Reclaiming Identity from Anorexia

For years, I believed that anorexia was a part of me. It wasn’t just something I was struggling with—it was who I was. The voices in my head that told me I wasn’t enough, that I had to control my body to be worthy, became so entwined with my identity that I couldn't separate them. Anorexia wasn’t just a disorder I was fighting; it was me. 

Separating anorexia from the person is one of the most crucial steps in healing. Anorexia doesn’t define who I am. It’s a battle I’ve faced, a war I’ve fought, but it’s not my identity. The moment I realized that anorexia was a separate force from myself was the moment I began to reclaim control over my life. The voice that told me I wasn’t good enough, that I needed to restrict to be loved—it wasn’t me. It was an illness, a deeply rooted mental health struggle, but not who I truly am.

This distinction is vital for recovery. When we identify ourselves with our disorder, it becomes harder to find a way out. But when we understand that anorexia is something we experience, not something we are, we create space for self-compassion. We give ourselves permission to heal, to rebuild our lives without shame.

We are not our eating disorder. We are people worthy of love, peace, and freedom. Separating anorexia from the person is how we start the journey of reclaiming ourselves. It’s the first step in moving from surviving to truly living.