![You, me and ANOREXIA](https://cdn.magzter.com/1395477376/1712578001/articles/zqKLMjqyQ1712664721356/YOU-ME-AND-ANOREXIA.jpg)
Waiting in my room at the mental health hospital for my best friend Hannah, I still couldn’t believe this was where we were meeting. The days of watching The X Factor together then heading out clubbing felt like a distant memory. Now I was an inpatient being treated for anorexia. I’d refused to allow other friends to visit, as it was too difficult to let them see me so vulnerable. But I knew Hannah would never judge me or push me to explain how I’d ended up here, when I barely understood myself.
Hannah and I met at college in 2008, when we were 16. We bonded over our mutual love of fashion and the Arctic Monkeys, and loved going out in our hometown of Preston. Warm, laid-back and kind, Hannah was lovely to be around.
My eating disorder was never anything to do with being unhappy with my size-6, 5ft 2in body. I’d always been naturally slight and sporty. Instead, I believe now that it developed as a result of an intense relationship I found myself in from the age of 17, and a need to find something I could control. Over the course of a year, my weight dropped from 7st to around 5st. I dressed in baggy clothes to conceal my changing body, and if anyone noticed, they didn’t say. I spent as little time as possible at home, or else stayed locked in my bedroom, to avoid spending time with my mum.
Then, in late August 2009, aged 18, I blacked out at home because I was so weak. After coming round, I felt so scared and told Mum what had been happening. She was shocked and upset that she hadn’t realised, and took me to the GP the following day.
This story is from the April 15, 2024 edition of WOMAN - UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 15, 2024 edition of WOMAN - UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Jamie's best BARBECUE - Jamie Oliver shares his fresh ideas for summer grilling](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5906/1743616/eN1zdfVo21719311133708/JAMIES-BEST-BARBECUE-JAMIE-OLIVER-SHARES-HIS-FRESH-IDEAS-FOR-SUMMER-GRILLING.jpg)
Jamie's best BARBECUE - Jamie Oliver shares his fresh ideas for summer grilling
Whether you're veggie or a meat or fish lover, Jamie has you covered with his tasty new recipes, packed with flavour and designed to fire up the grill...
!['There will be SPECIAL GUESTS'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5906/1743616/WTahH3Pq71719310506498/THERE-WILL-BE-SPECIAL-GUESTS.jpg)
'There will be SPECIAL GUESTS'
Craig Revel Horwood on Strictly's 20th anniversary and why Simon Cowell may be switching judging for competing
![Not quite MR DARCY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5906/1743616/_UQ9zgAHh1719308023988/NOT-QUITE-MR-DARCY.jpg)
Not quite MR DARCY
Clara was looking for a romantic hero and it certainly wasn't her ex
![A weekend in...MARBELLA](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5906/1743616/WjF5aKZzP1719307730639/A-WEEKEND-INMARBELLA.jpg)
A weekend in...MARBELLA
Spain's glamorous Costa del Sol boasts 300 days of sunshine, making it popular all year round
![Win a pet-friendly HOLIDAY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5906/1743616/qQBEPr80r1719307537489/WIN-A-PETFRIENDLY-HOLIDAY.jpg)
Win a pet-friendly HOLIDAY
You can take your dog with you, thanks to Neutradol
![How easy is it to take my dog on holiday?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5906/1743616/kU-LOdAzj1719307262460/HOW-EASY-IS-IT-TO-TAKE-MY-DOG-ON-HOLIDAY.jpg)
How easy is it to take my dog on holiday?
The summer holidays are almost here, and many of us will be looking forward to getting away, either in the UK or further afield. As a pet owner, that raises the question of what to do with your pets.
![My baby was treated like - SHE NEVER EXISTED](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5906/1743616/Dv4zM_tCA1719302296175/MY-BABY-WAS-TREATED-LIKE-SHE-NEVER-EXISTED.jpg)
My baby was treated like - SHE NEVER EXISTED
After losing her newborn daughter, Hilary Freeman was determined to make a positive difference
![I almost divorced - MY DYING HUSBAND](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5906/1743616/hToG1GrlL1719301943620/I-ALMOST-DIVORCED-MY-DYING-HUSBAND.jpg)
I almost divorced - MY DYING HUSBAND
Mauricee Bravo-Hibberd noticed a change in her husband's behaviour, but the cause turned out to be sinister
![THINK yourself thin](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5906/1743616/hc1vEUORB1719301031173/THINK-YOURSELF-THIN.jpg)
THINK yourself thin
Slimming could be as easy as channelling your mind
![Sun, sea and SCAMS!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5906/1743616/3jrmJJnkz1719300537492/SUN-SEA-AND-SCAMS.jpg)
Sun, sea and SCAMS!
It's that time of year again when we all want to hop on a plane, sit on a beach in the sun with a refreshing drink in hand.