Elena Vanishing

What were the factors in Elena’s life that she concluded contributed to her eating disorder? Why might these earlier experiences have set Elena on this path, and how did peer influence play a role in how her psychological struggles unfolded?

According to the memoir, what are some of the unexpected consequences and symptoms of having an eating disorder? How does anorexia nervosa affect Elena’s health, relationships, and life trajectory?

In what sense is anorexia nervosa a disorder that “feeds itself,” according to the memoir? Why is it so difficult for people with this disorder to overcome it, and how does Elena’s anorexia act as a cycle that becomes extremely difficult to escape?

How is Elena’s family impacted by her eating disorder? Why can the support of family be both a blessing and a hinderance when it comes to recovery from anorexia?

What does the memoir suggest about the relationship between anorexia and The Desire for Perfection and Total Self-Control? Why does Elena admire other girls with anorexia for so long, and what does she believe it says about a person when they have it?

How does The Patient-Practitioner Relationship play out in Elena’s life? How does the patient’s view of treatment and their own illness impact the effectiveness of treatment?

Although boys and men can be affected by anorexia, about 9 in 10 people with the disorder are women and girls. What does Elena Vanishing imply about why this disorder primarily affects women and girls? What sorts of social factors does it hint influence the discrepancy?

How does going through the experience of having an eating disorder affect Elena’s personal development and self-image as she grows into an adult?