Sometimes appearance-obsessed friends or romantic partners create pressure that encourages eating disorders. People vulnerable to eating disorders, may also be withdrawn, with only superficial or conflicted connections to other people. Others may seem to be living exciting lives filled with friends and social activities, but later they will confess that they did not feel they really fit in, that no one seemed to really understand them, and that they had no true friends with whom to share thoughts, feelings, doubts, insecurities and so on. Often they desperately want healthy connections to others but fear criticism and rejection if their perceived flaws and shortcomings become known.