Eating disorders are a serious, complex, isolating, and an often-misunderstood mental illness. Eating disorders can not only cause the person to suffer extreme emotional turmoil and anguish but also physical health issues ranging from a loss of period, poor digestion, insomnia, heart attacks, organ failure, and in some extreme cases sometimes death.  While on the surface an eating disorder might present itself as purely a food, or body image issue it is so much more than that. A lot of people suffering from eating disorders are struggling with: 

- Finding their identity – who are they outside of the behaviors they were once (possibly still are) praised for.

  - Coping strategies – feeling out of control in other areas of life and use controlling food as a meal to feel ‘safe’

 - People-pleasing – you like me with the disorder, how could you like me without it?

 - Being shunned – the feeling they will be shunned from their community or tribe of people if they were to change eating behaviors, gain weight or exercise differently. It is important to realise that this is a very real threat to the person suffering despite potential outsiders thinking it’s a ‘silly thing to think’

   - Other health conditions – some people experience extreme digestive disturbance which has led them to be fearful to eat because of what could happen.  I could continue to list more but I think this is a good starting point to creating more awareness.  

 In this podcast, we not only discuss the delicate and complex nature of an eating disorder but also what the recovery journey can look like for those suffering. We also discuss the positive and negative influences of friends and family as well as weight restoration not being the ultimate sign of recovery.  If you are currently struggling (or have in the past) with an eating disorder I hope by listening you realise that you are not alone, and that there are people out there who can help you through this difficult time.

  If you are not struggling with an eating disorder, I thankyou for taking the time to read this post, listening to the podcast, and doing your best to understand the complex yet delicate nature of an eating disorder.  

 I look forward to many more powerful conversations with the wonderful Jacqueline Byrne.  @wings_and_quill http://www.wingsandquill.com/   @jadee.cameon https://linktr.ee/jade.cameron