I spent much of my adult years living in the tight grasp of anorexia. She stepped into my life when I needed her and gave me safety in an uncertain world. I believed that she would be with me forever.
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In my early 30s, I reached a point where my relationship with anorexia became unsustainable. I had to step away from the work I was so passionate about and reassess what I truly wanted my life to look like. It is with gratitude that I can now say that I hold anorexia at a distance. I lead a full life with my family in Ōtepoti Dunedin, and I am the closest to freedom that I have ever been. But I didn’t walk this path alone. Without the love, compassion, and tenacity of my mum and husband, I would not be where I am today.
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Unlike most other countries in the OECD, there is no charity supporting affected individuals living with eating disorders in Aotearoa. Not only does this gap put pressure on an already overstretched health system, but it means there is no one challenging the status quo. More importantly, it leaves those with eating disorders feeling isolated, forgotten, and without hope. I believe that everyone is worthy of compassionate support, and this should never be dependent on the version of “recovery” they are moving towards.