My name is Emily, I am almost 23 years old and I have been a picky eater my entire life. I have always been skinny and in 2011 I had finally reached over 100 lbs. I want to be clear that I never intentionally made myself skinny. Unfortunately in January of 2012 I got very sick, and was once again under 100 lbs.
After trying for a month to gain weight at home, doing nothing but sitting on the couch and eating, I gained back eight pounds. Within a week I had lost those six of those eight pounds.
It was recommended that I meet with a doctor at an eating disorder unit at a local hospital. I was 18 at the time, and I had to make the decision to sign myself into the eating disorders unit at the hospital.
They classified it as an eating disorder not otherwise specified.
I made the decision to sign myself in based on the fact that I was miserable. I was always sick and tired because my body did not have enough food to fuel itself.
My main issue is that I do not feel hunger as hunger, I feel that it is 'oh no I'm going to be sick'. One of the things I learned was that I have to constantly remind myself that its hunger when this happens. Usually I will start off eating a couple crackers and then after confirming to myself that the feeling goes away with food I will eat a meal.
There is so much I want to do in my life, and I worry I will never be able to do these things because of my picky eating.
I'm looking for advice so anyone feel free to comment.