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Answers

Do I have an eating disorder?

\"\"Written byAllan Schwartz, Ph.D.\"\"Medically reviewed byJesse Hanson, Ph.D.
Published
Updated
Reviewed

Content note: Some readers may find parts of this discussion sensitive.

Summary

\"Two

A young adult whose depression has improved in treatment describes recent restriction, purging, and guilt about eating. They worry that seeking specialist eating-disorder support may be dismissed because little weight has changed.

The response takes the eating behaviors seriously and supports obtaining additional help before the pattern worsens, rather than using weight change or duration as reasons to wait.

It discusses coordinated support from a therapist, an eating-disorder-experienced nutrition professional, and the prescribing psychiatrist, with attention to automatic thoughts and the reader’s existing treatment.

?

Question

Reader · Identity withheld

I’m 22 years old and have been struggling with severe depression for about 15 months. While I’ve experienced depressive episodes before, I was able to manage them without treatment until now. Over the past six months, I’ve made significant progress, and currently, my depression is mostly under control thanks to medication (Zoloft 100 mg and Wellbutrin 300 mg) and weekly therapy.

\n

In the last few weeks I’ve been consistently engaging in disordered eating behaviors. I’ve been trying to restrict my food intake on most days and purging a few times a week.

Yes I do want to lose weight, but this is not the reason I am doing it. I feel like I don’t deserve to be well-nourished and that it’s somehow wrong for me to weigh what I do at my healthy weight (4’11” and about 102 lbs).

\n

When I eat normally, I often feel guilty and have the sensation that my body has expanded, even though I logically know it hasn’t. These thoughts have come and gone over the past year, but in the past, I coped with them by self-injuring, something I haven’t done recently.

I’m aware that restricting my eating harms my quality of life, yet I still feel a strong urge to continue. I also feel like I need permission to eat.

\n

I don’t want this to undo the progress I’ve made with my mental health, but I’m unsure what to do next. I believe I might benefit from additional treatment focused on eating disorders, like working with a dietitian and having accountability around a meal plan, alongside my current therapy.

\n

At the same time, I worry about being dismissed or told I’m overreacting because it hasn’t been very long and I haven’t lost much weight.

\n

Do you think it would be appropriate for me to seek extra support?

\"\"

Answer

Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.

You do not need to worry about overreacting to your symptoms. What you describe, including the depression you experience, are typical of an eating disorder, in this case, Bulimia Nervosa. In fact, I agree with you that you should get help now, before it gets worse.

\n

In terms of psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy are thought to be best for eating disorders and depression. Perhaps that is what you have right now. It seems to me that you have many automatic thoughts that cause you a lot of trouble.

\n

Automatic thoughts are those that are not completely true and need to be tested against what is really happening so they can be modified to reflect reality. That is what helps with depression as well as eating disorders. Nevertheless, it is good that you are in therapy and on medication.

\n

Yes, a licensed nutritonist who has experience with eating disorders, is an excellent idea. The  nutritionist and therapist should work together as a team in helping you.

\n

Also, you talking to your psychiatrist who is prescribing your medications is a good idea. First of all, he should know about your eating disorder and might or might not adjust your medications because of the ED.

\n

Yes, it is fully appropriate and necessary for you to seek additional support. This is a serious disorder and needs to be taken seriously.

\n

Best of Luck

Subject matter expert

\"\"

Morgan Blair, M.A.

Support for eating disorders

\"\"
Author

Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.

Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of private practice experience.

\"\"
Medical reviewer

Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.

Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a clinical and somatic psychologist with over 20 years of experience in neuropsychology, specializing in integrative, mind-body…

\"\"

Related community

Eating Disorders

A space to explore experiences with eating disorders, body image, and support.

Related questions

How does borderline personality disorder affect spousal abuse?Does she have Histrionic Personality Disorder?Is my wife's counting a sign of a disorder?
","text":"Home Answers Do I have an eating disorder? AnswersDo I have an eating disorder? Written byAllan Schwartz, Ph.D.Medically reviewed byJesse Hanson, Ph.D. Published July 15, 2025 Updated May 24, 2026 Reviewed September 15, 2025 Content note: Some readers may find parts of this discussion sensitive. SummaryQuestionAnswer Summary A young adult whose depression has improved in treatment describes recent restriction, purging, and guilt about eating. They worry that seeking specialist eating-disorder support may be dismissed because little weight has changed. The response takes the eating behaviors seriously and supports obtaining additional help before the pattern worsens, rather than using weight change or duration as reasons to wait. It discusses coordinated support from a therapist, an eating-disorder-experienced nutrition professional, and the prescribing psychiatrist, with attention to automatic thoughts and the reader’s existing treatment. ? Question Reader · Identity withheld I’m 22 years old and have been struggling with severe depression for about 15 months. While I’ve experienced depressive episodes before, I was able to manage them without treatment until now. Over the past six months, I’ve made significant progress, and currently, my depression is mostly under control thanks to medication (Zoloft 100 mg and Wellbutrin 300 mg) and weekly therapy. In the last few weeks I’ve been consistently engaging in disordered eating behaviors. I’ve been trying to restrict my food intake on most days and purging a few times a week. Yes I do want to lose weight, but this is not the reason I am doing it. I feel like I don’t deserve to be well-nourished and that it’s somehow wrong for me to weigh what I do at my healthy weight (4’11” and about 102 lbs). When I eat normally, I often feel guilty and have the sensation that my body has expanded, even though I logically know it hasn’t. These thoughts have come and gone over the past year, but in the past, I coped with them by self-injuring, something I haven’t done recently. I’m aware that restricting my eating harms my quality of life, yet I still feel a strong urge to continue. I also feel like I need permission to eat. I don’t want this to undo the progress I’ve made with my mental health, but I’m unsure what to do next. I believe I might benefit from additional treatment focused on eating disorders, like working with a dietitian and having accountability around a meal plan, alongside my current therapy. At the same time, I worry about being dismissed or told I’m overreacting because it hasn’t been very long and I haven’t lost much weight. Do you think it would be appropriate for me to seek extra support? Answer Allan Schwartz, Ph.D. You do not need to worry about overreacting to your symptoms. What you describe, including the depression you experience, are typical of an eating disorder, in this case, Bulimia Nervosa. In fact, I agree with you that you should get help now, before it gets worse. In terms of psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy are thought to be best for eating disorders and depression. Perhaps that is what you have right now. It seems to me that you have many automatic thoughts that cause you a lot of trouble. Automatic thoughts are those that are not completely true and need to be tested against what is really happening so they can be modified to reflect reality. That is what helps with depression as well as eating disorders. Nevertheless, it is good that you are in therapy and on medication. Yes, a licensed nutritonist who has experience with eating disorders, is an excellent idea. The nutritionist and therapist should work together as a team in helping you. Also, you talking to your psychiatrist who is prescribing your medications is a good idea. First of all, he should know about your eating disorder and might or might not adjust your medications because of the ED. Yes, it is fully appropriate and necessary for you to seek additional support. This is a serious disorder and needs to be taken seriously. Best of Luck Subject matter expert Morgan Blair, M.A. Support for eating disorders AuthorAllan Schwartz, Ph.D. Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of private practice experience. Medical reviewerJesse Hanson, Ph.D. Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a clinical and somatic psychologist with over 20 years of experience in neuropsychology, specializing in integrative, mind-body… Related community Eating Disorders A space to explore experiences with eating disorders, body image, and support. 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I’m aware that restricting my eating harms my quality of life, yet I still feel a strong urge to continue. I also feel like I need permission to eat. I don’t want this to undo the progress I’ve made with my mental health, but I’m unsure what to do next. I believe I might benefit from additional treatment focused on eating disorders, like working with a dietitian and having accountability around a meal plan, alongside my current therapy. At the same time, I worry about being dismissed or told I’m overreacting because it hasn’t been very long and I haven’t lost much weight. 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Automatic thoughts are those that are not completely true and need to be tested against what is really happening so they can be modified to reflect reality. That is what helps with depression as well as eating disorders. Nevertheless, it is good that you are in therapy and on medication. Yes, a licensed nutritonist who has experience with eating disorders, is an excellent idea. The nutritionist and therapist should work together as a team in helping you. Also, you talking to your psychiatrist who is prescribing your medications is a good idea. First of all, he should know about your eating disorder and might or might not adjust your medications because of the ED. Yes, it is fully appropriate and necessary for you to seek additional support. This is a serious disorder and needs to be taken seriously. 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They worry that seeking specialist eating-disorder support may be dismissed because little weight has changed.","answer":"The response takes the eating behaviors seriously and supports obtaining additional help before the pattern worsens, rather than using weight change or duration as reasons to wait. It discusses coordinated support from a therapist, an eating-disorder-experienced nutrition professional, and the prescribing psychiatrist, with attention to automatic thoughts and the reader’s existing treatment."},"sourceUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/eating-disorder-or-overreacting","sourceReviewer":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson#person","name":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson"},"question":{"id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/eating-disorder-or-overreacting#question","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/eating-disorder-or-overreacting#question","html":"

I’m 22 years old and have been struggling with severe depression for about 15 months. While I’ve experienced depressive episodes before, I was able to manage them without treatment until now. Over the past six months, I’ve made significant progress, and currently, my depression is mostly under control thanks to medication (Zoloft 100 mg and Wellbutrin 300 mg) and weekly therapy.

\n

In the last few weeks I’ve been consistently engaging in disordered eating behaviors. I’ve been trying to restrict my food intake on most days and purging a few times a week.

Yes I do want to lose weight, but this is not the reason I am doing it. I feel like I don’t deserve to be well-nourished and that it’s somehow wrong for me to weigh what I do at my healthy weight (4’11” and about 102 lbs).

\n

When I eat normally, I often feel guilty and have the sensation that my body has expanded, even though I logically know it hasn’t. These thoughts have come and gone over the past year, but in the past, I coped with them by self-injuring, something I haven’t done recently.

I’m aware that restricting my eating harms my quality of life, yet I still feel a strong urge to continue. I also feel like I need permission to eat.

\n

I don’t want this to undo the progress I’ve made with my mental health, but I’m unsure what to do next. I believe I might benefit from additional treatment focused on eating disorders, like working with a dietitian and having accountability around a meal plan, alongside my current therapy.

\n

At the same time, I worry about being dismissed or told I’m overreacting because it hasn’t been very long and I haven’t lost much weight.

\n

Do you think it would be appropriate for me to seek extra support?

","text":"I’m 22 years old and have been struggling with severe depression for about 15 months. While I’ve experienced depressive episodes before, I was able to manage them without treatment until now. Over the past six months, I’ve made significant progress, and currently, my depression is mostly under control thanks to medication (Zoloft 100 mg and Wellbutrin 300 mg) and weekly therapy. In the last few weeks I’ve been consistently engaging in disordered eating behaviors. I’ve been trying to restrict my food intake on most days and purging a few times a week. Yes I do want to lose weight, but this is not the reason I am doing it. I feel like I don’t deserve to be well-nourished and that it’s somehow wrong for me to weigh what I do at my healthy weight (4’11” and about 102 lbs). When I eat normally, I often feel guilty and have the sensation that my body has expanded, even though I logically know it hasn’t. These thoughts have come and gone over the past year, but in the past, I coped with them by self-injuring, something I haven’t done recently. I’m aware that restricting my eating harms my quality of life, yet I still feel a strong urge to continue. I also feel like I need permission to eat. I don’t want this to undo the progress I’ve made with my mental health, but I’m unsure what to do next. I believe I might benefit from additional treatment focused on eating disorders, like working with a dietitian and having accountability around a meal plan, alongside my current therapy. At the same time, I worry about being dismissed or told I’m overreacting because it hasn’t been very long and I haven’t lost much weight. Do you think it would be appropriate for me to seek extra support?"},"answer":{"id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/eating-disorder-or-overreacting#answer","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/eating-disorder-or-overreacting#answer","html":"

You do not need to worry about overreacting to your symptoms. What you describe, including the depression you experience, are typical of an eating disorder, in this case, Bulimia Nervosa. In fact, I agree with you that you should get help now, before it gets worse.

\n

In terms of psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy are thought to be best for eating disorders and depression. Perhaps that is what you have right now. It seems to me that you have many automatic thoughts that cause you a lot of trouble.

\n

Automatic thoughts are those that are not completely true and need to be tested against what is really happening so they can be modified to reflect reality. That is what helps with depression as well as eating disorders. Nevertheless, it is good that you are in therapy and on medication.

\n

Yes, a licensed nutritonist who has experience with eating disorders, is an excellent idea. The  nutritionist and therapist should work together as a team in helping you.

\n

Also, you talking to your psychiatrist who is prescribing your medications is a good idea. First of all, he should know about your eating disorder and might or might not adjust your medications because of the ED.

\n

Yes, it is fully appropriate and necessary for you to seek additional support. This is a serious disorder and needs to be taken seriously.

\n

Best of Luck

","text":"You do not need to worry about overreacting to your symptoms. What you describe, including the depression you experience, are typical of an eating disorder, in this case, Bulimia Nervosa. In fact, I agree with you that you should get help now, before it gets worse. In terms of psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy are thought to be best for eating disorders and depression. Perhaps that is what you have right now. It seems to me that you have many automatic thoughts that cause you a lot of trouble. Automatic thoughts are those that are not completely true and need to be tested against what is really happening so they can be modified to reflect reality. That is what helps with depression as well as eating disorders. Nevertheless, it is good that you are in therapy and on medication. Yes, a licensed nutritonist who has experience with eating disorders, is an excellent idea. The nutritionist and therapist should work together as a team in helping you. Also, you talking to your psychiatrist who is prescribing your medications is a good idea. First of all, he should know about your eating disorder and might or might not adjust your medications because of the ED. Yes, it is fully appropriate and necessary for you to seek additional support. This is a serious disorder and needs to be taken seriously. Best of Luck","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/allan-schwartz#person","name":"Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/allan-schwartz"}},"summaryScope":"Editorial overview of the original question and response; original review dates apply to the source conversation."},"presentation":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-03","template":"answer-conversation","imageGeneratedAt":"2026-10-03"},"seo":{"title":"Do I have an eating disorder?","description":"A young adult whose depression has improved in treatment describes recent restriction, purging, and guilt about eating.","canonical":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/eating-disorder-or-overreacting","robots":"index,follow","socialImage":{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/f7d19272dd5d30590dddbab9.png","width":1200,"height":630,"alt":"MentalHealth.com — Answers","type":"image/png","sitemapGroup":"answers"}},"subjectMatterExpert":{"name":"Morgan Blair","url":"/people/morgan-blair","profileId":"2319","topic":"eating","focus":"Support for eating disorders","selectionBasis":"Documented expertise in the existing published profile","reviewAttribution":false},"navigation":[{"label":"Summary","href":"#summary"},{"label":"Question","href":"#question"},{"label":"Answer","href":"#answer"}],"relatedCommunity":{"community":"/community/eating-disorders","basis":"topic match"},"collections":[]}