In a powerful post on the website of the Mona Shores (Michigan) High School newspaper, student journalist Kelley Wheeler recounts the story of anonymous eighth-grader's struggle with anorexia:
Eighth grade, for most students, makes them feel on top of the world. For one beautiful and talented girl, who agreed to tell her story on the condition of anonymity, eighth grade was a war of gossip and rude remarks that pushed her pain over the edge, causing her to start a dangerous habit of refusing to eat and of throwing up what she ate. This is her story. ... I turned to an eating disorder and self-medicating for the control. This routine continued from eighth grade to the end of ninth grade. I would walk through the hallways at school, and no one knew what was going on inside of my mind and body, but at home, things were different. My parents found out after awhile because I would drink green tea all the time and say that I wasn’t hungry. My parents were hurt, but they supported me in getting help. As for my friends, I kept it hidden pretty well, but it came to the time when I had to tell them. I only told two of my friends because I was going away for a while, and they needed to know why. The full text of the article can be accessed here.
Posted By: Aspen Education Group