In 2014 I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. This was such a big shock to my family and myself, I refused to believe it. I was visiting CAMHs 5 times a week for a year getting support during meals, getting bloods taken every week, making sure my weight was stable. I was allocated many psychologists which would go well for a couple of weeks and then I would just give up on it, closing down not talking to them as I thought ‘how could just talking to someone help me’. I was invited to do a CBT group with others, which I thought really did nothing for me why was I there? However there really wasn’t much more I could be given as the funds from the NHS were drastically low. 

I always dreaded going to CAMHs as I thought that although they had other patients with eating disorders, everything I was getting told to do or go to just wasn’t enough and did nothing to help me. 

As of today, being almost fully recovered from my eating disorder, looking back at the situation I was in when I was 14/15 if I had someone I could go to who would understand what I had to say, weren’t patronising, genuinely wanted to help me and not push me to do things I didn’t want to do. I feel BEAT would have helped me so much. Not even just me but my family too. 

BEAT are an eating disorder charity which do many charitable events to raise money and awareness. They also host groups for eating disorder sufferers and families to support and help them along the way of recovery and how to deal with certain situations. They also have lots of stories from others about their eating disorders or from a parental point of view.

Eating disorders are not just a “phase” or for attention. Eating disorders are a very serious mental issue which can be triggered by many different things and can happen to anyone of any age or gender. Eating disorders have the highest death rates amongst all mental health issues and unfortunately are becoming increasingly more common. 1.6 million people in the UK alone are suffering from an eating disorder.

            It is crucial to know that you are NOT alone. 

If you could give just as little as £1 this could lead to lots of girls, boys, women and men to get the support they need.

Thank you,

Chloe x

            “You only have one body, take good care of it”