Seriously scared by my brother's weight gain

[cactus19]

Well he's 22 almost 23, and he was anorexic for a few years and struggled to gain weight for as long as i can remember...  then all of a sudden, it seems he's gained at least 50 lbs in a week or 2, which is insane.  He was very skinny a couple weeks ago, and is now he'sreally overweight.  When I saw him last night, i didnt think it was my brother at first.

Some other things:  he was an opiate addict for 2 years and is now on methadone (and just started weening off), a cocaine addict, alcoholic, did alot of adderall/ritalin type drugs.... he's bipolar, i think depressed, ADD, really really really severe OCD (to the point where he cleans things or takes things apart 24/7), and hes also on a lot of meds besides methadone.  i know he takes ativan and dexedrine, and also something for bipolar, a couple others but im not sure what.



I'm extremely concerned because I know he's been depressed for a while, and the rapid weight gain is scary because I get the feeling that he's given up on life and doesnt care to live.  He used to be really into body building and fitness but apparently not anymore.  I saw some of what he ate though, and he's practically binging around the clock.  He sleeps most of the day and is awake at night, when he just eats gigantic meals with huge snacks inbetween.

I mean if he was mentally stable i wouldnt care that he put on weight but im so concerned because its very alarming.  I couldnt even sleep after seeing him last night and wondering whats wrong.  And I know some people are gonna say "just talk to him" but we've hated each other for the last few years because of the turmoil his addiction has caused our family, so talking isn't going to be easy.  He's also very strange when on all of his meds, and really doesn't seem like the same brother i remember growing up with.

[louise65]

bipolar meds can cause very rapid weight gain so thats probably at the root of how it started, but your right it sounds like hes given up and is really struggling. i hope his docs are keeping a close eye on him. the only thing you can do is say you are there for him if he needs you, im aware how much someone with an ed can dessimate a family but try to understand he was ill and obviously still is. its very difficult to be the sibling of a brother or sister who is chronically ill in any way, you feel pushed aside and resentful of the fact that the unwell sibling demands so much time and attention, it can be really easy to feel pushed out. it sounds to me like his illness has become more acute recently probably not helped by his drug use, which may have been a subconcious attempt on his part to self medicate his mental state. sorry not to be of much help, but try to hang in and support as much as you can, take care, louise