Maya's story
Maya, 17, has lived with anorexia throughout her teenage years. Now she wants more people to understand what it was like for her.
Maya lives in London. She’s currently studying maths, economics, and religious studies at sixth-form college.
She was diagnosed with anorexia at age 13, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My struggles with eating began during the pandemic, around the summer of 2020"
"At first, it was about wanting to look better when returning to school, but by December 2020, I started restricting my food intake more severely. I had always compared myself to others, and food and body image became a significant part of that.”
“I was diagnosed with anorexia in April 2021, at the age of 13, after fainting and falling down the stairs. My parents were relieved to understand what was going on, but it was a difficult time, as my dad was in and out of hospital for his cancer and my grandad had just died.”
I had to drop out of school for a year to focus on recovery. Even when I returned, I struggled to focus or care about my education, which had always meant so much to me.
"I often reflect on how different things could have been"
Maya was in hospital for 10 days and has since accessed various Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
“Anorexia has significantly impacted my life, especially my education. I had to drop out of school for a year to focus on recovery. Even when I returned, I struggled to focus or care about my education, which had always meant so much to me."
"I managed to do my GCSEs on time, but I know there could have been improvements, if I had been able to engage properly throughout my education. I relapsed in February 2024 and had to leave school again, which meant I had to retake the year."
"Now I'm doing very well in school, but I often reflect on how different things could have been.”
Preventing eating disorders
Research by Dr Amy Harrison has shown – for the first time – that decision-making skills in childhood are associated with eating disorder symptoms in adolescence.
Find out more“Decision-making has always been a challenge for me"
Like the participants in Dr Amy Harrison’s study, Maya has often struggled with making decisions.
“Decision-making has always been a challenge for me. I often feel torn between different motivations, making it hard to be 100% sure about any decision. Large and long-term things are particularly difficult, and I tend to avoid them."
"Decisions around food can be difficult too. I’m able to eat anything now, but I struggle to make choices as I don’t often know what I truly want. I think support with decision-making skills would be useful, as the anxiety and repercussions of decisions can make me worry."
There’s more to life than your eating disorder.
"I'm doing better now"
"I wish more people understood that I'm doing better now and I don't need them to accommodate my eating disorder. To anyone going through a similar journey, I would say to stop focusing on the eating disorder. It’s easier said than done, but by surrounding yourself in it, it’s impossible to break free. By living with my grandma and doing things with her that I might not have been interested in at first – it made me realise that there’s more to life than your eating disorder.”
Note: Maya wants to remain anonymous, so a stock image has been used to illustrate her story.
Maya's story and Amy Harrison's research on the role of decision-making in eating disorders are featured in our latest impact report.
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