Learning to trust my body after atypical anorexia

Eating Disorder
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Learning to trust my body after atypical anorexia has been harder than I expected. I never looked “sick enough” to other people, so part of me still questions whether I’m allowed to take recovery seriously. That doubt can show up even when I’m following my meal plan and doing what I’m supposed to do.

I’m trying to notice what my body is telling me without immediately arguing with it. Hunger, fullness, tiredness, and cravings aren’t problems to solve anymore, even though they still make me uncomfortable sometimes. Rest has been especially difficult. My brain wants proof that I’ve earned it, and I’m working on dropping that rule.

Some days I feel more connected to myself. Other days I’m just getting through a meal without checking, compensating, or looking for reassurance. I’m learning that trust probably won’t arrive all at once. It may be built through many ordinary choices that feel scary at first.

What helped you start believing your body’s signals again?

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Amanda, the part about feeling you need to earn rest really hit home. I used to treat tiredness like a character flaw and would push through it until I was irritable and foggy.

One small thing that helped was resting according to the plan, rather than waiting until I felt I had “deserved” it. The discomfort was still there, but it slowly became less convincing. Repeating that choice on ordinary days taught me more than waiting for complete confidence.

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@Crystal_Long, resting before I hit the point of being completely wiped out has been a useful shift for me too. Waiting for clear proof usually meant I was already foggy, short-tempered, and less able to make good decisions.

I’ve started treating planned rest like basic maintenance rather than a reward. It still feels uncomfortable sometimes, but repeating it on regular days has made the guilt less persuasive.