i think my friend has a problem but i don't what it could be exactly

[queety]

hi there!

I have a very close friend that has been doing some things that have been a cause for concern. Just a little back story, she is a diabetic and has, for the most part, a very healthy diet. she eats very well and makes mosts of her lunches, which involves a lot of vegetables. She obviously doesn't eat any sugar and has always been in my presence, and in the presence of others very strict about this, for obvious reasons. She has, in the past, confessed to myself and my other good friend that she has had difficulties with eating disorders when she was younger and assured us that it is no longer an issue. Of course, we believed her because she never really displayed any obvious signs of it. (I am not really sure, to be fair, what these signs are.)

Now, some other things about her personality that may be of some help to the entire story. She is a very anxious person. She get's overwhelmed quite easily and always complains about not feeling well and being tired. She is mostly a home body and really doesn't like to go out much but does really like to go out on occasion and had never really gone too crazy. I must also mention that she is 26, as well my other friends, so we do go out dancing here and there. Last night we went out. We all got quite drunk and she especially got very intoxicated. So much so that I had to help her get home. I have been to her place a handful of times. She lives with her cousin in a nice part of the city in a very nice condo. I've gone over, as have my other friends and we hung out in her living room or kitchen table. Another thing that always seemed to interest us was her constant need to never allow anybody into her room. She always says that its a mess and she doesn't really want anybody going in. She protects her room so much so that one time, one of my friends asked if she could grab a sweater from her room because it was a bit chilly. They were sitting out in the balcony and a part of the window was to her room. It was dark in there so she couldn't really take a good peak. My friend ran into her room to grab the sweater, turned the light on, and quickly drew the curtain so my friend couldn't see. It was all very strange. We questioned it amongst our selves but never really pushed to ask her. SO fast forward and I am taking her home. I finally get her into her apartment and her cousin isnt there so i take her into her room. She is, at this point, completely passed out. I put her on her bed, making sure she is okay. At this point, I finally take a good look at her room. It is disgusting. Garbage everywhere and clothes everywhere. But fine, not every body is neat. However, what really, really got me concerned was something I noticed by her bed. There were four large shopper bags filled to the brim with chocolate. Hundreds and hundreds of bars of chocolate. I then began to notice that around her room were dozens of candy wrappers EVERYWHERE. On her bed, by her pillow, on her desk, on the floor, her side table...everywhere. I was really taken aback. THIS GIRL IS DIABETIC. She does not eat chocolate. Or atleast not in public. I got very nervous then very scared. I left her apartment and I kept thinking something doesn't seem right at all. She never wanted us to go into her room and now i understand. But what is happening here? Please. I want to help her and I don't want to assume anything too bad but this doesnt seem normal. What do you think this is? Should I get her help? It all just doe

[aparton123]

It sounds to me like she may have some kind of eating disorder, perhaps bulimia or even binge eating?

In terms of the mess - I have the same when I was in the worst of my bulimia. I hated my housemates going into my bedroom as there were wrappers etc everywhere. This was not normal for me prior to my eating disorder. Eating disorders can also make people feel very private.

I wouldn't push the issue too much in terms of mentioning an eating disorder - she probably doesn't need the extra feeling of guilt. Maybe just let her know that you are concerned and this way she may feel like she is able to open up to you?

Hope this is helpful!