To those of you who come here looking to"become anorexic," or to yell at us...

These sites do not exist to say "I'm anorexic! Aren't I cool? Don't you want to be like me?" They do not exist to "teach" anyone to how to be anorexic. It's not a cult. We don't teach people how not to eat. Christians don't go to Church to learn how to be good people; they'd probably do that anyway. They go there for support in their beliefs, to gain a sense of community and of peace. Their religion is just as much a part of their lives as eating disorders are a part of ours. This is a place where people can come to say, "This is part of who I am. These are people who understand."

Without places like this, some people wouldn't have anyone to talk to. Depression and anorexia often go hand-in-hand. Without sites like this, I would have killed myself ages ago just because I felt utterly alone and misunderstood.

It seems like people have their opinions already formed about this kind of thing. It's ridiculous. I mean, this country (I live in the USA) is going through an obesity epidemic. Weight loss advertisments are everywhere. Literally. I can't turn on a single TV station without seeing at least 4 ads for "new, low-fat" something-or-others. It's like the nation is slowly catering to the anorexic lifestyle. There's one commericial for a nonfat yoghurt, with this girl walking by a teeny bathing suit every day, like she hung it up on her wall as a reminder. Um, hello!? Isn't that pretty much exactly one of our tricks?

So here we are, being bombarded with (1) images of overweight people and (2) constantly being told to lose weight--both directly in ads such as the yoghurt one and indirectly just by all the skinny people in the ads... and yet people with eating disorders, especially those of us who DON'T want to get better, are seen as "sick and twisted." Sorry for taking the hint, guys. Shit.

If only people would just realize what hypocrites they're being.

And they blame pro-ana sites for "causing" girls to become anorexic or bulimic. As if just hearing/reading about it is going to MAKE them do it. Hello?? If that's their logic, then media coverage (TV, movies, books, magazines) is just as much to blame.

Honestly I would have never learned about pro-ana sites if it hadn't been for an episode of Boston Public. Anyone remember that show? A young girl was running a pro-ana site off her school account, and the administration found out and yelled at her about it for like an entire episode. She replied with things like, "This is my life, my body, my choice." They even described (in detail) things like the "opaque cup trick."

How many girls do you think immediately logged on to look for sites like that as soon as they saw that episode? How many girls went searching for BDF after a St. Louis television station aired a piece about their bracelets? How many girls logged on after I appeared on a Bay Area news station to talk about it? How many will log on now? If they really want the pro-ana movement to die out, then they should stop exposing people to it. We don't force people to become anorexic. It happens on its own. People without eating disorders would probably never go searching for pro-ana sites -- why would they have the motivation? But when depressed young girls see pieces about pro-ana sites, the idea is born.

So to sum it up. If you don't have an eating disorder, I wonder what the bloody hell you're doing here. If you've come to yell at us, please realize that it's pointless--we're going to ignore your point-of-view just as you ignore ours.

If you've come here to "learn" to be anorexic or bulimic, then you really need to leave. Eating disorders are painful, life-destroying creatures that are not worth their cost. They are not cool or glamorous. They are not a quick fix. They are not a diet. They are a living, breathing hell. But once you're in, you're in. You're in until it either kills you or destroys your life so much that you have to break free. So stay out. Stay back. Stay sane.

If you do have an eating disorder, you know what a hell it is. You know how sometimes this hell is the only thing that keeps you going. Welcome. Here you will find support and understanding.

THIS IS WHY I KEEP THIS SITE GOING:

"I feel so misjudged all the time and Liz, YOU make me feel supported and loved. I have abusive parents and ana, and supporters like YOU take all the pain away."

"it feels so much more comfotable and open than other sites, and unlike some, it doesnt feel "exclusive" like everyone has a place here. and like i can express eveything here, no need to hide. its great."