How did it all start? When did you first start experiencing symptoms or using?
The first time I chose to starve myself, I was thirteen years old. Since then, my life plummeted into a downward spiral of anorexia, depression, anxiety, and self harm.
What kind of help did you get at first? Did it work?
At first, I saw one therapist a week, but it clearly wasn’t enough. I’ve been to an IOP program and as of now, I see two individual therapists, one group therapist, and one family therapist.
Were there any turning points where things really started to change for the better?
I guess when I was sent to IOP [Intensive Outpatient Program] the experience as a whole opened my eyes up to how bad my disorders had gotten.
What’s your life like now? What have you been able to accomplish, and what are you working towards?
Today, I still suffer from the illnesses listed above, though I am on the road to recovery. I’m an aspiring author and I just finished my first official manuscript, Inside Her Plastic Skin. I’m currently in the process of getting it published.
What would you say to people who are having a tough time? What’s helped you that you wish you had known earlier
Reach out to those around you; you cannot fight these battles alone. Also, stay positive and remember — it WILL get better.
