Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell someone about friend's eating disorder?

9 replies

Petitprince · 21/05/2019 21:03

I'm pretty sure a good friend has an eating disorder. Our children are a similar age and we spend a lot of time together. I hear her vomiting after each time we eat, whether at her house, mine or if we are out in a cafe. She has lost a lot of weight and now looks quite ill. I've tried asking, but she says she's had a tummy bug or the food didn't agree with her.
It has been a few years now and it seems to be getting worse. She's collapsed (but not with me) and I'm worried. She wears baggy clothes but occasionally I catch sight of her body underneath and she is skeletal. Her teeth are damaged by the acid and she's talking about getting veneers (but hasn't said why).
She has had a stressful time with family problems and I've tried asking if she wants to talk, but she says she's fine.
She has a husband who seems lovely - I've heard him complain she's getting thin but I don't think he's heard her being sick.
When asked she says she struggles to put weight on, but doesn't mention the vomiting.
She has no family or other friends nearby.
What should I do? I worry she is killing herself and noone has realised. At what stage should I tell someone (and who would that be?).

OP posts:
Goawayquickly · 21/05/2019 21:15

Talk to her husband seems the obvious thing. It's an extremely serious and life threatening illness. If you know she's purging I find it hard to believe he doesn't though.

Goawayquickly · 21/05/2019 21:17

Meant to add, talk to her directly too and offer support. Tell her you've heard her.

Bobbiepin · 21/05/2019 21:26

Is it possible she has something like Crohn's?

Petitprince · 21/05/2019 21:30

Thank you. I have tried to talk to her but she always says it's a tummy bug or the food was too rich. Her husband was my thought too, but I'm worried I'm breaching her trust.

OP posts:
ToldThisStoryB4 · 21/05/2019 21:44

I would tell someone. Almost everyone, really.

mineofuselessinformation · 21/05/2019 21:56

In this situation, as a good friend, I would definitely tell the DH in your shoes.

Petitprince · 21/05/2019 22:29

Thank you.

OP posts:
MoanyMoanyTodaySorry · 21/05/2019 22:36

I was bulimic for many years. If someone had asked I'd have denied it. What really helped me was a colleague showing me a news article about a woman who had a brain hemorage while vomitting and was left in a vegetative state. At the time I just thought he was interested in the article, but with hindsight I do wonder if he knew about my bulimia and was trying to help wake me up to what I was doing. Whether it was engineered or not, it worked. It was the start of my recovery as I could (and still can't) vomit now without thinking about that woman. Whereas I used to find it a release and almost pleasurable.

Not sure that helps, but I wouldn't bother asking or pushing much more as I doubt she would say anything to you. Bulimia is a very secretive disorder and also feels pretty shameful. It's not something she's likely to talk about, even to a really good friend.

Petitprince · 22/05/2019 06:23

Thank you so much for your insight. I understand what you mean, but I'm not sure what to do for the best.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.