distorted self-image

• Constant extreme dieting

• Consumption of laxatives or enema

• Consumption of appetite suppressants

A lot of time Eating Disorders are caused by things such as

• Personal history of depression or other mental health related conditions

• Low Self-Esteem

• Lacking healthy coping skills

• Lacking a support network

• Being the victim of ongoing criticism or bullying

• Suffering from abuse and/or neglect

It's tragic and hard to think about this type of thing ever happening to a loved one of yours, but what if it did? What if there was someone you knew and they were going through this but you just didn't know? Many children/teens even adults that have Eating Disorders hide what their doing, and so while you may be seeing a slight change in their diet or you may think that them changing their diet and how much they eat isn't a bad thing or at least it shouldn't. But a lot of people who have Eating Disorders learn how to hide the amount of weight they have lost.

Some of the ways they hide what they are doing

• eat alone even more than they normally do.

• always come up with an excuse as to why they aren't eating as often as before.

• seem to always need to use the restroom shortly after consuming a meal.

• Wanting to be alone and spend less time with the family and friends more than they used to.

Some ways to spot these things because I know what it's like to watch someone you care deeply about go through something like this and not knowing what to do in this situation. If you have a friend that has an Eating Disorder and you know about. Please I urge you TELL their parents at the very least make them aware of whats going on. Even if he/she tells you not to. You will be helping and saving them in the process. This is not one of those little secrets that can be kept. Because let me tell you out of personal experience, He/she will not go to their parents themselves. and most likely their parents will not notice until they walk in on their son/daughter in their room and seeing the piles of uneaten food, finding the laxatives or enema in their bathrooms. Your friend will not tell anyone in fear that they will be judged. When someone is so deep in an Eating Disorder that you can't get them to eat anything anywhere. Doesn't matter they won't they will give every excuse not to. Your worried about them hating you aren't you? Worried that they will never be your friend after "betraying their trust" right? Well how are you going to feel when you get the call that his/her parents walked in their room/bathroom and found them dead? where's that worry now? That worry you had has just been turned into Guilt which in turn causes more issues to yourself knowing that you knew and didn't do anything to stop them. I know how it feels and I know it's not the easiest thing to "betray" a friend but sometimes secrets are meant to be broken and this is one of them. This isn't a secret that can be kept to yourself.

It is estimated that approximately six percent of serious cases die. For many others, there are long-term, irreversible consequences which can affect one's physical and emotional health. Up to now, only 50% all people with this devastating disease report being cured. One in 200 American women suffers from anorexia.

The disease has the highest mortality rate of all mental health disorders. As many as 20 percent of the people who suffer from anorexia will eventually die from it. And the longer a person suffers from anorexia, the greater their risk of dying becomes.

Eating Disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, with nearly 1 person dying every hour as a direct result of an Eating Disorder. Sufferers aren't always underweight; about 35 percent of binge Eating Disorder and 30 percent of bulimia patients are medically obese.

Only approximately 1 in 10 people with bulimia receive treatment. Bulimia statistics tell us that relapse is common, occurring in approximately 30-50% of cases. Suicide is a common cause of death in bulimia nervosa. People with bulimia are at a high risk for dying, especially if they are purging, using laxatives and doing excessive exercise. Many people with bulimia have died from cardiac arrest which is usually caused by low potassium or an electrolyte imbalance. Others have died from a ruptured esophagus.

Bulimia can also affect the heart rate and the functions of other major organs, including the kidneys. Like those with anorexia, people with untreated bulimia are at risk of heart failure, kidney failure and worse death.

Have you ever thought these things? Are you constantly comparing yourself to others? Do you feel like you never measure up? Like you will never live up to the expectations that those around you have yet for you? Have you become obsessed with what you eat or how much? Do you worry about how much exercise you do or feel like you don't do enough exercise? Do you feel in control when choosing to eat less of or more of the food you take?

Listen to me right now. If your reading this, and are going this what was mentioned above. You are perfect just the way you are. You don't have to live up to anyone's image of you. You are the only that gets to define who you are. Be that guy that loves to sing or is weird or a "freak". Be that girl that stands out from the crowd. Be that person YOU want to be. Because there is no one in this world like you and there never will be. You may think you need to be hella skinny to fit in. But hear me out okay? Who cares what anyone else thinks? Society is far from perfect sweetie and you deserve to be happy. You deserve to be loved. Who cares what clothes you wear, or the make up you have or don't have. Who cares if you are the most popular kid in school or your boss's favorite. Yeah its nice to have friends but whats so great of having friends if they are only going to bring you down? Those are not friends, You deserve better and you will find better. Things may seem bad and I sound like this crazy lady that doesn't know anything right? Your thinking at this point that I have lost it and that I don't know what I am talking about right? How could I know what your feeling or what your doing? Hun, I have been there. I have struggled with an Eating Disorder my whole life, I've had close friends with Eating Disorders. I used to believe I needed to be like all the other girls around me (skinny, super thin, long blonde hair, make up, high heels) but I am not and I was losing myself, slowly but surely I was tearing myself down, my bullies didn't need to do it anymore they won, they still bullied but they set in stone what I would do for many years to come, I used to lash out at everyone , including those closest to me. Even lied about it not too long ago actually to someone that it never happened because I was ashamed of what happened and I just wanted to forget everything. But I have been learning that I do not have to be ashamed of my past and what happened during those times because it tells a story of who I was, and what lead me up to the point that I am currently. I still struggle, some people think when you recover that it just goes away? It doesn't it won't fully go away, you will still find yourself feeling like you have to lose weight/ gain weight. You need to find something that you love more than this world could ever understand. Use that as a way to help yourself out of your current situation. Even if what you love is something that others hate. Because it is not about what other's like or dislike. This is about you and what gives you the will to fight. The strength to keep going in this world. This world is tough and often very cruel. But there are good people, kind people, true people out there that want to help you. But no one can ever help if you don't reach out in the first place. Find something anything even if it's Listening to Music for hours on end, Drawing, Sculpting, Playing Video Games, Going for walks, Talking to a friend, Going to the movies, or Reading a Book. It doesn't matter what you do or what you like. But find something that you can use as a way to escape the world without leaving the world. This world is not as bad as it seems. Remember those who treat you poorly are going through their own struggles and they are only releasing that feeling the only way they know. They are like you, just like you. They only want to be loved, wanted, understood. Maybe your doing something they wish they could but aren't allowed. Now this does not excuse anyone from treating people like dirt on the bottom of their shoes. We are all people and we all face different aspects that this life holds. You never truly know how you will react or be in a situation until you, yourself have been put into that given situation. Your words and the actions you take can either be what helps someone or it can be what causes some to do even the most unthinkable things. Just because you don't see the pain, the suffering, the heartache, does not mean it isn't there. Nothing is ever has it seems. It at times is much more than meets the eye. You are worth it in this world. You are wanted in this world. You are needed in this world. We want to see all the great glorious things you are capable of in this world. Be the one that brings the light in and keeps the dark out. Be someone's hero that you wanted them to be. Be the anchor you wanted everyone around you to be when you felt like you were drowning.

You mean so much to so many people you have no idea. No idea just how much and how many there are that love you, want you in their lives. You are not a nobody. You are not a loser, you are not pathetic, you are not worthless

YOU ARE YOU and YOU are EVERYTHING THIS WORLD NEEDS

Be yourself and love yourself ~ Kyndra Warner~