i'm issy and, for the past three years, i have lived with anorexia.

denying myself the basic human right of food felt deserved, something i had to do to "fix" myself. it numbed my anxiety and the self loathing voice in my head was quieter when i took up less space. less cruel when my reflection in the mirror was smaller.

up until now, i haven't really told anyone other than close friends and family about my eating disorder. it was always something i felt ashamed of. in sharing my story, i don't want to be pitied, or for my eating disorder to be my only personality trait. i'm still me. i just don't want to keep hiding such a huge part of my life anymore.

tilda has been one of the few constants in my life since i begun struggling with my eating. she stuck by me through every hospital admission, every relapse, every meal, she would always be there to help me through. without her and her brother elliott, i know i wouldn't be where i am today. their support has saved me time and time again, and i don't think they'll ever understand the extent of their help.

next week, tild and i are walking a marathon over two days to raise money for beat (elliott would come but he has mocks lol) as part of the fundraise twogether scheme. it was unsure if we'd be able to following my relapse in january, however after weeks of putting my health first and fuelling myself i can happily say i'll be in both a physically and mentally well enough state to do the challenge. if you are in a place where you can donate, we'd be massively grateful. beat is an incredible charity and the work they do is so genuinely helpful, especially in a world where eds are glamorised beyond belief. thank you :)

I am fundraising for Beat, the UK's eating disorder charity. Beat supports anyone with an eating disorder, their friends and family, as well as professionals working with or worried about an individual in their care.

These serious mental illnesses include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. 1.25 million people in the UK have a diagnosed eating disorder. They affect people of all ages and backgrounds, and up to one in four sufferers are male. Eating disorders cost the UK's economy £16.8 billion each year.