text: Ann and Abby, 16, were identical twins. Due to being homeschooled, they were somewhat socially isolated. Both excelled in the sport of swimming. Highly competitive with her sister, Abby became anorexic, so much so that her body would turn frigid and blue while in the water. Although Abby was cognizant of what she was doing, and was extremely rigid about food consumption, those around her—parents, coaches–remained in denial about her condition. Eventually, she could no longer compete and entered therapy.
  “Abby had the textbook approach-avoidance. She loved her sister, hated her sister, wanted her to be her friend, didn’t want it,” Shari said. “Individuation was a definite part of her anorexia, in that it caused her to look very different from her sister. In fact, when her twin started acting out in a similar fashion, Abby was incensed because it was ‘her’ way to get attention, not Ann’s.”