Eating disorder – We Love Puppies Too

Defying the thin ideal and nourishing hope: Ashley’s journey in overcoming an eating disorder

When I tell people I am in recovery from an eating disorder, they give me a puzzled look like I must be crazy. I have had many people judge me and act like I did not go through a real struggle that almost ended my life. Food had turned into my enemy and my fear.

I cannot say how, why, or exactly when, but an eating disorder had taken over my life and I needed help.

Today I volunteer I can encourage those who suffer from eating disorders and give them hope. I have spoken in the community and in recovery groups about eating disorders and my personal story. I tell others that there is hope. I want people to know that life without an eating disorder does exist and is so much better.

When I was struggling, I never met someone who was on the other side of an eating disorder, so I often thought recovery was impossible.

“Just Perfect”

If anyone had told me several years ago that everything would get better, I would have nodded while screaming disbelief inside my head. I thought things simply could not get better, that I’d be forever feel imprisoned in a dark room.

However, my greatest remedy is writing. My novel, Just Perfect, is based on the difficult times I’ve gone through. It took me more than three years to write, but it was definitely worth it. I wanted my work to inspire and help others by sharing my own struggles. I wanted to persuade people that they are not alone and that they, too, have a life worth fighting for.

Recovery as a Collective Process

“Every time you pick up food with your fork, your mouth opens.” This silly statement, made to me by a family member at a family function, was meant to be funny. Sarcasm, quips and dark humour were standard in my family. You laughed at the statements made about you and carried on. Everyone chuckled and that was the end of it—for everyone else.

But not for me.

One of the things that helps me retain a positive perspective is working with youth who are experiencing mental health and addiction issues, and their families—providing support to caregivers, young people and peers who are experiencing some of the same things that I have experienced. Being able to provide this support to someone who needs it makes me realize—in unexpected ways—how far I have come on my own recovery journey.

There isn’t a shortage of people who need a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on or a high-five for living the best day they could have lived under the circumstances. I feel blessed and deeply honoured when I can be there to give empathy to a struggling youth or a caregiver who has nothing left to give.

How I started to beat my eating disorder

Nat dreaded the thought of group therapy, but in the end supporting others helped her to look after herself.

I dreaded the thought of group therapy but the experience of hearing others talk about their problems really resonated with me. I learned through giving them advice how to be compassionate to myself and treat myself like a friend, and as the self-compassion increased, so did my weight.

Exercise, mental health & taking on Ride London

Clare blogs about her experience of eating problems and exercise and how taking on Ride London helped her find balance.

I put off fundraising at first. I didn’t want to let people down if I decided it wouldn’t be healthy to ride. But when I put up my fundraising page the support was amazing. Mind do brilliant things for so many people – and they helped me stay in work when I was having a really difficult time coming off Sertraline earlier this year.

Riding for Mind has helped me find a gentler joy in cycling again. I was proud to wear their logo on Sunday. And I’m doing my very best to make sure I eat and rest properly afterwards too.

Why I fundraise for Mind

Abby, from Llantrisant, explains why she decided to undertake a 22 mile challenge to join the fight for mental health.

I’ve suffered with mental health issues since my late teenage years, as I struggled with depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder.

Following several years of bullying, I lacked self-esteem, worried about my appearance and weight, worried about dealing with daily activities and at times felt completely worthless.

Sharing our experiences, offering support to others, and helping raise vital funds for charities like Mind is really important to me and is what keeps me determined to fight on.

We decided to walk 22 miles in 2022 for Mind, leaving our office in Nantgarw, taking the Taff Trail to Cardiff Bay and returning. I’m so proud of everyone who took part, and even prouder of the amazing £2304 raised by us all!

“I woke up feeling a dark cloud over me” – Sandeep’s story

Sandeep tells us about her journey to being diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and how she had tried to take her own life in 2014.

Since, Sandeep has become a Lived/Living Experience Mental Health Advocate sharing her story to help others suffering in silence and find hope with their mental health.

Being a British Asian woman, I also direct my mental health work to speaking out and supporting South Asian mental health issues and how we can collectively come together to combat the stigma and discrimination in this realm and really explore intersectionality and our identity.

People from Black and Asian minority ethnic backgrounds, worryingly, suffer higher rates of mental health problems than all other groups combined. As a British Indian Sikh Punjabi woman from London, it’s important to speak out and be a beacon of hope for others suffering in silence.