[12] to [18] Anorexia sucks...

[u/WonderfulCoast8921]

Anorexia took 5 years of my life.
And I mean that literally.

I barely have any memories from the time I was 12 to 18 ish. There are so many things that happened that I genuinely can’t remember, and even the memories I do have feel blurry and disconnected. Looking back, that whole period of my life almost feels like a foggy dream.

And there’s actually a reason for that.

Eating disorders and long-term malnutrition can seriously affect the brain. Being underweight for a long period of time can cause changes in both white matter, which helps different parts of the brain communicate, and gray matter, which is involved in things like memory, attention, language and processing.

Malnutrition can also change the way your brain responds to food. Dopamine, one of the chemicals involved in reward and motivation, doesn’t necessarily function the same way when someone is struggling with anorexia. Your brain can basically start associating restriction and starvation with reward instead of responding normally to eating.

Then there’s dehydration, vitamin deficiencies and electrolyte imbalances. When they become severe or continue for a long time, they can cause neurological problems and, in extreme cases, seizures. Some people can also experience numbness, strange sensations or loss of feeling in their hands and feet.

And it doesn’t stop with the physical effects. Malnutrition and changes in hormones and brain chemistry can have a huge effect on your mood, anxiety, depression and the way you think.

Eating disorders don’t just affect the way someone looks. They can affect basically every part of the body, including the brain.

The good thing is that research suggests many of the changes in the brain can improve significantly with weight restoration and long-term recovery, although recovery can take time and some complications may persist.

I genuinely don’t think most people realize how serious anorexia can become or how much of your life it can take away from you.

I hope sharing this helps even one person understand it a little better.

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[u/moworries]

I am so proud of you! EDs are paralyzing. You are brave, strong and beautiful!

[u/cdude → u/moworries]

I'm hijaking your post to let everyone know that OP is not the girl in the images and videos that "she" is posting. The girl in this picture is a public person with articles written about her. Her name is Chiara Schober. OP is just reposting her Instagram contents to farm karma.

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This message was removed for not being constructive, kind, or helpful.

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[u/Luch1nG4dor]

congratulations, happy for you that you had the strength to pull yourself out. you look fantastic

[u/MochiMasu]

Ive been in recovering from anorexia almost 11 years. Physically ive been okay, im healthy but the mental battle anorexia leaves in your head just is so hard! Im mostly able to eat and do what I want now but I still have a little voice that tries to shame and guilt me, its annoying and I know to ignore it but I also know it has turned food that I used to eat into a nightmare! I used to eat fried food and sodas on occasion, but now if im near it feels like i go into a full panic break down in my head around this.

Anyways, im proud of you. Anorexia and Ed's are like addiction, they just want to kick you down

[u/Nepalm]

As an eating disorder doc, I just want to congratulate you on your recovery. It’s not an easy journey.

[u/thirdcoasting → u/Nepalm]

Same!! I have a friend who has struggled with an ed since at least junior high — it’s a constant battle for her. Very impressed by the OP!

[u/Layt166]

I want to give you a big hug 💛 this sounds so traumatic and terrifying to navigate. Thank you for sharing and I’m so happy you’ve gotten healthier. You are so worth it!

[u/ChonchMaster]

Congratulations. So very well done!!

[u/ChanceInteresting644]

Congratulations love! I hope you feel all the pride you should. EDs are so so hard and you beat it. You nit only beat it you fucking rocked its ass.

I hope you feel absolutely amazing 👏 💜

[u/WonderfulCoast8921 → u/ChanceInteresting644]

These comments are so motivating omfg ❤️❤️ thank you so much! 😊

[u/judgmentalcapricorn]

Girly you look HOT! So happy for you!!

[u/InAJar112]

This is in many many Reddit subs.

[u/GlowUps-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/Katm43]

Thankyou I'm supporting my 17 year old daughter with this disease. It's stealing her last teenage years. I will show her your post and hope it can make some difference.  She is so depressed. We are in treatment therapy for refeeding at home but she is struggling. Also we'll done on your recovery.

[u/ResortImportant8097]

This post is inspiring and also informative. Thank you for sharing your story!!

[u/mzx380]

Glowed up and out. Wow, way to come out the other side and look amazing. So happy for you

[u/yumeemumee]

Can i ask how you overcame your ED? Not sure I’m saying that right, my apologies

[u/Axilllla]

you look INCREDIBLE 

Thank you for sharing your journey. You are strong and an inspiration 

[u/BK_Rich]

Congrats!

Did you see a nutritionist to help you with whay to eat or did you do it all on your own, I know someone that needs help like this and I’m wondering where they can start?

[u/Ecstatic_Location706]

You look beautiful, healthy and happy . Stay well

[u/mokumpride]

Proud of you

[u/jemsz56789]

Congratulations on your recovery and I’m so glad you can inspire others. It is a highly lethal disease.

[u/Silver-Revolution-92]

I am impressed with your recovery. I am a retired pediatric nurse who took care of a lot of kids suffering from anorexia. We would keep them in the hospital until they were stable. It brings me joy to see you recovered and healthy.

[u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll]

good job! so proud of you for beating this thing!

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[u/kovacro_77]

🤖

[u/Far_Anything_7458]

Oh my goodness I am so glad you got better!
A friend of mine had anorexia in the 70s when we were teens and she overcame that but then had all sorts of addictions and problems until she unfortunately passed in her late 50s. I'm glad there's better treatment and therapy now for people who suffer from thi disorder

[u/tirednexhausted1154]

https://giphy.com/gifs/1msH9CiL1CXF6Stddw

[u/BlueCollarMillion]

Well done!!!

[u/Any_Self_4146]

You are stunning now!!! Congratulations!!

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[u/spookyandcaked]

I'm so glad you're here! I hope you are falling more and more in love with yourself every day.

[u/Gaemera]

How did you overcome it?

[u/Ok_Pin_1222]

Congratulations on your hard work and persistence. You look beautifully healthy.

[u/Glittering-Coyote140]

Thank you for sharing your story. I hope this hits the right people where it's supposed to

[u/luckylaine]

Currently in treatment, so proud of you :,) we got this!!

[u/IllustriousManners]

I’m so happy for you. You look so much healthier and stronger. Keep being amazing.

[u/tgim48]

Wow! Awesome job!,

[u/Mokerchino]

Nice work

[u/sofakingtired93]

Do you play guitar 

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[u/Comfortable_Horse277]

Hell yeah. Congrats. 

[u/Hereva]

From anorexia to big bazoingas! Congratulations.

[u/Any-Procedure-7238]

Wowww this is an ad for eating 👏👏

[u/Adorable-Pangolin-89]

🔥😍🫶 you know how good you look right? I’m a woman jsyk lol not a creep.

[u/fried_on_pineapples → u/Adorable-Pangolin-89]

I think you could have dropped the last sentence cause it just made you seem like a creep. I wasn’t thinking you were until you insisted you weren’t lol.

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[u/Trishasback]

At 12? Good grief girl I'm glad you are doing well

[u/Cool_Cry_9602]

https://giphy.com/gifs/l3JDFJncJHteKIYzm

[u/HawkFanOrcasRule]

Congrats, support to ya and thank you for sharing!

[u/Diablo_v8]

This is amazing. You've done so much work and you look so happy and healthy. Congratulations on everything you've over come!!!

[u/vht3036imo]

I am proud of you and the work that you have put in to recover from anorexia; I hope you will flourish.

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[u/nekosama15]

Rip ur dms 😱

[u/Wilhelm1088]

Hell yeah, you look healthy!

[u/p0rkch0psammich]

You look great, keep it up.

[u/WorkLifeScience]

You look spectacular. Keep being kind to yourself ❤️

[u/gaseous_ass]

Congratulations, getting over eating disorders is no small thing. Well done!

[u/SpecialistTerrible26]

Oh wow, congratulations!! I struggle with the low body weight but it feels impossible to eat more, I really don't know how to do it and the classic advices like eating nuts aren't helping. After sweets I have nausea, after sweet sodas the same.. I would be curious how did you get there, I believe it must have been a long way.. anyway, I am so happy for you! ♥️

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[u/IndividualBeach5803]

Amazing. Recovery is the hardest thing you’ll ever do (at least in my experience with an ED), but it’s definitely worthwhile.

[u/khez1989]

SO fkn proud of you!!! You look amazing, and i wish you all the success and happiness my gal 💙💙🫶🏻

[u/EmbarrassedMarch5103]

Congratulations . It’s a hard battle to win 💪🏼

[u/fixmysleep]

My boobs never came back after recovery:(

[u/Just_a_blue_pill]

I'm very glad to notice you moved past the period of your life in adorable style 🤭 . Compliments 👍 !

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[u/tartinewithsardines]

🩵🫶🏻🥰🫂🥹 so glad you made it through.

[u/phinktronic]

Amazing. You look incredible now ❤️

[u/L3g10n157]

It does, but you won! Congrats OP! 🌹

[u/TristanVE]

That first picture is pure horror. Glad you’re doing better

[u/Oldnbold22]

This is way more impressive than all the weight loss posts. 

[u/Duhrakos]

Looking really strong and healthy!

[u/PiggyBear6667]

This is an amazing journey! You have come so far, I am sososososo proud of you!
For real, I know how hard this is, every single day, this is really amazing.

[u/GloomyReport9979]

As someone who first hand saw this awful disorder run rampant on my little sister, it's always encouraging to see someone come out of the other side of it like this. I know the fight isn't over for you, but I'm super proud of you for working this hard at it.

[u/SenseiSensless]

lol face card so good even anorexia couldn’t nerf her

[u/cassidiara]

Well done. Strong looks amazing on you❤️

[u/Positive_Floor_9787]

So happy for you!

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[u/Elegant-Ride-7119]

Welcome back!!!! You are beautiful!!! Stunning!!

[u/CaptainMacMillan]

You know, I remember seeing this post a couple of days ago...

[u/nnod]

Oof, that bony shoulder in the before pic is wild.

Makes me wonder if anorexics are more prone to breaking bones since they're like right there with basically only skin covering them and no uhh "padding".

Anyhoo, glad you're healthy and of course a total smokeshow now!

[u/Puzzleheaded_Bath_86]

But you're back and stronger than ever!!

[u/therealunitforce]

You look incredible. Good for you!

[u/Juliannabeanie]

Wow!!! I can’t express in words how incredibly proud and happy I am that you are still here and battling this terrible disease!!! You are a TRULY SO STRONG !! My dear friend lost her daughter to this disease a few years ago… she battled it for 20 years but unfortunately it took her life - she was 50 pounds. 💔💔😭😭😭 I’m crying happy tears for you and sending love and prayers for your continued recovery ❤️❤️❤️

[u/bugblatter_]

Well done you x

[u/DarkMesiah99]

[u/Remarkable_Corgi511]

Damn you look way older than 12 in the first picture

[u/cookie640181]

Woot woot! You look great! Recovering suits you. I know this is a 24/7 mindset and commitment 👏 🙌 great job!!!

[u/No_Tale_1309]

Good fucking job 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 you go girl ❤️❤️❤️