For the past 6 years I’ve been fighting the battle of my life with an eating disorder. When I was just 13 I was diagnosed with anorexia after months of struggling, I’d lost over half of my body weight in 10 weeks and was living off one tiny meal a day, but I didn’t think there was anything wrong with me. My mam tried for months to get me help but was constantly turned away from the GP being told “it’s just a phase” and “there’s nothing wrong she’s still a healthy BMI”. Eventually it got to the point where I collapsed and we managed to get help from CAMHS. 

For 5 years I was under CAMHS, the treatment didn’t work for me. I went through experiences that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone, but you accept it because you think what the professionals say is always right. When I was 18 I was told “there was nothing more they can do for me”, because I was coping and my physical health was stable, but I was still under weight, so they discharged me.

With lockdown everything I used to cope and enjoyed stopped, I couldn’t go to work, the gym or see my friends. I started over exercising and under eating, I ended up loosing a huge amount of weight that I didn’t have to loose, I was at the lowest BMI of my life and had well and truly hit rock bottom. I had multiple injuries that weren’t healing, i hadn’t slept in week and I could hardly string a sentence together, then I ended up in A&E. 

I was told my BMI was 0.1 too high to admit to hospital on a general ward, but if I carried on the way I was a few more weeks my my heart would stop. There’s something about hearing those words that changes your whole perspective on life. 

After that I was referred to adult services, the different way of treatment worked really well for me. I’ve worked my backside off over the past year. There’s been struggles, endless appointments and hospital admissions. But I’m so proud of how far I’ve come and what I’ve achieved. I could never have done it without the support of my close family and friends. I’ve lost a few battles over the past 6 years, but I’m winning the war. 

I’m now at the point where I want to do something to help others who are going through the same as me. Getting help early can make or break a persons life and recovery. Unfortunately most people don’t get the help until they are under weight and I want to help change that. 💖