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'I'm not sick enough'

As you can tell from the title, I wanted to share my thoughts with you about people's misconception about the severity of their condition/denial/feeling inadequately ill. 
I want to write about this as I didn't feel I deserved treatment, and that was a massive factor in initial slow progress in recovery for me. 

It's important to be mindful that eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes, and just like people, no two eating disorder sufferers will go down the same path, some people naturally weight restore quicker than others etc as we all have different body compositions and we are all individual mentally aswell as physically! 

You might be at a healthy weight, but if you suffer and engage in purging behaviours your electrolytes could be imbalanced to the point of serious heart complications. But to the unsuspecting passer by, you might well look 'healthy'. Doesn't that just show how dangerous eating disorders are in themselves due to the fact that they can be so hidden and concealed?


The following has been taken directly from the BEAT website: 
Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder, from medical complications associated with the illness as well as suicide. Research has found that 20% of anorexia sufferers will die prematurely from their illness. Bulimia is also associated with severe medical complications, and binge eating disorder sufferers often experience the medical complications associated with obesity. In every case, eating disorders severely affect the quality of life of the sufferer and those that care for them.

The bottom line is you don't need to get more ill. Anorexia does and will kill you. Speak to someone or see your doctor and do not feel one ounce of guilt!



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