Life After an Eating Disorder | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Arts Entertainment

Life After an Eating Disorder

From where it all began, to where I am now.

456
Life After an Eating Disorder


When it all began.

I never realized this until recently, that is all really began the summer before my Freshman year of college. I was working at a fitness center, so I was working out many times a week. I just saw this that I was taking advantage of a free gym membership, I didn't see it as a problem. I was weighing myself every so often, and there wasn't much change, so I just figured everything was okay. I had dropped ten pounds from the end of my senior year to the middle of summer. I was proud of my progress, and figured, why can't I drop just a couple more pounds?

The beginning of the disorder.

It was the beginning of my Freshman year of college, and I was moving into the dorms with several other girls. Everything started off great, then when I started to see some of the girls living on my floor, I wanted to be as thin as them. This is when things got worse, but I didn't know it then. I would hide in the bathroom, and the purging began. If I ate three meals a day, I felt that was too much, so I had to take care of it somehow. I had a scale in my room and weighed myself every once and a while. I wasn't seeing much of a difference, and this was really bothering me. No one knew what was going on, and I was able to keep my secret to myself for a very long time. I would hang out with friends, and if we were having a snack night while hanging out, I would sneak away to the bathroom for awhile, and the purging was continuing. I felt like I had too much food, and I couldn't work out, so I needed to take care of it in some way. I felt so lost and disconnected from my family and my friends.

Feeling like there's no way out.

I got to the point where I was working out more than eating. I completely changed my lifestyle. I was working out several times a day, for long periods of time. I created my own diet where I would only eat one meal a day, with maybe one snack here or there. I was trying to live the college life and was going out with friends and would drink on an empty stomach; I didn't see anything wrong with any of this. I was becoming more and more distant from those who cared about me. I wanted to be alone so nobody would question what I was doing. I would workout in the morning, the afternoon, and immediately go for a run after my second workout. This would be a light workout day for me. I was weighing myself any chance I could get. I was happy when the number went down, but if it went up, I spent a day working out, and not eating. I could go at least a full day with no food; this was the new normal for my body. I felt like I couldn't stop what I was doing. My whole body was numb, and I had no idea what I was doing. I got to the point where I was hurting myself to see if I could feel any pain at all. I felt nothing, and it just continued. My mental health was at an all time low, and I didn't know how to fix this. The last time I weighed myself, I was a total of 98 pounds. I was tremendously underweight, but saw nothing wrong. I went on Spring Break to visit my cousins, and realized, I needed to do something.

When I realized I needed help.

I went to visit my cousins for Spring Break, and I kept telling myself that I was going to open up to them and tell them what was going on. I forgot all about the troubles I was having because I was happy to be away from my new normal and having fun with my family. I knew when I got home from this trip, I needed to do something to help myself get better. I got home, and the purging happened one more time. I thought I could do this on my own and things would be okay. I realized I needed to talk to someone, and I finally opened up to my family. I told my parents and they were nothing but supportive of the help I needed to seek. Life for me at the time was really hard. I began getting the help I needed. It took me a while to realize I needed the help, but I finally realized that what I was doing was not okay for me.

Life does get better, sometimes it just takes a little while.

Even now, about 4 and a half years after I realized something was wrong, I still struggle everyday. It took me a long time to realize that things would be okay, but I always had, and still have, someone by my side to encourage me every single day. Each day is a new beginning for me. I still have days where I struggle and feel like I'm not skinny enough, so I need to fast and workout. I am reminded each day by my boyfriend, that to him I am beautiful and he would not change a thing about me. He walks by my side and helps me when I am struggling to realize that I am enough. My parents still tell me how proud they are of me and support me in everything I do. Everyday I try to keep a positive attitude and make it through my day and tell myself that I am here for a reason and I was made the way I am for a reason. Life gets better everyday, but sometimes it just takes a little time.

Related Articles Around the Web
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

196582
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

18656
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

460720
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28225
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments