We have a 4 month old puppy and she has severe separation anxiety. She follows us everywhere and if we shut her out of our room she cries and cries and sits by the door until we come out.

Is there a way to calm her down?
She also has an obsession with chewing. I think she has high anxiety.

At four months old, your puppy is teething. you can get some Kong toy and ice for her to chew on. This will help sooth her gum.

Barking, whining, escaping, destructive behavior or, in severe cases, self-mutilation can be your dog’s way of expressing anxiety over your absence.

Practice leaving your dog alone for short periods of time. Pick up your keys and leave for 1 minute.

Gradually increase the amount of time you stay away. This will accustom your dog to your absence.

Avoid overly emotional good-byes and greetings. Instead, pat your dog on the head and offer a quick good-bye or hello.

Keep your dog confined in a safe area while you are away. Be sure to leave a bowl of water and plenty of chew toys.

Exercise your dog for an hour each day in places other than your yard or home. This helps your dog feel comfortable in other locations and lets her blow off steam

Praise your dog often to build self-confidence, rather than punishing her for exhibiting frightened behaviors. Punishment only increases anxiety and makes the situation worse.

Yes. I am 5′9 and should be a minimum of 155 lbs. You may not need to go to the hospital, but get help!! Hope all goes well!

I have a friend (no its not my, it really is just a friend) that more than likely will go to an impatient anorexia center. I am trying to remain strong but i am really worried about her. She is my closest and best friend. Is there things like shock therapy or anything like that? What all can she expect?

Don’t worry there won’t be anything like that.
However she’ll still hate it because she’ll probably be on watch 24/7 and forced to eat when she doesn’t want to.
She’ll also have therapy and won’t be allowed to do certain things associated with eating discorded behavior; like excessive exercising and cutting up food really really tiny.
Basically they’ll just force her to eat and keep an eye on her to try and bring up her weight.
Encourage her to try and get better as if she fights it too much she may need to have a feeding tube which isn’t nice

There are a lot of documentaries on anorexia which might give you an idea of what treatment centres are like and what your friend is going through. try watching this: (theres more then the one part)

Take care hun and i hope your friend gets better xx

I have been to 2 cardiologists and a whole bunch of other doctors to check if I have a heart problem. They’ve done multiple tests and all conclude that I have a healthy heart. At times I feel a sense of my heart skipping a beat and off and on pain, I do suffer from some health anxiety and it stresses me out. I have a heart obsession I’m always afraid of something happening with my heart. I’m 21 yrs old and overweight but I have been eating healthy. I eat fish, lots of veggies and drink organic juices. So I just want to know if thinking bad things all the time can cause bad things to happen?

I am the same exact way. I have been experiencing panic/anxiety attacks for a little more than a year. It is one of the scariest feelings in the world when you think something is wrong with your heart. I experience heart palpitations very often. I am constantly wondering if I am going to die, but the doctor keeps reassuring me that my heart is healthy, and I am absolutely fine.

To answer your question, yes, a great deal of stress, can cause a heart attack, but I don’t think you have anything to worry about at age 21. Obeisity, is also a factor in heart disease, but again, if your doctor has assured you that your heart is healthy, then my advice is to take his word. When you feel that your heart is skipping a beat, remember your conversations with your doctor. If you need immediate reassurance, visit the ER, most likely, they will give you something to calm you, and then send you home. I’ve been there and done that MANY times.

A pshycotheropist would probably give you the stregnth to over come your anxiety attacks on your own. I am just beginning to self cope myself. Sometimes, I wonder if I suffer from hypocondriocis.

Also, be sure to ask your health professional about any prescription drugs that can help you overcome your fears. I hate being prescribed meds, but I was taking .05 mg of xanax 3x per day, and you’d be suprised at how much it helped me. It was a little expensive though, so my doctor suggested klonopin. 1mg, 2 tx per day. It works great as well. I suggest you discuss your options with your doctor, and see if that helps.

Panic attacks are by far the most scary things I have ever experienced, and sometimes, they are hard to get through. However, It sounds to me like you are experiencing the same problem. Just keep eating healthy and I think you will be just fine. I hope you can find something to help you cope with this disorder. No one should have to live their life in fear.

If you ever need reassurance you can email me. jessicamay0120@yahoo.com. I have found that talking with others with the same problem is one thing that always made me feel more comfortable. Try not to think about it, that only makes things worse. Remember, many people have this disorder, and you will be ok, and hopefully someday be able to overcome these attacks all together! Good luck with everything and take care!

hey guys i just recently went to the hospital due to my anorexia and they told me to call this one number for an eating disorder clinic. i called and i have to go in and get an "evaluation" done to figure out what kind of therapy and treatment is right for me.

what i’m wondering is what are they going to do to me during this evaluation?
and what determines from the evaluation what kind of therapy they’re going to give me?

thanks, please help me out.

Oh I’ve never had it, but I think they may just see how your diet is, your exersizing, weight, stuff like that. I hope you get better!

Best wishes,
~Natalie~

I haven’t had my period in a year and a half,after anorexia, I weight around 110-115, 65in, female. I recenly stopped exercise, to see if that’s the problem. How bad would my anorexia have had to be to permently have lost it

you’ll probably have to see a doctor.
it might depend on the individual. a friend whos anorexia was so bad she was admitted to hospital got her periods back once whe was a healthy weight after 2 years of not having one. she now has 2 children.

I’m one of those people that have a really hard time dealing with stress and anxiety. How do you deal with stress and anxiety?

Negative emotions (like sadness, stress, anger, etc.) causes your Serotonin production to be low; when your Serotonin level is low, you are more prone to getting Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, etc.

Medication like Antidepressants (SSRI – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) helps to boost Serotonin level.
But there are natural ways to do it without medication. There’s this strange herb called "St John’s Wort" – it is said to be more effective than Prozac. No, it is not for mild depression only and ignore those sayings. In fact, it does help anxiety and panic-attacks as St John’s Wort works like prozac. Other natural ways will be exercise, diet, more exposure to light, etc.

The problem is that, even if your Serotonin is balanced… you have that "learned behavior" in your mind. You need to break that initial cycle to destroy that learned behavior – Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) does this. A technique that you can use without CBT will be Distraction… There are several other techniques to help cope them!
Ok, to use Distraction: Firstly, try to….

Extracted from Source.

I’m one of those people that have a really hard time dealing with stress and anxiety. How do you deal with stress and anxiety?

Negative emotions (like sadness, stress, anger, etc.) causes your Serotonin production to be low; when your Serotonin level is low, you are more prone to getting Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, etc.

Medication like Antidepressants (SSRI – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) helps to boost Serotonin level.
But there are natural ways to do it without medication. There’s this strange herb called "St John’s Wort" – it is said to be more effective than Prozac. No, it is not for mild depression only and ignore those sayings. In fact, it does help anxiety and panic-attacks as St John’s Wort works like prozac. Other natural ways will be exercise, diet, more exposure to light, etc.

The problem is that, even if your Serotonin is balanced… you have that "learned behavior" in your mind. You need to break that initial cycle to destroy that learned behavior – Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) does this. A technique that you can use without CBT will be Distraction… There are several other techniques to help cope them!
Ok, to use Distraction: Firstly, try to….

Extracted from Source.

Hi,
First off I dont need anyone making fun of me please. I’m not a troll or whatever else. I need real, honest, and humane advise or support or whatever. Ok I will give a short and sweet run off of everything. I’m 27 and have been struggling with Anorexia and Bulimia for almost 17 years. I was sexually abused by someone at church for almost 10 years. There was never any action taken against the man who did this even though my mother found out what was going on. My Father was never told until about 3 months ago. My mother also has struggled with bulimia since before I was born. I have tried many methods of treatment and have yet to kick this. I was recently admitted to the hospital for my second heart attack I am in stage 4 kidney failure and on dialysis 3 times a week though I was not doing dialysis as often before being admitted. I was in the hospital almost 5 weeks being stabalized hydrated etc and thought this would be my push to get things going. The eating disorder unit in my state will not accept me because when I was there I had been court ordered and was not ready for treatment and was unsuccessfully discharged for behavioral issues. I live at home with my parents for physical help and because I havent been able to work since I was kicked out of university. I feel like my life is lost to this disorder and I may as well give up rather than exhaust myself trying like I have been. My parents dont want me too far away where they cant visit and I cant pay for treatment alone. Ive been able to eat twice since I was discharged and that was thursday. I want to beat this so badly but my mind feels so gone. I thought I finally had a grip on everything. Please help. Thanks

God bless you. I can relate to your problems, although my ed has never been as severe. Have you read Wasted? I am assuming you have because it’s simply the best book out there on eating disorders. If you haven’t then please check it out its Wasted by Marya Hornbacher. I dunno what to tell you except keep fighting. Ask yourself, what have I gained from this disorder? Have I achieved what I thought I would from it? Having spent 17 years battling this disorder, I am sure you convinced yourself that your ed is your companion, your savior…etc we like to believe that its true, but ask yourself, is it true? You have to think of your ED as your enemy. You always have to remind yourself of the things that this ed took away from you. You education, your Independence, your freedom, your identity. The irony is you probably turned to it searching for an identity, when in fact all it did was strip you of any sense of self.
Hang in there, and keep in mind that if you give up then you allow your ED to win. It’s not worth it. Nothing in the world is worth giving your life up. Think of all the things that you would like to do in life. If you have dreams, ambitions, goals then focus on those. Try your hardest to regain your strength so that you can experience all the beautiful things that life has to offer. You have my full support, and if you wish to keep in touch then please feel free to do so.

Sorry to ask twice, but i want a lot of answers. =]

I’m anorexic, & i saw a doctor for the first time last thursday. My illness isn’t severe, i’m not a dangerous weight, but i do need some help.
My doctor found that my BMI was 19, the lowest ‘healthy’ weight. She wasn’t concerned about my size yet, but she wanted to monitor me & said i shouldn’t drop any weight.

However, my doctor doesn’t know that:
- I’ve missed 9 periods since i reached my current weight (49kg, i’m 5ft 2.5).
I missed 2 periods once before when i’d got down to this weight, but i gained weight back up-to about 53kg and my periods started again.
Basically, i stop menstruating once i reach my current weight.
My periods used to be regular, almost to the day.

- My body has stopped developing; i’m 15, my boobs haven’t grown since i was 10/11 when i first got them. I’ve also lost all the fat from my butt/hips which i’d started to get when i was around 12.

Would my doctor have been concerned about my weight if she had known those things?
I know i should have told her, but i was nervous. I should be seeing a nutritionist within the next month or so – should i tell her? Or should i wait until i see my doctor again, in 2 or 3 months?

Thanks, help much appreciated. =D
When i said i was a healthy weight according to BMI, i was worried that i wasn’t a healthy weight for myself personally… Surely if being this weight makes my periods stop and i feel cold easily, it isn’t a healthy weight for me at all? Because i’m pear shaped, it also means my torso is really thin and my waist is 22 inches, and i don’t think it’s healthy at that size. I think i’m underweight for myself personally with my body shape.

You’re probably ashamed to be honest and up front w/ her right now. You shouldn’t be, she’s heard it all before. You can take your time, though, especially since you have another appointment with her coming up.

All the things you’ve described are things to be concerned about. You need fat on your butt and hips, among other places on your body, to warm your torso and to add comfort for you in case you become pregnant. That’s why women store more fat than men, but it isn’t unhealthy that that happens. The fact that you used to have this fat and don’t any more is cause for concern because your doctor is assuming you just stunted your development. Once you begin to gain weight back, though, your period will be normal again and your reproductive system will get the necessary natural protection that it needs. Your breasts might even gain a cup size too if you’ve been doing this to yourself since you were 12.