How long have you had your illness? Was it going on for a long time before you were diagnosed? About 4 years now, and it was more of a slow progression.

What is the most commonly heard stigma about the mental illness you have? That its purely for vanity, or that I'm a spoiled little westernized girl that just wants to look like celebrities and values appearance over anything else. Also perfectionistic and not intelligent or mature.

What aspects of your illness do people not know about or pay attention to? How out of control I feel with it. On the outside it looks like I just am stubborn and don't want to eat, and that I have a twisted self image or something. The truth is I want to but I CAN'T. My mind controls me but I no longer can get a grip on my mind or the intrusive thoughts that prevent me from recovering. I actually don't like the thinness, but I'm used to it and I am afraid of change. It's truly a painful disease and most people don't realize it because all they see is a tiny female who can wear size 00 jeans. I can't sit anywhere without padding, sleeping is uncomfortable because my legs and torso are bony, I'm constantly cold and tired all the time, and my hair is thin and brittle. I constantly am dizzy and spacey feeling, and everything is heavy or hard to move (such as opening doors or carrying a purse) because my muscles have shrunk. This disease is hell.

Do you agree with the fact that what you have is a mental illness? * What kind of medication do you take? Do the side effects coming with taking them outweigh the suffering of having the illness? Yes. I don't take medication, but I try my best to cope with my symptoms and live as normally as possible. I'm still social and I work full time. Graduated Cum Laude with a BA Psychology (cliche I know, haha) and I play violin professionally outside of my normal job. I'm also in grad school in the hopes of pursuing a phd in behavioral neuroscience.