Pretty Little Liars Actress Troian Bellisario Opens Up On History Of Self Abuse And Eating Disorders

Right now, things are definitely definitely looking up for Pretty Little Liars actress Troian Bellisario, who recently graced the cover of Seventeen!
However, inside the magazine the 28-year-old reveals that she had some very tough times in high school.
Troian opened up about her troubled past and talked about dealing with self abuse and eating disorders:

“I started self-harming when I was a junior. I would withhold food or withhold going out with my friends, based on how well I did that day in school. I didn├óΓé¼Γäót know what was right and what was wrong, so I think I created this bizarre system of checks and balances to create order in my world. But it really backfired.”

Unfortunately, things began to build up for Troian and she was afraid to talk to anyone about her issues, so she kept her feelings to herself and the problems grew.
She goes on to say:

“I felt this sadness, and I thought if people really knew what was going on inside me, they wouldn├óΓé¼Γäót want to hang out with me. So I tried to keep it light and funny. I became imprisoned [by my eating disorder and self-harm]. And it was something I fought with.”

Troian has come a long way since high school and has had a successful career on television, however, she says she sometimes still finds herself struggling with anxiety:

“I just look around at Lucy [Hale], Shay [Mitchell], and Ashley [Benson], and I├óΓé¼Γäóm just like, ‘Why am I on this show?’ Sometimes I├óΓé¼Γäóve felt like a fraud. Like, I├óΓé¼Γäóm not like these other girls ├óΓé¼ΓÇ£ I don├óΓé¼Γäót dress like that and don├óΓé¼Γäót know how to do my hair. The minute I├óΓé¼Γäóm off that stage, I try to get as ├óΓé¼╦£me├óΓé¼Γäó as possible. I do that by piling on my black eyeliner, and I put on my ripped tights. Dressing like myself again helps.”

While Troian still has her down days, she says she’s doing much better and tries to look at all of the positive aspect of her life to keep her spirits up.
She goes on to say:

“Whenever I get down, when I want to crawl under a rock, I just look around at them and I see how rich my life is. You have to remember what├óΓé¼Γäós most important in life. I am loved by so many people and have a wonderful job. I know I├óΓé¼Γäóm incredibly blessed. I am a completely lucky human being.”

Self abuse and eating disorders are huge issues amongst young women, and talking about it openly can sometimes be the hardest thing to do.
We’re definitely glad to see Troian is in a much better place, and hopefully she can continue to count her blessing and help other girls who are struggling with the issues she’s managed to overcome.
[Image via Seventeen.]