I am 19 this year. I am wondering how can I really sure that I have eating disorders. Are there any symptoms that show I have one? Sometimes my eating… I’m not sure how to say it… but sometimes I feel my stomach starts growling so I assume I’m very hungry which I understand because I don’t normally eat breakfast in the morning, so I wait for my break then I eat.

But once I start eating, I suddenly feel like gagging halfway and that’s when I assume there is something wrong with my stomach. I can barely finish the food I bought, yet I don’t know how to portion my food. Any tips for me to follow?

RESPONSE FROM DION LO:

Regardless of whether you have an eating disorder, it appears that your relationship with food and eating has become somewhat strained. Over time, you may find yourself increasingly preoccupied with eating related issues. As such, it is important to try reducing some of the fixation on eating related matters.

You can try talking about your concerns with some close friends and family members, as well as learning to focus more on food enjoyment and less on physiological symptoms. Communicating your struggles may help with relieving some of the tension with food and reduce some of the preoccupation.

It is alright to think about above eating related issues from time to time, however if you find yourself excessively ruminating about them and/or you continue to experience a compromised relationship with food and eating, do consider seeing a professional for help.