@annalisemishler/TwitterA woman who was dangerously underweight and battling an eating disorder has documented her journey back to health – and she looks absolutely incredible.
Annalise Mishler, who weighed just over four stone and said she was ‘hours from death’, is now on the road to recovery, weighing a much healthier eight stone.
The fitness and life coach said it’s not just her appearance that’s changed, she said her biggest transformation is on the inside.
Doctors originally diagnosed Annalise with anorexia, but after four years found she was actually suffering from ARFID, which stands for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
Annalise explained to Life & Style Magazine:
[It’s] different from anorexia in the sense that the restriction doesn’t stem from a desire to lose weight and body dysmorphia isn’t present.
My particular case stemmed from a sexual abuse that left me anxious and experiencing sensory problems that were very present whenever I would eat.
I didn’t like the feeling of being ‘full,’ which I now know was linked to my assault.
Annalise has been able to work through her demons, with the help of ACUTE, a centre in Denver, for patients with eating disorders.
She said:
If you’re suffering with an eating disorder, you need help.
You need a therapist, a dietician, and probably a psychiatrist – a team of people who can advocate for you and help you with every single step of the way.
Absolutely one of the hugest misconceptions is that people with eating disorders are vain, doing it for attention, or obsessed with their appearances.
I can say with 100% surety that people I met in eating disorder treatment are the best, brightest, most empathetic people I have ever been around… It’s a REAL mental disease, not a ‘diet’… these are all illnesses that one does not choose.
What an inspiration.
