Mackenzie Stroh and John Searles

About the author: Mackenzie Stroh is a recovered anorexic. John Searles is an editor for Cosmopolitan magazine.

Mackenzie Stroh nearly lost her life to anorexia. In the following selection, she describes her struggle with anorexia, which she traces back to when she was three years old. At that time, her parents were getting divorced and she somehow felt responsible. The divorce, combined with her inherent sensitivity and insecurity, triggered extreme compulsive behavior. Her obsession for control and perfectionism eventually lead Mackenzie to anorexia. After years of self-torture and anguish, she was successfully treated at the Montreux Clinic in Victoria, Canada, and now lives a normal and fulfilling life as an artist.

No one would ever guess from looking at me—a healthy 26-year-old artist living in Vancouver, British Columbia—that 10 years...