"Ana," "anorexia," and "Anorexia Nervosa" are three different things, but at the same time they can all be related, however, you will NOT find the word "ana" in the DSM IV...it simply doesn't exist as a classification or even as a symptom of any other disease!

Now "anorexia" means: "loss of appetite." You can lose your appetite for any number of reasons including as a symptom of many illnesses or with medical treatments such as chemotherapy, etc. This won't deem you a psychiatric case because it's physical in nature.

"Anorexia Nervosa" on the other hand means: "nervous loss of appetite" and is classified as a psychiatric, mental illness which is what I THINK you are confusing with the made-up term "ana."

To answer your question (finally,) people with anorexia nervosa DO eat. I don't know about "anas" tho. I hope you can figure out the reasons for your "eating very small amounts" and take your concerns to your doctor. Are you not eating enough because you're physically sick and have lost your appetite? Or is it because you are fearing weight gain and all THAT entails? THAT could be Anorexia Nervosa rearing it's ugly head.

Sorry for the wordiness in this reply, but I hope this clears up a few things for you so at least you have the correct definitions!

Best wishes to you!

thats what im wondering, except in the form of mia. like if i still keep some stuff down, lets say, am i still bulimic?

well anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa only exist because there are sufferes..so obviously people who have been suffering for awhile have eaten as well as have kept some food down.

i think the medical criteria to be diagnosed as bulimic is that you purge at least twice a week, so you don't have to purge every last crumb you eat in order to have bulimia

Slimpics, you took my words away. EXACTLY what I would have said.

Also, if you want a diagnosis, you won't get one here. You have to see a doctor or a counsellour or a therapist to do that for you.

And I think it's a misconception to think that an anorectic doesn't eat. I mean, really! You would die after a couple weeks no matter what if you didn't eat at all.

To be classified as bulimic you need to have the purge WITH the binging.

Otherwise you're still classified as the purging class of anorexia.

Then there is ED-NOS which covers pretty much every layer in between.

Eventually it gets to be splitting hairs, though. What we're agreed on is that if you have an ED - you have a serious problem that could kill you, most assuredly.

I'm anorexic and I eat. Otherwise I wouldn't be writing this.