TW: Eating Disorders 

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This Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW), I’m raising money for Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity. Beat are an online and over-the-phone information and support service available to eating disorder sufferers and their loved ones. Occurring in people of all ages, genders and backgrounds, eating disorders currently affect around 1.25 million people in the UK. I’m sharing my story this EDAW to help fight myths and misinformation surrounding eating disorders! 

It’s never easy living with an eating disorder, however the Coronavirus pandemic has brought new challenges to the community, feeding an illness that thrives off isolating its victims from their loved ones, and being the only activity you focus on. Due to the combined closure of gyms (a lifeline for many sufferers), and the suspension of face-to-face outpatient treatment, charities such as Beat are facing spikes in demand and need donations now more than ever!

This EDAW, I will be sharing my experience of my eating disorder, to raise awareness and to spread the message to any silent sufferers to reach out to someone for help, because it’s the best thing I ever did! Although until now I’ve only ever told my closest friends and family, I have struggled with anorexia for just over two years. One year ago when I finally reached out for help, Beat listened to my anxieties, encouraged me to go to the doctor and to talk to my family about what was going on. Just one example of the great things that this charity does!

This year, the aim of EDAW is to raise awareness for Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Despite being the most common eating disorder (affecting 1 in 50 people!!), this disorder is the LEAST known about! BED is characterised by episodes of binging, where a person consumes large amounts of food in short periods of time, often co-occurring with intense distress and a loss of sense of control. To find out more about BED, visit https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/types/binge-eating-disorder. 

During online group therapy this summer, I was invited to get curious about who I am without anorexia. When you’re in the throes of an eating disorder, you forget that your illness isn’t your whole personality. You become so preoccupied with following rules and using behaviours to offset negative feelings that you forget who you are without it. Re-exploring who you are is an opportunity to move away from the comfort of your eating disorder and is that one step closer to being yourself again!  

For that reason, this EDAW I will be taking on a new challenge every day for a week, learning a bit more about myself and hopefully raising some money for Beat! 

Thank you in advance for your support, any donations much appreciated! xx

For more information, or if you think you or someone you know may be struggling with an eating disorder, visit the Beat website https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk. (one-to-one live chat also available).