Love and relationships

[@deathechovii]

Purpose becomes more meaningful as in realistic life goals - job, family, travel, etc. Rather than "survival" instincts "hunt", eat, move, etc. repeat. Life is better post recovery, you may have ups and downs as life is full of them, but that's better than the constant uptight stress put on the body by irrational behavior and beliefs. Just remember, as many have generally said, wanting to get better only goes so far. You have to commit and take action and yes, there will be days that it's hard, but you have to push through it and stomp out those fear constantly until they are no more. Only then will you be free. Aim to live, aim to be free, aim to love yourself for who you are not what others expect! Remember you are not alone and you got this.

[@user-ph4mg1mh9c]

The glass screen is sooooo relatable

[@throwawaycommenter9995]

Personally, I feel purpose is more a matter of commitment than emotion. I love music but I don’t feel like practicing everyday. I do it anyway though because I feel great fulfillment when I increase in skill. Whatever you put your energy into becomes your purpose and life’s work. The fulfillment comes in the moments when you see your efforts realized.

[@daffodil614]

I think these things are so individual, probably as individual as there are people with EDs. I've never felt lonely, or that I wanted any type of intimate relationship, before or during my ED, nor when I've been in a much better place physically and mentally. If I were 25 years younger, I would probably identify as asexual, but I don't feel the need to label myself as such. I've accepted I'm different to the majority of humans - the human race would not have survived if people were like me, with no drive to eat or reproduce. But I don't feel lonely, and this is OK with me. As for a purpose? To not leave the world having caused anyone or anything to suffer. I think I might well be alone in this viewpoint!

[@carolking4124]

Thanks this explained things really easily. One thing I haven't heard is whether people in recovery, or with low weight would be at risk from covid vaccine side effects or the actual virus itself, like I guess probably since energy deficit probably means low immune etc. I was also wondering whether it is okay to do stuff like trips in recovery or should you just focus or getting rewired and a better weight.

[@katrialamb7974]

I am lonely but its literally like I have forgotten how to be with people. I feel really anxious socially which often stops me trying.

[@stephanierowlett7809]

I feel this way, too

[@kathleendowner6506]

It's so tough for me my partner loves a small person so my recovery has been a bit harder but I'm committed to recovery but it's hard letting go of a lifetime of worth based on weight especially when my clothes don't fit but I don't want my worth to be based on my size by me or anyone else and that's just how I feel

[@eleonoreconstant]

You can be very sick and still have/want a boyfriend as for life’s purpose, I don’t think life has a purpose except to survive but you can definitely create a purpose for your life. Being anorexic might not make you pick a fulfilling purpose I guess but maybe wanting to recover is a good purpose and maybe some purposes might help you move toward recovery. I don’t think it matters not having a purpose. I feel our society makes us think we need to have one but it’s okay not to have one. Mine is to live as peacefully as possible for now.

[@jasperaura]

Ditto! I like to say "trust the process". Once you get yourself doing the hard stuff, it gets easier, and by the time you master it, you will find new priorities, and the rest is second thought.

[@jasperaura]

Funny. Just started a relationship with a blessed person. He knows I am trans, we both hate the idea of having biological kids, hence why I will have my hysterectomy when I am away from my family. But I am shocked how as I recovered, I found out that it is not sex that I hate... I hate having it as a person that never existed, a fruit of my parents' imagination. Hard to navigate, but happy I did (and am!) dping it in a healthful manner.