Skip to main content

The Physical Downsides of My ED


Hey,

I'm pretty sure it's evident from my blog so far that I'm a fan of lists. They help me organise my thinking.

I know that relapse is really prevalent among ED sufferers, and I really, really don't want that to be the case for me. Whilst I'm recovering, I thought I'd draw up the physical consequences of my ED before I forget, hopefully stopping me from wanting to pursue an underweight body ever again.

I'm mostly listing physical consequences here because they can't be denied. I think it's easier for me to shrug off mental symptoms or justify them, though of course they are not healthy either. This is just what helps me keep a clear perspective on how terrible my ED was for my body.


  1. Very low heart rate
  2. Low BP
  3. Seeing black spots when running
  4. Tiredness walking up the stairs
  5. Insomnia
  6. Amenhorrea
  7. Hair falling out
  8. Feeling cold all the time
  9. Tooth damage
  10. Chest pain [showing my heart muscle was weakening]
  11. Difficulty digesting food
  12. Stomachaches
  13. Dizziness
  14. Pain when sitting
  15. Tingling in the hands and feet
  16. Moodswings
  17. Dry skin, hair, and nails
  18. Excessive urination
  19. Weak bones and knee injuries
  20. Reduced concentration and memory
  21. Stunted growth
  22. Lanugo 
  23. Easy bruising, even just laying on my bed
  24. Kidney pain [could later lead to failure]
  25. Discoloured skin in my feet and under my eyes (my toes turned purple once... not nice)
Somehow I shrugged all this off at the time. Because they came individually, and I was maintaining rather than restricting, I thought I was alright. This list seems kind of overwhelming now, actually, but at least it's a reminder of everything I am fighting to get away from.

Side note: this is just me reflecting on how my ED wronged me. I am in no way suggesting that I had it worse than anybody else, or that not having these symptoms means a person should not recover. Everyone with an ED deserves recovery and happiness. The point of this post is simply to me, so that I can remind myself not to ever glamorise my ED (I have a habit of thinking that things "weren't that bad" once they're over, which, in the case of EDs, is obviously a dangerous train of thought). 

- A





Comments

Popular posts from this blog

18 Ways to Increase Calorie Intake

Hey guys, I know a lot of people struggle to get a sufficient intake to become an ideal weight during recovery, and, whilst I recommend working with a nutritionist or counselor to resolve the underlying issues and help you become more comfortable with an increased intake and volume, this is my advice for getting sufficient energy in the meantime. I also want to point out that I am in no way a nutritionist, I am just pointing out what worked for me! 😊 Smoothies are great if you struggle with an increased volume. To these, you can add things like nut butter, seeds, coconut oil, avocados, dates, bananas and protein powder Cook foods in oil where possible, rather than water Opt for dried fruit rather than fresh Add extra toppings to your oatmeal , such as coconut chips, peanut butter, dark chocolate, bananas, dates, nuts and/or seeds Swap simple side salads for those featuring nuts, beans, seeds, extra veggies etc.  Switch side salads for things like beans or mushy pe...

15 Best Things About Weight Restoration

Hi guys, Before I started weight restoration, all I could think of were negatives. I thought I would look ugly in my clothes, that I would be fat, and that I would hate myself. But truly, this has not been the case. Many of the things that I thought would be awful were actually quite nice. That's not to say, of course, that there haven't been bad days. There are days when I miss being underweight, and they're quite frequent, but I don't feel the need to act on these thoughts: it is necessary for me to be the weight I am, and this body enables me to live the active and long life I wish to. I still think I look good, even if I look different. But I'm getting off topic. Here are some of the best things about weight restoration, from my personal experience: Buying new clothes and investing in my appearance - I used to have cheap clothes because my weight changed so much, but now I'm really getting quality things that I like Reinventing myself as a perso...

What Recovery Means to Me

Hi guys, For motivation, I thought I'd make a list of everything I'm fighting for. Eating the amount I actually fancy rather than a serving size Eating cake on my birthday rather than some low calorie mush that I've made Spending days out at the beach rather than the supermarket Reading fashion/travel blogs and watching those videos rather than ones about health or food Indulging in chick flicks and chocolate on my period rather than wondering if I'll be infertile for life Enjoying all my favourite sports again Being able to share a bag of crisps with my friends rather than worrying about whether I'll be able to log the actual amount that I had Being able to focus on my school work and knowing I've done the best that I could Having the ability to lie in in the morning Getting drunk with my friends without worrying about the calories Going clothes shopping and judging the outfit rather than myself Letting go of perfectionism Rekindling old frie...