Young Women With Anorexia Nervosa

The aim of this study was to describe how young women living withself-identified anorexia narrate about their lives by blogging. Thirteen Swedish blogswere chosen and analyzed by means of qualitative content analysis. The results describedfalling ill, the illness itself, and the path to recovery. Low self-esteem, depressedstate of mind, and self-destructive behavior were typical signs at the start of theillness. The women’s lives were characterized by a need for controlling their body bytormenting it and by the illness demanding all their concentration and energy. The womensuffered from the feeling of being a disappointment to their family members. The illnesswas like an enemy that had to be defeated with the help of family members, health careprofessionals, and by means of therapy. A turning point occurred when the women felt attheir worst or had tired of the illness and could concentrate on something other thantheir body and the eating disorder. Suffering from self-identified anorexia wasdescribed as experiencing low self-esteem. The illness took all of the women’s time andenergy. For a turning point to be reached, the women needed support from family,friends, and health care professionals, including the use of distractions