How do anorexic people function?

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When I don’t eat enough, I get low blood sugar and I find it hard to concentrate and function enough to do anything. And that’s just from skipping a meal, let alone if I hadn’t eaten for days or was subsisting for years on a very small amount of calories. When I see anorexic people in movies or books, they seem to have enough energy to exercise compulsively, go to school or work, and other things. Is it that their eating disorder gives them anxiety and that makes them more energetic? Or does your body just get used to not eating and functions fine after a while?

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26 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Atypical anorexic here, in recovery but currently fighting a relapse. I’ll try to be as vague as possible about the specifics to help the folks who are trying to recover not relapse

The very short answer is: badly.

You can accomplish a lot of things with self-loathing and willpower. The hunger cues go away after a few days, and caffeine is an appetite suppressant.

At my worst, I was walking a lot and eating in the low triple-figures of kcal daily. My nails were splintering and my joints hurt constantly. I was getting through by focusing on making the number on the scale drop, and just taking it day by day.

The brain fog is atrocious and your reflexes and judgement screw up too. It’s also very upsetting to watch yourself do something that’s hurting you and not be able to stop.

You convince yourself that it’s worth it, but there will never be a number that you’re happy with.

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