anorexia stigma.
The stereotypical "anorexic" ( I hate using labels , we HAVE anorexia, we are NOT anorexia.) Is a " girl" ( boys can get eating disorder too , it is more common than you think) that is skeletonial, hadn't ate in weeks, has a body to "die for " ( literally) and is envied by all. Everyone would LOVE to be like that ... Right? Wrong , is "Skinny " really worth the pain and trauma? From making your hair fall out , pale from lack of oxygen, can't walk, no longer has the ability to have children, endless body complications (vital organs closing down , lung , kidneys and then the heart.) ? Or how about bloating , lanugo ( fine hair all over the body) , endless doctor appointments, blood tests, scans and hospital stays ? Or Mabye having no friends, screaming family's and the looks of concern walking down the street.? Missing ice cream in the summer, popcorn at the cinema and your own birthday cake.? Anorexia can only take you to a hospital bed or a morgue. But you'll be " skinny ". No you will never be skinny , at least not in your eyes , you will always see the fat hanging from your arms and thighs , you will be filled with disgust and self hatred looking into the distorted mirror while your family scream to you , you are on the verge of death. That weight lose goal , will never be low enough, as soon as you loose weight you will not feel that "accomplishment" , but disgust that it's not enough. It is NEVER enough. Because , anorexia is not only took over your mind... She has taken over not only your eyes.... But your ears too , you can't here your little sister crying. You will feel nothing. You think you know anorexia ? Think again.
Maybe ALOT of you's are in the same position as me. I'm nearing my weight restoration... But I am no where near mind restoration. So now I am thinking " well I'm not sick enough for help anymore." (Even though I believed I never was, but I can see that now) because of the "stereotypes". But what I often forget is anorexia is a MENTAL illness not a physical illness. Weight loss is a SIDE EFFECT of anorexia ..... And that's it. So for us to think " we are not sick enough for recovery" proves that yes we are. Because no healthy brain would put us through that. There is no "weight" of an eating disorder sufferer , that stereotype has to go. I've struggled more in the past few months recovery at a " healthier weight " than when I was at my lowest weight. Weight doesn't and can't show how much you are struggling. I guess that's were self harm can come in. But what I'm trying to say is weight can't and won't show how much you are struggling and what we often forget is , anorexia is a mental illness not a physical one , and that makes it no less of importance than diabetes or asthma , or even cancer. After all it is an illness of the brain . Although weight restoration always comes before mind restoration, which makes this hard , we can do it ! Stay Strong.