Friend doesnt understand my illness

I feel so down and just generally crap. I've been anorexic since the age of about 9 (I'm 18 now) and Im still struggling with it. I've been hospitalised 3 times but lately I've been getting better and trying to move on. To make it more difficult, Im at uni away from home and I feel stressed and overworked which makes it all worse.

I just feel a bit stupid because I explained to a close male friend the problems I have with food and how I use it as a way of controlling my life. Ive known him for quite a while and I wanted him to understand, like the rest of my close friends. I find it hard to talk about so it was a big step for me. He was just really rude about it all though, implying I was some sort of freak. He says he doesnt understand and doesnt want to either. He says its not even a real problem but its been such a destructive, difficult part of my life that I feel quite insulted by it. Its a pretty big problem to me.

Just feel really upset :frown:

do you think I'm over reacting? I dont know what to say to him.

Reply 1

Sazarina88

It sounds like he doesn't truly understand what anorexia is all about. And if he doesn't want to understand then that's his choice. Perhaps he's been involved in something similar before or might feel uncomfortable with it so chooses not to get involved.

You have every right to feel upset but don't assume that he's not willing to understand even though he said so. I'd try and talk to him again about it and if he reacts in the same way then I'd say something along the lines of not wanting to hang around too much with someone that isn't at all supportive. If he was truly a close friend, I think he'd try and be supportive, even if anorexia isn't an illness that he understands or knows too much about.

Good luck :smile: