I was first diagnosed with an eating disorder 15 years ago, but have struggled with “problematic” eating most of my life. Across this time it has varied from “disordered eating” to anorexia nervosa — both restrictive and binge-purge sub-types (the latter features elements of bulimia nervosa) — to OSFED (the “not otherwise specified” type where it doesn’t fit any distinct DSM diagnostic criteria).
When it peaked in severity aged 16-18 and I was hospitalized for eight months, it was fairly clear that anorexia consumed my whole life and it almost took it.
Through subsequent therapy I learned about what was going on underneath what seemed to be all about food, weight and body image — a lot of it about control, self-worth and difficulty.
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