What it feels like to have anorexia?

Losing weight may start to feel like a sense of accomplishment or a way of feeling worthwhile. People with eating disorders tend to be inflexible and rigid in their thinking. They may become impulsive in times of distress and lose sight of their goals. Often times, a person with anorexia is not even aware of the uncomfortable emotions that drive their behavior because they are so far removed from their emotional experience.

People with eating disorders have a lower tolerance for suffering than their peers, leading them to re-adopt familiar behaviors (such as restraining or purging) to cope even when it is not healthy. Keep in mind that this is just a description of what it can be like to have anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa

affects people of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities, body shapes and weights, sexual orientations and socioeconomic states. It's the feeling of being unworthy to others.

It doesn't feel good enough and has no purpose. And it is to feel that being thin, even if you are sick, will allow you to finally be worthy. But worthy of what? It's not a matter of attention. I hate being the center of attention.

I hate talking in front of the crowd. It's just not my thing. I am shy, quiet, gentle and calm. But it's as if this eating disorder is pulling me even lower, making me even smaller, making me feel less and less dignified every day.

Anorexia nervosa, abbreviated anorexia, is an eating disorder that can have fatal consequences. People suffering from anorexia consume very restrictive amounts of food, leading to starvation. Over time, they can become dangerously thin and malnourished, but they still perceive themselves as overweight. Often, people with anorexia are so malnourished that they have to be hospitalized.

Even then they deny that anything bad happens to them. The feeling of being stuck with a plate of food and having people comment on what is on their plate or how much they ate or did not, is not pleasant and causes more anxiety than anything else. Once weight loss begins, people may feel more comfortable with their inner voices and even believe that they are being guided to take the right steps in view of the results. One difficult thing about anorexia is that over time, it can really separate you from the feeling of living life fully.

Anorexia can cause you to feel dissatisfied with your body, leading you to restrict food, exercising excessively, or abusing medications in an effort to achieve ever-present weight goals. These symptoms may be new or may be a more extreme expression of existing feelings, such as low self-esteem (chronic or episodic). People who practice anorexic practices may initially feel that they control the process, as if they are participating in a reasonable weight loss plan. The feelings of emptiness and hopelessness that accompany depression may make you feel more alone or less likely to seek support.

What works for you may not work for other people, and you can try several approaches before you find what feels right to you. If you know someone with anorexia and want to support their recovery, it's important that you understand how they feel, physically, mentally and emotionally. The feelings that accompany anorexia can be so strong that they often lead to weight loss that can affect your health and well-being. Living with anorexia can mean that your mood and self-esteem are linked to how you feel about your body size, weight, and eating habits.