Responds to confrontation and even low-intensity interactions with tears, tantrums, or withdrawal. Withdraws into self and feelings, becoming socially isolated. May present self as needy and dependent or conversely as fiercely independent and rejecting of all attempts to help. Anorexics tend to avoid sexual activity. Bulimics may engage in casual or even promiscuous sex.
Person tries to control what and where friends eat.
Relationships tend to be either superficial or dependent. Person craves true intimacy but at the same time is terrified of it. As in all other areas of life, anorexics tend to be rigidly controlling while bulimics have problems with lack of impulse control that can lead to rash and regrettable decisions about sex, money, stealing, commitments, careers, and all forms of social risk taking. Eating disorders can affect every cell, tissue, and organ in the body. The cruel reality is that persistent undereating, binge eating, and purging have the opposite effect.