Elena Vanishing

How does the honesty of memoirs like Elena’s help to destigmatize mental illness? What can be learned from these intimate portrayals that cannot be learned from a textbook?

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?