Ask Sam letter

Hi there,

Thank you for sending me this letter. It sounds like you’re going through a really difficult time right now. You have been brave to write to me and get some support with this.

It sounds like whenever you eat, you end up feeling really guilty. I can hear how upset you are and it sounds like you feel you’re losing some control when you say you’re falling apart.

It can be very dangerous to stop yourself from eating and it might be that you are showing the signs of having an eating disorder. It’s really good that you are recognising that you may have a problem with eating and that it isn’t healthy to feel bad about eating. It’s hard for me to know exactly how you’re feeling about eating and also how you feel about yourself and your body. It would be a good idea for you to check out our Eating problems page to learn more about anorexia and whether you recognise the symptoms. It’s important for you to reach out for some support with this as soon as you can so it doesn’t get worse.

Sometimes problems with eating can start as a result of other stressful things happening in your life. I’m not sure what’s happening in your life but it’s often a really good idea for you to talk to someone that you trust about how you’re feeling in general and about eating. You can always talk to one of the counsellors at ChildLine as well. They won't judge you or tell you what to do. Talking to a counsellor is a safe way for you to talk things through. This can help you understand what is going on a bit better and help you explore ways to find help. You could also have a look at our message boards where other young people share their experiences, support each other and talk about ways to cope that have helped them.

Well done for getting in touch with me and I hope you’ve found this advice helpful.

Take care,

Sam