I never feel hungry, but when I eat I usually feel sick. My height is 6"1. Is this an eating disorder or something serious? Keep in mind, I usually get 4 or 5 hours of sleep and I'm mostly tired. I have too much work to do around the house. I have to do the cooking, cleaning, dish washing, laundry, take care of a 4 year old baby sister. My parents are lazy and abusive so they don't care. I also study most of the time and still get good grades in exams. I also have to hang out with my girlfriend every once in a while.

I'm not sure. It sounds like you are too stressed out to eat. I do that often. I get stressed and my appetite goes out the door.

Are you obsessed with eating or not eating? Are you afraid of getting fat? Are you afraid of fat in your food? Do you count calories? Do you feel fat although you are a normal weight? Do you eat alone, because of fear? Do you over exercise? Do you refuse to eat without exercising? Do you binge then purge? The above questions are indicative of an eating disorder.

I give you props for all that you do for your family and sister. I'm sorry that you're under so much stress. I really hope things get better. You are making a huge difference for your sister, stay healthy, she needs you. Sleep when you can, eat when you can, one foot in front of the other. You can't do much with the stress in your life, but you can control how it affects you. Try to de-stress by doing things that make you centered and happy. Spend time with girlfriend, game with friends, do something for fun. You need to take care of you or you can't be there for your sister.

In 1976 my 15 year old son was asked to write an essay about stress in the home. His teacher then make the mistake of saying, "It doesn't have to be completely accurate."

He wrote that his father was an alcoholic and was usually out drinking and that his mother was a hypochondriac who spent all her time in bed. As a consequence my son had to do all the cooking and cleaning as well as looking after the younger kids.

It was another 15 years before he told us about what he'd done. His teacher called him aside and offered to help in any way she could and asked if he'd like her to have the child welfare people call and sort things out. I'm so glad I never met that teacher. She'd have thought I was a bum.

We laugh about it now and I'm proud to have fathered the boy who invented trolling before the Internet introduced the word to general usage.

If you're not trolling, Aldrich, you need help, and you need it big time. If you're serious you should consult the school counsellor, tell him/her about your situation, and see what help you can get. Young people your age have enough problems of their own to cope with; you shouldn't have this kind of crap put on you.

Dear Aldrich Ames,

I just came upon your Q, a few days late here...

What I would like to add is my own encouragement for your discussion with Didge, to see the counselor or somehow seek out help with your situation - especially since you are experiencing weight loss.

As a child and young woman I was quite thin, and not really from stress...a good family. But I remember having trouble eating; just a few bites and I would feel nauseated. Now in retrospect at the age of 72, I feel that nausea was some kind of semi-starvation reaction...just a guess...but worth considering for you, I think.

Anyway, do seek out resources that might improve your situation, and allow you to eat better. Your body is maturing now it's an important time...

Also we are resilient and I certainly turned out okay, but you are under circumstances too difficult for you, changes are needed.