Today is the first day of NEDA Awareness Week! This week is dedicated to raising awareness about eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and OSFED's. You are strong. You can get through this. You can help others too. Don't be afraid to seek help because you deserve to recover. I am in recovery now, and the two pictures above of me represent how far I've come and the quote represents what the little everyday things can do to help you in recovery. Be good to yourself. 💫
I don't really know why I'm typing this or how to start, but I do know that this has been really difficult. To anyone else that's struggling with an eating disorder, whether it be binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia or EDNOS, just know that I'm rooting for you and I hope you are recovering in the best way possible. It's so tricky to navigate the world without those demons: from the negative self talk to that ED part of your brain that screams at you to "not eat" or to "be thinner". If you're taking steps in the right direction to combat those voices or those rules or whatever they may be, then good for you. You should be PROUD of yourself. I'm a college student that's been suffering from BED for about two years now. But, I began dieting and trying to stay thin since I was about 15. The first time I remember wondering if my weight was "too much" or that I compared it to my friends was in 5th grade (I was 10) and weighed 98 lbs. I suppose I've struggled with my body image since late middle school and well into high school; but my low self-esteem may go back even further to when I was bullied off and on for 7 years (from 3rd-10th grade) by [one girl mainly; but there were more at some points] girls that I thought were my friends / that were supposed to be [supposedly] my friends. Anyway, the point is: my life hasn't ever really been easy. And so, I get it. I understand that the struggles are very real and very dangerous for those with lower self esteem, body image issues, and eating disorders. I guess I just wanted to say that for all of you that are trying to recover, please continue on that journey. For all of those that are currently suffering, please consider getting help! You never know how far you'll go without help...but you do know what good can come from even just reaching out and taking that first step to say: "I have a problem." Well wishes and best of luck, Kari. ❤️
