It removes my ability to live joyfully in the moment.

It is hard to be spontaneous when you are planning ahead constantly for every morsel, or panicking about eating with friends, etc...


HOWEVER, I look forward to be able to doing that someday. Gotta get the joy back.

frist off dido to you both and for me the big thing is all the secrates make me keep to myself and become like a hurmate who rarely comes out to play. IT also stops me from telling the truth (a big thing for me) I can't wait untill the day were i can be free to be able to go and have fun (without fear) be honest and throw the masks in the bin

Yeah same for me with the above.
It also stops me doing alot of things with my friends, like going out for a meal etc. I avoid all situations where i think people will expect me to eat, i dont go to friends for tea, i dont go t the cinema (coz everyone buys sweets) and if theres like a sleepover of something i go late so i can say ive already eaten alot when im offered the food they'll have brought.
I miss being with my friends and getting stuck in to a good meal or having a treat.

Great discussion idea, bellexx!

-Because of ED, I never reached my career potential; I am on a permanent disability pension.
-I'm scared of social situations and have given up friendships for the time I need to feed my food/eating obsessions. I feel like a social outcast.
-I don't have any outside interests anymore, just the food and weight related things.
-Not only has ED robbed me of MY life, but it takes up so much of my time, and that robs my kid of having a better mom.
-ED has robbed me of all the self-esteem and confidence I would need if I were to be a more active participant in this life and in society.

Inface thinking about it now, my ED stops me doing soo mcuh!Sometimes i dont even go to college because i wanna go to the gym or for a run or something and i know ill be too tired if i go to college as well!!!

Dear god, what COULDNT I do without an ED?

Let's see: I could have friends, I could have normal sex, I could eat with friends, I could have had three other successful relationships, I could take better care of my apartment, I could get a better job, I could go back to school...

Oh, another thing I just thought of: I could start a family- something I would love to do with my husband.

I could enjoy the food that I work so hard to produce.

ED kept me from geting involved in school activities and sports.....it kept me from dance....sleepovers...birthday parties....my own birthday parties...it kept me from riding..being able to wear certain things I really would have LOVED to wear...it kept me from swimming....going to school everyday(which I hate school..BUT still)...this is scary..my life without ED could have been so AWESOME far sooner....

I could stop hiding in my room all day long. I could go out with friends without having to worry if food was going to be involved. I could go grocery shopping without having to pick up everything on the shelf, check the calories, and then put it back on the shelf. I could go to the school in San Francisco that I've been dying to go to since I was 8 and finally be able to have my dream job.

I could live.

It removes my ability to leave the house without looking like an overdressed homeless person with 20 layers of clothing to stay warm. It removes my ability to be fashionable and stylish because I am too worried about getting cold. It keeps me from enjoying anything because I am too busy trying to stay warm. It keeps me from having fun because I am too weak to engage in any activities without feeling totally sluggish and lathargic. I could go on forever really

Nurture and love myself.

Its amazing when you think about it how many things ED takes away from us. I want to be free of ED, but i am scared that i will feel lost without it. ED is all i have known. I hate it so much for taking away my life. I long for the day i can be truly happy, knowing that ED is finally my past. Recovery is possible, but it is a slow process i have learnt. I want to be free NOW!