Women share their biggest regrets in startlingly honest confessions - from 'pursuing' anorexia to forgiving abusive parents

  • Female Reddit users confessed their deepest regrets in a viral thread 
  • Many wished they had cut off toxic relationships earlier on their life 
  • Several shared the regret of developing unhealthy habits such as smoking 

By Latoya Gayle For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Women confessed their deepest regrets in the hopes of helping others avoid the same mistakes. 

Writing on Reddit forum Ask Women, users from around the world spoke candidly about the bad decisions they have made, from 'pursuing' anorexia to staying in an abusive relationship. 

The thread began after an anonymous user asked contributors aged 30 and over to share their regrets.

Writing on Reddit, users from around the world spoke candidly about the bad decisions they have made, from 'pursuing' anorexia to staying in an abusive relationship. Stock image

Writing on Reddit, users from around the world spoke candidly about the bad decisions they have made, from 'pursuing' anorexia to staying in an abusive relationship. Stock image

Their confessions were shared on a Reddit thread asking women to reflect on decisions they made before age 30

Their confessions were shared on a Reddit thread asking women to reflect on decisions they made before age 30

A flood of contributors to the thread revealed they regret not cutting ties with toxic relationships sooner.

One person said: 'I try not to spend too much time in regret, but I suppose my biggest regret is how long I stayed in a toxic marriage. 

'It did a number on my brain and self-image that has lasted far longer than I'd hoped.' 

Another wrote: 'Settling for a man who 'came from a good family' in hopes of pleasing my parents and mirroring my siblings' successful relationships... 

'Instead I spent my 20s, 30s and most of my 40s with an abusive, narcissistic man. 

A stream of responses to the thread spoke candidly about the regret of allowing their emotions to be harmed by staying in abusive relationships 

A stream of responses to the thread spoke candidly about the regret of allowing their emotions to be harmed by staying in abusive relationships 

'Bright side is I have 2 amazing children and I have been free and VERY happily single for 4 years. But oh... how I wish I had listened to my inner voice when it said GO! GO! GO! way, way back then...'

Third added: 'Not cutting my toxic and abusive mother out of my life decades ago.' 

Many people confessed they spent many years trying to achieve a standard of beauty they believe society expects.

A user speaking under the handle 'Under_the_bluemoon' revealed how anorexia caused lasting damage to her body. 

Others highlighted the harmful consequences of trying to live up to the expectations of society and family 

Others highlighted the harmful consequences of trying to live up to the expectations of society and family 

'Devoting most of my 20s to pursuing anorexia. I didn't even realise what it was until I was in too deep to safely stop. Now I'm many years behind my peers professionally and with organ damage that will likely eventually kill me.' 

Others spoke about the regret of not making a conscious decision to make healthy choices that would keep their body look its best.

One person wrote: 'I have only one regret: the fact I ever started smoking. I quit some years ago but it was by far the worst decision I ever made, and the only one I wish I could undo. 

Another said: 'That I didn't start wearing sunscreen earlier in life.' 

A number of contributors confessed they regret their decision to start smoking and wish they begun wearing sunscreen earlier 

A number of contributors confessed they regret their decision to start smoking and wish they begun wearing sunscreen earlier 

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