Editor’s Note: This story is adapted from an in-depth interview with Veronica, a Monmouth County high school senior who candidly shared her experience with anorexia. To preserve the full context of her responses, the original Q&A is available here as a PDF.
Veronica, a high school senior from Monmouth County, is speaking out about her experience with anorexia in hopes of helping other young people and their caregivers recognize the early signs of eating disorders. As she prepares to study nutrition in college, she is using her personal story to advocate for awareness, prevention, and compassionate care.
How Veronica’s Eating Disorder Began: Early Signs of Teen Anorexia
Veronica says her struggle began at age 14, during the summer before her freshman year. Although the disorder took hold during adolescence, its roots stretched back further.
“People had been commenting on my body when I was as young as 9 years old,” she said.
Veronica was eventually diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, a condition that involves food restriction and an intense focus on weight loss. However, for a long time, those around her doubted she was struggling at all.
“Until I lost a lot of weight, people didn’t really believe I had anorexia because I didn’t look like I did,” she explained. “That can be very damaging. Hearing that can push someone to go even further just to look ‘sick enough.’”
Losing Control: Childhood Trauma and the Roots of Veronica’s Anorexia
Veronica pointed to a series of difficult life experiences that preceded the onset of her eating disorder. Her family lost their home in Hurricane Sandy when she was just six years old. She later changed schools, lost friends, and watched her family focus on her brother’s battle with addiction.
“Amongst all of this, I found a lack of control in my life,” she said. “I realized there was one thing that I could control: my weight.”
Bullying compounded the problem. In middle school, she faced cruel comments nearly every day, including invasive remarks from peers and even a teacher who said they would check her lunches.
“I allowed those words and experiences to fuel me deep into my eating disorder. It became motivation.”
Body Image, Dysmorphia, and the Role of Social Media
Veronica experienced severe body dysmorphia during her illness. Even as she lost weight rapidly, the reflection she saw did not change.
“Every time I looked in the mirror, I saw a completely misshapen version of myself,” she said. “I always wore baggy clothes. I didn’t want to see myself, and I didn’t want others to see me either.”
Social media also had a harmful influence. Veronica says that constant comparison to edited images and unhelpful online content only made her condition worse.
“There is a dark side to the internet that people with eating disorders use to fuel themselves. Social media is toxic for anyone in recovery.”
From Food Guilt to Full Restriction: How Teen Anorexia Took Over Her Life
Her dietary changes began with guilt and progressed rapidly into full-blown food restriction. She started skipping meals, avoiding snacks, and giving away her lunch.
“All my thoughts consisted of how to get out of eating,” she said. “I constantly checked food and drink labels and wanted to consume as few calories as possible.”
Food quickly became an obsession. She tracked everything she ate and memorized her intake.
“It was all I ever thought about,” she explained. “With any kind of eating disorder, it’s hard for food not to dominate your life.”
Physical Symptoms of Anorexia
At her worst, Veronica’s health declined sharply. She lost so much hair that brushing became painful. She felt cold constantly, battled frequent illness, and had difficulty sitting in chairs due to how thin she had become.
“To put it in a brutally honest way, my worst days, I looked like I was dying,” she said.
One day, after standing up to walk to the bathroom, she passed out. Her mother found her unconscious on the floor.
“That was the breaking point.”
Beginning the Journey to Eating Disorder Recovery
Veronica opened up to her school therapist and later confided in her sister. She described the emotional toll of her illness and the desire to feel normal again.
“I told her I wanted to enjoy food with everyone else. I told her I missed my thick hair and didn’t want to be freezing anymore.”
Her family helped her take the first steps toward recovery. Intensive therapy followed, and she began the difficult work of healing.
Life After Anorexia: What Recovery Looks Like for a Teen Survivor
Now 90 percent recovered, Veronica says she still has difficult days. The lingering effects of her illness remain part of her life.
“Even though most people see me as 100 percent recovered, it doesn’t mean I don’t struggle. But more often than not, the voice in my head loses.”
She credits her progress to ongoing therapy, supportive family members, and the decision to seek help when she could no longer manage on her own.
Veronica’s Advice to Parents: How to Support a Teen with an Eating Disorder
Veronica encourages adults to take concerns seriously and remain involved in their children’s lives.
“If something seems off or weird, or you’re noticing a pattern of skipped meals or excessive consumption of diet drinks, approach it gently but firmly.”
She recommends asking questions, following up on missed meals, and making the effort to eat together, even if it means bringing food to your child’s room.
“The best kind of support came through people who listened, who tried to understand even when they didn’t,” she said. “Offer kind words. Be present.”
Recognizing the Warning Signs: Tips from Someone Who Lived Through a Teen Eating Disorder
Eating disorders do not always appear in obvious ways. Individuals may be underweight, overweight, or appear to be within a normal weight range. Symptoms may be physical, behavioral, emotional, or may not be visible at all.
If you are concerned about someone you care about, it is important to act quickly. Support can take many forms, from simply listening to helping with meals or offering reassurance during difficult moments.
The National Eating Disorders Association helpline is available at 800-931-2237 for information, resources, and guidance.