Someone with an eating disorder may not be as easy to spot as some think. Many people think anorexia and bulimia only occurs in teenage girls who are preoccupied with their appearance. Someone with a compulsive eating disorder is often just judged as being overweight. This is sometimes the case. However, boys, girls, men and women can suffer from anorexia, bulimia or compulsive eating. Maybe they appear to be shy, lonely or unhappy. They can come from dysfunctional families. Maybe they appear to be confident, humorous or outgoing. The person may be an over-achiever, successful, and seem to “have it all”. He or she might have a quality education, stable home environment and possess many talents. In other words, it could effect any one we know. The person might look to be in good health. It is even possible for a family physician to not see the signs. Unless health problems have occurred due to the eating disorder, someone might not even realize that they themselves have an eating disorder. Often, family and friends see it first. So, can someone live with an eating disorder and not need treatment? Yes, but why live with it if they don't have to? People live with it because they fear giving up the control. Maybe they don't know any other way to deal with emotions, so they hang on to the fact that their eating disorder helps them cope. It is possible to control an eating disorder instead of allowing it to be a way to control one's life. Eating should be pleasurable, but also not consume one's mind. Healthy eating is vital for a healthy mind and body. Discovering how to manage the cause of the eating disorder will allow a person to live each day without the burden of thinking about restricting, purging, binging, and the guilt associated with it. For some, it is a life and death decision to receive help for an eating disorder. An eating disorder can cause irreversible damage to vital organs such as stomach, heart, and kidneys. Eventually this damage or other complications from malnutrition can lead to death. However, with intensive help and support, severe eating disorders can be managed and one can learn to live without it. Nobody should suffer or die from this disorder. Even if treatment has been tried before, someone should still seek help. Positive Reflections may be the end of a miserable experience.   Copyright © 2006, positivereflections-edt.com. All rights reserved.