[geriann]

i was so upset last night i cried myself to sleep!
I spoke to a woman on the internet. She said either i was faking having an ED to look cool or i was lying about what i was doing!!!
She's had ana for 18yr, been hospitalised several times and doesn't want o recover.
I know ana is a serious mental illness and never said anything bad about it and never said i wanted it.
I also know I've not got ana, i think it's just ednos.
She said you're not true ana unless you're willing to die to lose weight. If you recover you're not a true ana!!!
My frined's sister had ana, went to hospital etc. She's never happy wiht her weight, but she's recovering. So by this woman's standards she never had ana cause she's recovered!!
How dare she judge people so harshly!
What do you lot think?

[silver_queen]

I think this woman is somewhat biased because of her own anorexia. Also, long-term malnutrition/ starvation can also affect the brain and judgement etc. Although anorexia does have the highest mortality rate for any psychiatric illness (according to ANRED's site, up to 20% of anorexics die without treatment) that means that 80% of sufferers do have anorexia and then do recover. Recovery does not mean that a person was never anorexic. It means that the person was able to confront the problems that led to the anorexia in the first place.

Also, it was just her point of view and there are many others who would disagree with her, you're not alone .

[Genevieve]

Oh, Geriann, how terrible for you. And what a NOT helpful woman that was.

Here's a way of thinking of it: it doesn't matter whether you have AN or EDNOS -- what matters is that you're suffering and want help.

If she's been anorexic for that long, and does not want to recover, that tells me that she's not a very reliable source of information about eating disorders. Is it only "true" anorexia if you're willing to die in order to stay thin? Well, according to my doctor, who diagnosed me, the fact that I was asking for help didn't mean that I wasn't qualified for that help. I guess that means that you can be anorexic and not prefer death to recovery.

If you'd like a good source of information and a set of very helpful forums, try http://www.somethingfishy.org/default.php

Good luck

[funnygirl]

Pay absolutely no attention to casual acquaintances like this woman. She obviously doesn't know what she's on about. And always remember - misery loves company! She only wants to bring you down so you'll be as unhappy as she is.

FG

[veritymoon]

i agree with silver queen starvation does strange things to the brain .
how dare she say that your a fake she has no idea what shes talking about she sounds like a very sick woman i would stay away from her.
dont you feel bad at all

[geriann]

thanks for your support and agreement. Glad to know that she's wrong and I'm not mad!