I'm 34 years old. I'm five feet three inches and weigh about 100 pounds. My doctors say that I'm anorexic. They want to put me in the hospital as an inpatient. I put on 20 pounds, and they are happy, but they still want to lock me up. I don't know if I should stop calling the doctor for help when I feel these attacks. I'm really lost on what to do.

Lynn

I'm not sure what you mean by your "attacks," but I encourage you to continue seeking help rather than not reaching out at all. Anorexia (and bulimia, another eating disorder) can be life-threatening. At the very least, people who are constantly obsessing about their weight and eating -- or about NOT eating -- are usually quite miserable and trying to exert some control over their lives.

Hospitalization may sometimes be necessary to address life-threatening effects of anorexia (or bulimia), but it doesn't provide a long-lasting solution unless accompanied by psychotherapy. You don't mention whether you're in therapy, but I hope you will consider contacting a psychologist or other therapist specializing in eating disorders, if you haven't already. Such a professional might be able to help you work out whatever problems you might be experiencing and achieve stability without hospitalization. Of course, in order to do that you would need to find someone you feel comfortable working with.

You can find lots of resources about eating disorders, including information on professionals who treat it, at the Something Fishy website. If you do decide -- or need -- to enter an inpatient or intensive outpatient program after all, I recommend those administered by the Renfrew Center. Their residential programs are more empowering of eating-disordered individuals than many other inpatient eating-disorders units (or general psychiatric units), and you may feel less "locked up" in one of their programs. You can get more information about the Renfrew Center by calling 1-800-RENFREW. Good luck.