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Implications

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One of the struggles for Megan is that people, including her doctors, often don't know what it is, what exactly is wrong. "[I'm] relying on my own self report," she said. "I've spent a lot of time at doctors trying to explain in a way... sometimes it starts feeling like maybe this is not really an issue." The doubt that comes from the lack of official diagnosis is difficult. "The number of times a doctor has implied I'm just not eating in a way that's so accusatory...like you did this to yourself...like if there's no other answer it must be your fault." That feeling can be worsened by another invisible struggle. "As someone with depression," she continued, "sometimes it feels like it's not out of my control, like it's on me."
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© Meg K. Smith 2016
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In Sight: A Series on Invisible Illnesses
One of the struggles for Megan is that people, including her doctors, often don't know what it is, what exactly is wrong. "[I'm] relying on my own self report," she said. "I've spent a lot of time at doctors trying to explain in a way... sometimes it starts feeling like maybe this is not really an issue." The doubt that comes from the lack of official diagnosis is difficult. "The number of times a doctor has implied I'm just not eating in a way that's so accusatory...like you did this to yourself...like if there's no other answer it must be your fault." That feeling can be worsened by another invisible struggle. "As someone with depression," she continued, "sometimes it feels like it's not out of my control, like it's on me."