Thanks, I have an eating disorder that will probably kill me one day!
It’s an uncomfortable response to such a lovely compliment but usually a painfully accurate one.
Hi. If you’re new, I have an eating disorder. I’ve been struggling with it for years and I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It sucks.
I gained something like 30 pounds over a year when my grandmother died, I was on new birth control, and I tried confronting my eating disorder. It was a wild year and I barely survived it (I do mean that literally).
Eating disorders are painful and hard on lots of levels and I’m still fighting mine in a very real way. I think I might have body dysmorphia (add it to the list, I’m a little tired of having labels for all the things that are wrong with me. It stopped being comforting a while back), I know I lost weight and I know people have noticed but I think I look the same. I haven’t noticed a difference and I have no idea how to respond when people think I ‘look great’.
Most of this weight loss is probably healthy. I know for sure some of it isn’t.
Please don’t tell me I look great, you’re just feeding the side that thinks I’ll never be good enough unless I’m incredibly thin. I understand that it’s hard to know but it’s not as hard as you think. You probably know who has an eating disorder in your life; in the back of your brain, you know.
If someone you love is losing weight a little too rapidly, if they never eat a full meal in front of you, or if you just have a nagging in the back of your brain, remember; thin isn’t synonymous with healthy and it never will be.
Ask hard questions when you think you shouldn’t and never assume that thin is a victory.
Much love, confront the demons you can and find peace within yourself whenever possible.
The Life of a Mourning Dove 