My first experience with anorexia was when my depression was really bad. A med I was given totally destroyed my appetite but all my life, stress did that too so put them together....long term stress the pounds just dropped & when you are small anyway, hitting bottom came quick.

On top of it wuth the deoression I was suicidal which is probably where the srlf harm aspect probably came in but it was more than just self harm, I was feeling that at least with anorexia if I died from that it wouldnt leave my family with the same stigma as if I actually was successful with a suicide attempt. Strange thinking but at that point in my life it is exactly where I was....& that was in my late 40's also long after the normal anorexia issues are expected to occur.

I was always concerned with controlling my weight....didnt want to gain after marriage or having a kid & when I was working I played hard games of racquetball with the other computer engineer guys I worked with.....so my weight concern all my life fit in with the professionals....but my brain wasnt into body image at that time though I did like my looks at that weight, it wasnt the driving factor.

So I can understand your thinking. I think there is a problem with professionals when then all think that those who suffer are all coming from the same line of thinking. I came to realize that when I was put in an ED treatment facility & it seemed like they were trying to put me in their neat little box that I didnt fit in.