Can I really have an eating disorder if I've never been hospitalised or starved myself? Can I really have anorexia if I am able to manage a full-time job and study for my actuarial qualifications?
And if it is an eating disorder, why has it taken so many years for me to be diagnosed?
These were just some of the many questions circling in Vanshika's head when her atypical anorexia nervosa diagnosis finally came in 2021, eight to nine years after the illness had first started plaguing her life.
In this book, Vanshika courageously shares the story of her fight against her eating disorder, in the hope it will inspire others facing a similar battle. Along the way, she breaks down long-held misconceptions of what it's like to live with an eating disorder. Her fight began when she was 14, and as she didn't fit the stereotype and was never found to be clinically underweight, her diagnosis did not come for almost a decade.
Through her experience, Vanshika realised that what people think they know about eating disorders is but a fragment of the truth. Eating disorders can happen to anyone at any stage of life. They are complex and unique. However, ultimately, they are an illness not an identity. They do not have to make life stop. If treated, the fight with an eating disorder can be won. But the fighter needs support; they need training. Most importantly, they need to know what they are up against - they need real and accurate information.
Vanshika's journey offers a raw and honest insight into the thoughts of young adolescents as they face the manipulative, incisive voice of an eating disorder. She explores how factors including cultural background, life experiences and personality can prevent you from realising you are slowly killing yourself.
Whether you are living with an eating disorder, caring for someone who is, or want to broaden your understanding of this important topic, this book is a must read.
