I beat anorexia

My story is a bit unusual for this forum, as I am a man who lived with anorexia nervosa for about 3 years. It began way back in 2002 when I was in my early 30s. I was always a few pounds overweight and viewed myself as hopelessly unattractive, as I went through my 20s and into my 30s with absolutely NO dates at all (for several reasons, including paralyzing shyness, school, work, and living for 3 years in remote lumber towns where there were no single women in that age group). I didn't really try to starve myself for days in the way that some anorexics do. What I did was heavily restrict my eating and then try to exercise the calories off. I did NOT lose any weight this way and grew more and more depressed. Even living in a major center for school did not improve my dating/relationship prospects and things just got worse for my mental state. About a year into this I noticed my body was screaming at me - I had agonizing muscle aches and pains, headaches, and was frequently ill. It was during a session with a counselor that I unwittingly let out the details of what I was doing. The counselor was a specialist in eating disorders and immediately told me she would have to put me in a program. I was sent to a local outpatient program and seen by a Dr, dietitian and counselor. I was told that I was in the early stages of anorexia and that things could be turned around without putting me in the hospital. It was a very difficult next 2 years that followed but I was able to beat this evil that is anorexia. What it took for the depressed clouds to lift was a change of scenery. But I have yet, thankfully, to fall back into that awful mindset!