This week is important to me. National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Awareness week. For those who dont know, its a disease that has ruled my life for the last 10 years. Ive been through recovery and relapse quite a few times over the years.
With my parents being there to support me through it all. Never judging me, never allowing me to give up on life. My mental state is healed, im ready to live my life and never look back. Im on the mend, after a nasty encounter with pneumonia causing my weight to plunge dramatically at the end of 2018. My body is the lowest weight its ever been but im gaining weight finally.
I no longer struggle with the demons in my head telling me to starve or purge. Those demons have been silenced by my love for life, my family, my art and my future. This week I speak up not for pity but because going through your life feeling cold, weak, tired, and hungry is no way for anyone to live their life. I want others to know they are not alone. Eating Disorders seem to be a taboo subject in South Carolina, something people try to dismiss. "It doesn't happen here..." I'm living proof it does. But im also living proof that you CAN beat it. You can get better. Suffering does not have to end with an early death. It can end with recovery and hope and a future.
I urge you to look at these photos a realize Eating Disorders are NOT a joke. They DO exist and I will never rest until help is more readily available in South Carolina.
The first 3 are high school. And the last is me at 23 after a long fight with pneumonia. I do not like how i look right now, i am not proud. But i am not afraid to speak out and be a voice for others.
