lapetitemoi

Open Self-Injury

I cut myself from the age of 15. The last time I self-inflicted severely was while I was in the psych ward at the hospital March-April 2007. However, there are occasions where I still self-harm.

Treatments

Psychotherapy Somewhat Helpful

It really does very little to keep me from cutting, though the venting is very helpful.

Talking Working / Worked

I vent when I need to keep from SI.

Residential Treatment Center Working / Worked

Its VERY helpful in keeping me from being a danger to myself while Im there. Good for learning coping mechanisms though.

Hospitalization Not Working

VERY unhelpful. Has made things worse as they tend to just drug you up if youre in the psych ward.

Open Physical & Emotional Abuse

Was abused by my parents until age 16.

Treatments

Abuse Counseling Working / Worked

Therapy helps you get the anger out.

Leave Working / Worked

When I get stressed around my family members, I leave or tell them I don't want to talk anymore.

Pets Working / Worked

It feels good just to talk to your pets and hold them when you are down.

Talking Working / Worked

Venting helps!

Open Prescription Drug Abuse

Has been difficult to break the habit of taking large amounts of OTC sleeping meds, though I am now down to 4 at night.

Treatments

Residential Treatment Center Working / Worked

Got me into a better routine of medication taking.

Open Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Was diagnosed with PTSD at the hospital in March 2007. Was abused by my parents until I was 16, and it's very hard to let go.

Treatments

Art Working / Worked

Helps to get out emotions through poetry and artwork.

Music Working / Worked

Can get me out of my head.

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

Discussing it helps me accept that it happened.

Supportive Care Working / Worked

My hubby is a Godsend.

Talking Working / Worked

YES! Venting!

Zoloft Working / Worked

Helps with the depression.

Open Hives

Interestingly enough, I also suffer from hives brought on by cold sensitivity. Check out my skiing photo- you can see the hives on my knees!

Treatments

Benadryl Somewhat Helpful

It works, but puts me to sleep!

Open Anxiety

I suffer from a lot of social anxiety.

Treatments

Ativan Not Working

Made me a zombie.

Breathing Exercises Not Working

Not my thing.

Open Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

I was diagnosed recently with OCD, though I am functional. Most of my OCD comes with stress, numbers, and certain structure.

Treatments

Lexapro Working / Worked

Helps with anxiety.

Seroquel Not Working

Made me a compliant zombie.

Open Diets & Weight Maintenance

After going through treatment to gain weight, I am struggling to maintain weight. So I'm here to get advice. :)

Treatments

3 Hour Diet Not Working

Fad diets don't work.

6 Week Body Makeover Not Working

Fads don't work. One must learn to maintain balance slowly and surely, not by some body transformation in an amazing 6 weeks.

Atkins Diet Somewhat Helpful

This plan worked for my mother when she did a less extreme version. However, she's gained about 50% of the weight back.

Avoid Certain Foods / Chemicals Somewhat Helpful

I avoid certain foods, like fats and sugars, but this leads me to later binge/purge on these foods.

Counting Calories Somewhat Helpful

I have used fitday.com since I was 15. One must take special care not to restrict and use this food diary alongside nutritionist meal plans.

Dancing Working / Worked

I was a ballet dancer for 12 years, and then another semester in university. It feels good if you are nourishing your body properly.

Eating Healthier Foods Working / Worked

"Healthy" foods are always good for the body; that is, non-processed fresh ingredients. But like everything, moderation is key. Don't keep yourself from enjoying the finer things in life.

Eat Less Somewhat Helpful

Works if you take special care not to cut down to much.

Hoodia Not Working

Zero, zippo, nothing. No pill ever solves problems, as I learned after taking ephedrine and then hoodia once that was banned.

Physical Exercise Somewhat Helpful

Moderation is key.

Slim-Fast Not Working

Does not work in the long-run of life. It's better to learn how to eat "real" food.

South Beach Diet Not Working

Fad diets do not work.

Weight Watchers Too Soon to Tell

Mom started Weight Watchers about a month or two ago. Seems like an expensive and processed way to learn how to eat.

Open Panic Attacks

I had to quit my jobs after having two severe panic attacks right before work.

Treatments

Ativan Somewhat Helpful

Good, though have to have high doses and it makes me sleepy.

Klonopin Not Working

Evil!

Positive Thinking Working / Worked

Being with someone positive helps, that can be a shoulder to lean on.

Open Acne

Suffered from very bad acne since the age of ~12 years old. I've tried many different things, but eventually it always comes back.

Treatments

Accutane Working / Worked

Took it for four months. It kept the acne away for the most part for about 2 years.

Benzoyl Peroxide Somewhat Helpful

It helps for awhile, then the effect wears off.

Tetracycline Not Working

Didn't work at all.

Washing Somewhat Helpful

They help my face feel and look cleaner, but the acne doesn't go completely away.

Open College Stress

I have been to two junior colleges and one Cal State University (SJSU) so far, studying French and Business. However, I have decided to make nutrition and dietetics my life's work. I will be taking summer classes at Bakersfield College on Elementary Nutrition and Child Psychology.

Treatments

Psychotherapy Somewhat Helpful

If the school offers therapy, it's good to take advantage of it.

Sleep Somewhat Helpful

If you can get enough, it really makes life better.

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked

I'm getting help with my degree from my mother-in-law who is the chief clinical RD at our local hospital.

Open Vegetarians & Vegans
: Vegetarian

Vegetarian for 5 years, recently vegan.

Treatments

Raw Food Diet Somewhat Helpful

Open Rape

Was raped by a bigger girl when I was in 4th or 5th grade. I didn't start talking about it until just recently.

Treatments

Psychotherapy Somewhat Helpful

Talking Somewhat Helpful

It seems I'm always venting about something.

Open Family Issues

My ED has made it impossible to relate to my family anymore. My sister continues to break me down for my illness, and my parents don't seem to really understand.

Treatments

Family Therapy Considering

If I go into residential treatment again, I am definitely considering family therapy.

Music Working / Worked

Venting through music.

Talking Somewhat Helpful

They understand my feelings, but don't listen.

Writing Working / Worked

Can vent.

Open Health Care Reform

It's hard enough having anorexia/bulimia nervosa with multiple mental disorders...and then when it comes to trying to get help, you're stuck paying thousands out of pocket.

Open Family & Friends of Cancer Patients

I was a teen when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer- she was left with lyphedema, but it turned her life around (she tries to be healthier, take care of herself, etc). As of November 2008, she was diagnosed again with breast cancer. Now we are going through the chemotherapy, surgeries, etc all over again...

Open Fitness Goals
Type: Maintain a workout schedule

Have been an overexerciser, and thus developed a fear of exercise for health. I would like to be able to exercise at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week. I would like to develop muscles, as I caused a lot of muscle wastage due to anorexia.

Treatments

Aerobics Working / Worked

Fun when you go with friends every so often.

Climbing Working / Worked

I conquered my fear of heights and recovery by climbing the rock wall in the challenge course at Remuda Ranch.

Cycling Working / Worked

I love riding around on my little beach cruiser, and would love to get a road bike... but they are just so expensive.

Dancing Working / Worked

I love DDR and it gives you a good heart-pumping workout.

Elliptical Trainer Somewhat Helpful

Fun, but I totally prefer the treadmill.

Hiking Somewhat Helpful

Only fun when you're in a place you really enjoy. Otherwise, you're stuck out in the middle of nowhere, and it's boring as heck.

Kickboxing Working / Worked

Totally fun!

Pilates Somewhat Helpful

It's a good workout, but gets boring after awhile. Also, if you do mat workouts, it really starts to hurt your body if you have any bones sticking out.

Rollerblading Working / Worked

I loved rollerblading as a kid. If only I could get a new pair of skates...

Running Working / Worked

I can only run for about 5 minutes on the treadmill. But I am able to powerwalk at 4 MPH. I have started to build my stamina. I also enjoy walking briskly back and forth from the mail box, and to the market when I go grocery shopping.

Strength Training Working / Worked

I love strength training. :D

Swimming Considering

I'm still nervous about swimming this summer, as I am very insecure about my new body. But my mother-in-law got me a new bathing suit for my birthday, so I gotta show it off for her.

Weight Training Working / Worked

Makes me feel powerful. I use 5 pound free weights. I'm trying to be able to do more reps, and move on to 7.5 pounds.

Open Plastic Surgery

I have wanted lipo and a mastectomy for as long as I can remember; however, I'm trying to get over this.

Open Epilepsy & Seizures

Have had three seizures due to anorexia nervosa. Unsure if they will ever come back, but I am currently on medication for them.

Treatments

Lamictal Working / Worked

Have not experienced any seizures after taking this medication, and it helps with my moods.

Open Nutrition

After three years of majoring in French, I've decided to study dietetics after going through treatment for anorexia nervosa. My mother-in-law is the chief clinical dietitian at the hospital I was most recently at, and is helping me. I hope to also minor in psychology and work with ED patients.

Treatments

Reading Working / Worked

Ive learned a lot through reading up.

Open Healthy Eating

I'm trying to follow my meal plan in order to maintain my weight.

Treatments

Physical Exercise Working / Worked

It really improves my mood and keeps me toned and strong. I am starting to get muscle back, after enduring muscle wastage (was at 5-10th percentile of muscle mass).

Open ADHD / ADD

Grew up with ADHD, which triggered my disordered eating habits around age 8. I finally got diagnosed and put on medication last year (age 21). WOW.

Treatments

Adderall Working / Worked

It's has really helped me in focussing, and not feeling so "muddy-brained." Side effects are pretty obvious though- brings out the OCD badly, jaw-clenching, cravings for cigarettes, and difficulties sleeping, and lack of appetite. It's all bearable though, because at least I'm able to actually think!

Open Insomnia

Open Osteoporosis

Received diagnosis of lower lumbar osteopenia in late 2008.

Open Raynaud's Disease

Struggled with this for a very long time- it runs genetically in my family (poor circulation in extremities), as well as in conjunction with the malnutrition from the ED.

Open Smoking Addiction & Recovery

I've smoked for almost 2 years now, on and off, but in the last year, I've smoked up to a pack a day. I'm sick of the waste of money, and in order to go to Mercy Ministries (treatment centre for EDs), I HAVE to quit!

Open Agoraphobia & Social Anxiety

I have been socially alienated due to mental illnesses and truly wish to somehow make friends. I'm unsure about how to become more active socially.

Open Healthy Relationships

Treatments

Couples Counseling Considering

Patience Somewhat Helpful

Talking Somewhat Helpful

Writing Somewhat Helpful

Open Sports Injuries
Type: Plantar Fasciitis

I'm unsure, but I believe I may struggle with something less severe or related to Plantar Fasciitis, as well as knee problems. I also struggle with osteopenia, so I sometimes end up with bad lower lumbar. I've been doing a lot of walking instead of running lately.

Treatments

Heat Somewhat Helpful

Ice Pack Somewhat Helpful

Ibuprofen Working / Worked

Stretching Working / Worked

Open Arrhythmias
Type: Bradycardia