Q&A Series: Emma

Name: Emma 

Age: 25

Gender: Female 

Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed for my blog. The goal is to raise awareness about what eating disorders are and what sufferers go through. 

Q: Can you please tell me a little bit about yourself, and about the eating disorder you have?

A: I’m a primary teacher now but developed an eating disorder during college which became progressively worse during the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. 

Q: When did you realise you had issues with eating, and what did you do to seek help?

A: I realised I had an unhealthy relationship with food and my body when I was in 5th year of secondary school. I thought it was normal at the time, lots of people died all year round so I felt like I could justify skipping meals, cutting out food groups, tracking calories and working out more. However, it spiralled into anorexia during my time in college.

I knew I had issues but I wasn’t willing to admit it as I never felt sick enough to get professional help. I went to see my doctor as I had a few debilitating periods of intense stomach pain. It turned out to be appendicitis but at the time my doctor was checking for IBS and my answers to her prompting questions raised some red flags. She was concerned about my relationship with food and exercise yet I remained uninterested in seeking support for the problem until I finished college and realised I was no longer satisfied by the way my life was going. 

Q: Did you encounter any difficulties when seeking treatment?

A: Yes, initially a misdiagnosis with IBS led me to restricting and eliminating even more food groups. Also i had a pretty bad experience during a weight check up at a local public outpatient centre for mental health. Concluding my private session with a psychiatrist, I was led into a room of 4 or 5 doctors/nurses/students where I was weighed (weight was visible to me) and my weight was then shouted out across the room for someone else to record.

At the time I wasn’t supposed to even see my weight and I’m sure that would be a humiliating experience for anyone on a good day let alone someone in the middle of a relapse with anorexia. I did make a complaint and received an apology. Luckily my next visit went much better as they made notes on my file. However one would hope that staff would be more sensitive to their patients, it shouldn’t have to be said!

Q: What changes would you like to see in eating disorder services?

A: More access to services and more sensitivity training for staff working with people struggling with mental health would be fantastic. Recovery can be very expensive when you are paying for private counselling sessions or working with private nutritionists. More in-person support groups would also be beneficial.

Q: What is one thing you would like people to know about eating disorders?

A: While anorexia may begin as a diet or a conscious choice, it develops into an addiction - an addiction to the restriction of food, or overexercise. It becomes a compulsion, chasing the high of losing weight. It’s incredibly difficult to reach out for support so please listen to people when they speak up! An eating disorder is a mental condition with physical side effects. There is so much stereotyping of eating disorders so you may not be able to tell physically that someone is struggling with their mind. Be kind always. 

Q: What piece of advice would you give to someone who is struggling with an eating disorder?

A: Just tell someone you trust. Things will get better.