When I appeared to be at my healthiest, I was actually at my sickest.

On the outside I looked like the picture of health because I was eating all the "right" things, not eating all the "wrong" things (at least in public), and exercising intensely (because more is always better, right?).

But behind the scenes I was anxious and depressed, having panic attacks on a regular basis, unsettled in my life, spending all my extra energy on obsessing over what I did and didn't eat and how I planned to exercise, smoking to suppress my appetite, cycling between restricting and bingeing, and drinking every night.

I was focused on what other people thought of me and forgetting to focus on my own experience. I opted out of so many events because I couldn't get comfortable in my own skin. Between my orthorexia and severe restriction, I was absolutely not doing well mentally or physically.

We can't assume anything about someone's emotional well-being or physical health based on their appearance.