Dear Mama: Anorexia, Not A Burden Anymore

Mama receives tons of emails every day. This email touched my heart so I decided to share….

Dear Mama: Anorexia, Not A Burden Anymore

I was in the 7th grade when it all started. During my spring break, I went to visit my Aunt. I spent the entire week with her. On the final day of my visit, I was gathering my things when her shephard mix charged towards me and latched onto my face. By the time I had pulled away she had already done a lot of damage.

After stitches and surgery my face was healing, but I looked like a monster. I felt like I was ugly and to regain control I needed to look beautiful in other ways. I am naturally thin but I thought if I could just lose five more pounds, I would be perfect.

But, week after week, perfect was not happening and I began to spiral out of control. I ate no more than 200 calories a day and took at least four laxatives a day.

For two years my obsessive exercising and unhealthy dieting habits were in control not me. I weighed 67 pounds at the age of 13 and my kidneys and liver were failing rapidly. Between death and recovery I was admitted to a hospital where I met the girls who changed my life. For being in a psych. ward they were the most insightful people I’ve ever met.

Now, I am a sophomore in high school and I weigh a healthy 116 pounds at 5′4. I’m so relieved that I don’t have to live with the burden of anorexia any more. Don’t lose hope, the calm always comes after the hardest part of the storm.

- Kayli