disordered eating doesn’t have a ‘look’
I remember my 21st birthday party. It was a Friday night in February.
I got the dress I wore just a few days before. My nonna came with me to Highpoint to get it. I tried on so many dresses but was struggling to find one I liked. I landed on this beautiful lace one. I still love it. That dress, thankfully, only got one wear.
Why am I thankful that dress got one wear? Because my disordered eating was at its peak at that time, and it was that year that I made a decision to start prioritising my health over my appearance.
It was a couple of months after these photos were taken that I saw a GP. I learnt of the damage I had caused to my body and that it wasn’t getting any better.
I was so lost at that time in my life, it felt like everything was outside of my control. I turned to controlling the food I was eating and the movement I was doing to cope. This helped until it didn’t.
Even when I was struggling with my mental health, I smiled a lot…when I was in front of others. It would have only been my family that witnessed my constant frustration, bursts of anger, irritability, and sadness.
This post is a reminder that not all people struggling with body image and disordered eating will look sad, disappointed, and miserable. In a lot of cases, they will try and cover it up. Things will seem ‘fine’ on the outside.
Treat people with kindness, understanding, and give them space to share what is on their mind. Even if things look okay, they may not be.
If you or anyone you love is struggling with body image, you can reach out to The Butterfly Foundation. I also invite you to seek professional support through a registered counsellor or your GP (to get a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist). You don’t have to navigate things alone.
With joy,
