Every person struggles with their self-image, whether they openly admit to it or not. It's a very hard topic for some to discuss out loud with others for fear of being judged or made fun of, while others struggle to come to terms with it personally. An eating disorder, like anorexia, is one of these things. It is a demon from your personal hell that haunts your every waking moment. It is a horrible, mental illness that is destroying many lives in today's world and it's even worse when you watch someone you deeply care about go through this. I want people to know that they are not alone and that they can overcome this dangerous obstacle in life.

A very close and dear friend of mine has struggled with her body image for many years, but thankfully, the results of her anorexia wasn't as bad as what it could've been. It all started in sixth grade for her. She was always bullied about her size because she started puberty before any of the other girls in her class. She was a little bigger, but she was comfortable with herself until the bullying became worse and worse. After several months of bullying and the bullies only getting warnings, she turned to anorexia.

Every day she would skip meals and deny any food that was offered to her, and that's when her family and friends became suspicious. She would pretend to eat around them, just for their sake, and this went on until the middle of her second semester of sixth grade. She weighed between 60-80 pounds, her clothes were too big for her tiny, now fragile frame, and her ribs were starting to show. Her mother finally realized how bad it was, had her daughter sit and watch a documentary on Dr. Phil dealing with eating disorders and put her into counseling. Slowly but surely, my friend became healthy again, in the right way.

There was more to just losing excessive weight and dehydration that my friend struggled with. But the warning signs aren't just for her; they are for those who are suspicious of someone close to them struggling with this illness and for those who don't know when it's become too much. Some of the warning signs that are noticeable are a dramatic loss in the person's weight, denial of hunger, withdrawing from daily activities and being around friends, and anxiety over their weight.

But what people don't understand is that when someone is struggling with anorexia, even though they are already skinny, they still have this illusion of their stomach hanging out, and they think they are fat. We are teaching young kids and teenagers to hate their bodies. Society is telling them it's not OK to be skinny or it's not OK to be overweight, even just a little bit. Even bullying can lead to this. It's not fair to anyone to want to have to change themselves because of society or even because someone is bullying them.

The risk of anorexia is extremely alarming, especially in today's world. With society teaching us to hate our bodies and bullies making people want to change themselves, it's like no one is safe. Anorexia may be more common in women and young girls than men, but that doesn't mean they don't struggle too. Anorexia nervosa is a large cause of death in young girls and boys and it is a noted and deadly mental health condition. The awareness needs to be revealed more thoroughly, and we need to discuss with everyone that it is OK to be comfortable in your own skin and not to change for anyone.

We all need to learn to accept and love ourselves, and if you need help because you are struggling, don't be afraid to tell someone you love that you have issues with anorexia. It's better to get help earlier in the process before it consumes you and you lose your life. You only have one life to live. Cherish it.