Dear YouthLine –
I am 12 years old.
I am 140 pounds.
I always feel fat and my brother always calls me fat,
So I only ate a little bit, then dad got deported to Mexico.
I have been sad and so I have been eating a lot but i want to lose 40 pounds but I feel like food takes away all the hurt inside. I always cry because I feel overweight and ugly, what do I do?
– Elisha
Dear Elisha,
Thanks so much for reaching out to us and opening up about what is going on in your life.
It is completely normal and very common for people of all ages to feel comforted by food, so please don’t feel like you are alone. Being separated from a parent is a very difficult and overwhelming time. I don’t know a lot about your situation, but it is so important that you reach out to other family members, friends, or anyone close to you for support, especially during this hard time. If you feel uncomfortable talking to a friend or family member about your concerns, I would encourage you to possibly talk to a school counselor, or of course you can always call the YouthLine! We would love to hear from you. Teens are available to take calls from 4-9 PM Monday through Thursday. In addition to being separated from your dad, it sounds like you are very concerned with your health and physical appearance. While food can be very comforting, there are other options available that would help you to cope with the pain in a healthy way. You mentioned wanting to lose weight. Exercise is a sure way to help make this happen, and will also most likely make you feel much better on the inside and out! We care about you and how you are feeling. It is important to always take time for yourself and do things that you enjoy. I don’t know anything about your interests, but some suggestions would be reading, drawing, listening to music, writing, hanging out with a friend, taking a walk to get some fresh air…and anything else that you enjoy. Here is a website that I hope is helpful to you.
http://www.something-fishy.org/
YouthLine’s number is 1-877-968-8491.
Best wishes Elisha,
-YouthLine