Anorexia

A Personal Story

Introduction

did not develop overnight

believes cause is different for every one

helpful to write her own story

Childhood

Was always an outsider Often bullied and switched schools

twice Felt worthless Home life was turbulent from 8th to 12th

grade

High School

Eventually made friends, but still did not gain full self-confidence

Fell in love, but still ate regularly even though looks mattered slightly more

Weight was not really an issue because of her petite frame

Seventeen…..The Beginning

Senior year in high school

Was unsure about going to college because of how comfortable she felt at school for the past six years

Started to watch weight in April

Watching Her Weight

Started to watch what she ate and exercise more often

Grandfather told her to watch her weight constantly while she was working with him during the summer

Felt weight was one of the only aspects of her life which she could completely control

Family Troubles

Father became ill with cancer and eventually passed away and her mother depended on her through everything

Mother lost a lot of weight due to stress and almost competed against her to lose weight

Effects of Anorexia

Cold all of the time Hungry and empty

almost constantly Lightheaded Always tired Thin and easily

breakable nails Mood swings Can’t think straight

Couldn’t quit because of her mind telling her she would never be able to stop Anorexia and couldn’t imagine a life without it

Stopped getting her period in January as a freshman in college

Overcoming the Disease

Was a gradual but progressive recovery

Stopped counting calories

Applied for self-help group in fall of sophmore year at college

The End

Kept her Anorexia a secret for three years Finally told her entire family “For me, it is about feelings and emotions, about showing

others who I really am, about accepting who I really am...”