Topic : 08/25 Extreme Food Obsessions

You don't understand anorexia I see.

Anorexic people do indeed eat, but they are obsessed,  and they love to control what they eat. Many eat 300-400 calories a day. I have known a couple anorexics in my life and they do indeed eat...

Anorexia isn't about food, it's a mental disorder.

While I don't think that the PWS mom is taking the right way with her child, I honestly don't know if I could handle a child who was PW.  I give any parent credit for coming on Dr. Phil and being so open about her feelings about her child.  I hope that she and her child get to work with the experts and their lives improve.  Next time I become exasperated with one of mine I will think of this show. 

Your show today really touched me.  As I watched this frustrated mom trying to deal with her child I couldn't help but cry at the video of the mom swearing, and calling names at this child.  It hurt me more, the name calling than the fact that she stated that she has slapped her child in the face.  Something inside broke for this little girl and made me feel very hurt for the little girl.  With that said, I also found it very sad that as the camera pand the audience that so many looked so horrified at what they were hearing and seeing.  Yes it is bad what the mom was doing, however I got the feeling that all those folks in the audience were looking down their noses at the woman.  As if they have never done anything wrong with their children.  They have never gotten so angry that they have accidently slipped with a harsh word.  If I were the mom I would be so humiliated with my behavior that I would not dare call you and share on national television this.  I think that (and hope the mom is sincere in wanting help) it took an incredible amount of courage to come on national television and admit to the entire world that "This isn't working for me and I am messing Up.  HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  I really hope that you are able to help her.  Not only in how to handle these hard circumstances, but also how to handle her anger. 

I Would also hope that people would understand that none of us are perfect and each and everyone of us has fallen at some point and that what this mom really needs is compassion and help not judgement and critisism. 

I watched this episode the first time it was on.  I also left a message saying I didnt know if I could handle things the best way either.  My son is now 14 months old and has just been diagnosed with PWS.  We have been treating him for months as PW.  After watching the show for the second time, I see it in a totally different view.  I myself and my boyfriend are in some sort of denial, but our son still has structure and routine AND a diet.  Watching it, I was blown away.  This child was eating Subway, cake, cookies, chips, etc.  My son does not have any of this.  If he does, we cut back his caloric intake the day before.  I sure hope that Nichelle reached out for the help she needed, but Im not too sure.  I may be in denial, but I still take my son to every doctor that will listen and help.  This means various long distance trips a month to see doctors, and many others in town.  I know my son is only 14 months and I havent had to deal with this as much as Nichelle, but come on, I am the same age as she is, and I would never think to say the things she did to that poor child.  She can not control what she is doing.  Watching this has opened my eyes to the kind of mother, I never want to be.

Stephanie

 I just finished watching the Dr Phil show about Nichelle and her daughter with PWS and I have a mix of emotion. First of all I have lived with PWS my whole life. My younger brother David has PWS so I completly understand how Nichelle feels. I am now 32 yrs old and my brother is 29. Everything that Nichelle is dealing with I have dealt with and I completly understand where she is coming from BUT my parents never ever hit my brother, called him names or abused him. PWS is one of the most diffucult things to deal with because you just want the person to stop eating, and stop craving but they can't. They cant control what they think or do.  When my brother reached over 350 pounds my parents had no choice but to put him in a group home with other children that have PWS and i'll tell you what it was the best thing that could have ever happened to him. He now weighs 145 pounds and has a very happy life. He comes to my home once a month for a weekend visit, and still has to be supervised at all times, if not he will steal food. I would love to talk with Nichelle and tell her my story and that it is possiable for her daughter to have a life. I'm not saying that every PWS child should be put in a group home but I think they need the structured life that a group home has. It saved my brothers life. Nichelle is in denial about her daughter, she will never be a normal child I'm sorry to say, but it doesnt mean that she cant have a wonderful life. Nichelle if you read this post and ever want to talk I would be more than happy to do that for you and your daughter, or anyone else that is struggling with PWS. Sincerly Kelly

Hello everyone, I'm seventeen years old, and have just got out of the hospital for anorexia, and am fully physically healthy.  To clear the air, anorexia isnt defined at a certain number or caloric intake.  Exersize can be obsessive or not, and everyone's body is different.  I find it extremtly ironic how people speak of food, weight, and how much they drank, when indeed this "anorexia" is truly about emotions.  It is triggering for someone who has worked so hard to gain weight and emotionally try ot be stable watch that on Dr. Phil today.   I've been anorexic all my life, but I dont define myself as that.  Right now I just gained all my weight back yay! And I'm doing well, I wasnt even going to reply but I think it may be needed.  "Healthy" people don't obsess over food they eat normally.  You want to know what normal eating is, I learned this at nutrition for 3 months and ip, its when u over eat at times, when u undereat at times, its when u get the nutrition u need in, and arent afraid to indulge a little sometimes, b/c u deserve it.  I'm proud that this woman took the road to recovery!  Its hard to be optomisitc when everyones telling u u look healthy..I think that may have freaked her out..and is a big no no in the recovery world to say..at a certain point in time.  I think if u will discuss todays show..u should stop speaking of numbers and triggers that many woman will be seeing, b/c I am certain many others as myself are on here.  Also, something fishy is a great support site, for thoes with eds, and thoes recovering from it, and loved ones who have family memembers suffer from it.  Its not about food, weight, or anything.  And I'm so proud of Kathy for comming this far-I remember how scared I was..wooa! I'll be praying for her.

I am glad she is there for help. But think she needs to wake up and relieze this isn't "a normal" child her words. There is no normal child. They are all unique.

I have a hard headed 3yr old son who is not ill or have any thing that we are aware of. I don't understand how she can talk to her that way or hit her. She is a CHILD and doing her best or how she has been taught. PLEASE DR.PHIL GET the child to a safe place. THAT IS ABUSE! Verbal and physical!

 

I was verbally abused and at 33 it is still affecting me to this day. I would never and have never called my children any of those things. I am still large and would more than likely have slimmed up had I had encouraging words not words like what this woman has done to her child. I think she needs to WAKE up she isnt that small either. Maybe she needs to check her grocery list and get healther things to eat that would help.

 

I PRAY FOR THESE CHILDREN AND THE PARENTS! of this trouble and all other medical challanged kids.

 I just got done watching the same show you did about PWS and I have to say it sounds like your daughter may have PWS. I know because my brother has it. All i can say is keeping going different dr's until you find one that will listen to you. If she has PWS you really need to know for sure because these kids dont get better with age it gets worse ( i hate to say) but with proper treatment you can have "normal life" to a point. If not your child will eat themselves to death. If you need to talk or have any questions feel free to emai me, I'm not an expert but I have lived with PWS for 29 yrs.

I am just so shocked to see how people are jumping the gun and judging Nichelle for the way she treats her daughter. Although some of her choice of words were not the wisest, one must  step into her shoes to fully understand what it's like to live with a child with a disability. Many of you state that Nichelle is just a horrible mother, but to tell you the truth, Nichelle is doing the best she can in such a difficult situation. Haven't you had something horrible happen to you and you let out your frustration? Nichelle lives with this everyday of her life.

I am an educator and I know the frustrations parents go through with the kids. It is unfair for others to come forward and judge another person without even stepping into that person's shoes. I am not saying that I agree with the way she handles her daughters, but we're all human, we snap and we make mistakes. Life isn't a utopia! Life isn't perfect and we, as humans, are certainly far from being perfect. Instead of sending your sneaky remarks to Nichelle and instead of sitting in the audience or at home shaking your head in disgust, think about what this woman goes through.

Hang in there Nichelle, I wish you the best of luck and hope that you'll be able to find the best solution to make live a little easier.

I watched this program today and I have to say that if this were any other person on the planet and the legal authorities were aware of how this beautiful child was being abused they would bring the mother up on child abuse charges. I cried as I watched this show and my heart and soul aches for this precious child.

It has been at least 3 hours since I've watched the progam and I'm still upset over it. How dare this evil woman treat this little girl the way that she does. It is wrong. Just plain wrong. How would this witch like it if someone called her a ugly name, the way she calls her child any ugly name. This woman clearly has issues of her own that desparetly need to be addressed by a professional. In my opinion this child needs to be removed from the home and the care of this woman and  placed in a home where she can receive the unconditional, love, respect and medical help that she so desparetly needs. I will make it a point to pray for this child and the future of her life.