Cutting Yourself on the Inside

Have you struggled with a loss of appetite for several months now? Do you remember the last time you ate without thinking about a scale? When was the last time you looked in the mirror without grimacing? I can help you. This book is dedicated to those suffering with an eating disorder called Anorexia Nervosa. I am writing based on my experience with the disease. The personal accounts within this book can aid in identifying and overcoming this disorder. Too many teen girls walk the halls of school living in their heads and starving their bodies. This book can help you to see the beautiful girl in the mirror, regain your appetite and begin talking about your feelings without fear of judgment. Twenty years ago, I was caught in the grips of Anorexia Nervosa. The disorder made me feel as though I was cutting myself on the inside. I stood at 5 foot 2 inches, weighted 92 pounds, and wore a size zero in jeans. I will relate to you within this book the ways to beat this eating disorder. Eating disorders can take their toll on you, your relationships, and your life. I have written this book as a guide for you to find an outlet for your thoughts, coping mechanisms for your stress and a way forward in your daily interactions with family, friends, and peers. It is important to understand, this disease is not attention seeking, but instead a reaction to overattentive environments. If you read through this book, you will find tips and guides to cope with school, sports, family, and friends. It is not easy being a teenage girl, especially in high school. This guide serves to help navigate the daily pressures young women are under in their everyday lives. Today we find ourselves interacting more through mass media and phone applications, than on an individual level. It would be nice to be able to sit down and have a sincere talk about our feelings, relationships, and classes. Instead, daily, most are fighting for "likes" and approval of their surrounding groups. Can you honestly say you like the people you are around? Are you friends with each other or is it safer to be bored in a group than to be bored alone? I can show you the way forward. I can help you out of this self-destructive cycle you have fallen into. Within 'Cutting Yourself on the Inside', you will discover: Ways to improve your self-esteem through self-reflection Tips to eat full meals three times a day without feeling guilty Open communication with your parents about your feelings Improve communication with your siblings about your daily life Improve communication with your friends about your true self Open your daily schedule to new opportunities with new friends, activities, and groups Who you were before people told you who you were When struggling with anorexia, the world can feel like a fishbowl with no way out. The fixation on weight, the positive attention accompanying a tiny waist and the superficial interactions of daily life can feel like living under a microscope. Exploring the possibilities of making new friends, joining new groups, trying new sports is what overcoming this eating disorder is all about. The ability to move forward from external opinions and truly see your value in the mirror instead of the numbers on the scale is what this book is all about. I understand the struggle. I see you and understand you. This book is dedicated to helping you overcome Anorexia Nervosa. I invite you to read through this guide. You have an opportunity to change your reflection without harming yourself in the process. Take it. Take back control of your life.