***TRIGGER WARNING: eating disorders, mental illness, + body image.

This week’s episode is vulnerable, but I’m also honored to share my experience with all of you! I sat down with my sister Brynn to chat about our experiences with body image, disordered eating, and eating disorders. Brynn is a senior in high school who has recovered from Anorexia and Orthorexia. Our experiences are similar, yet different. Throughout junior high and high school we both struggled with disordered eating and eating disorders. My experience is different because I was not diagnosed at the time nor did I seek treatment. I struggle to put it into words still because part of me feels like it was “invalid” because I was not diagnosed or hospitalized at the time. Overall, I struggled through disordered eating bordering into Anorexia. Body image was always in the picture for us, but “eating disorders” seemed so extreme. They seemed like things that only happen to people far away or in movies. We were just “normal” teens eliminating sugar and fat and trying to be healthy. Just “normal” teens on a diet. Just “normal” teens exercising a few hours a day. Just “normal” teens whose biggest fear was gaining weight. Well...wasn’t that “normal”?

Years later for me, I had a rude awakening when Brynn ended up in the hospital because of her eating disorder. It was then that I started to get educated and seek out help. Eating disorders aren’t just “crazy” and “extreme” things that happen to a select few. They’re extremely common. Much more common than I would have ever imagined. As I dove into learning about my own experience I came to a lot of realizations about my own past at the same time as Brynn was just starting to heal.

I’m so grateful Brynn was willing to open up about this. It was an extremely vulnerable, yet incredible conversation with my sister and we hope if anyone is struggling this helps you feel less alone. Your experience is valid. Whether or not you’ve had a full blown eating disorder or struggle with thoughts about your own body image.

Here are some resources that have helped us through the years (a few of MANY):

@heytiffanyroe

@beauty_redefined

@neda

@mikzazon

@ownitbabe

Intuitive Eating by @evelyntribole

And of course THERAPY IS COOL! ;)

If this episode resonates with you we would love to hear from you! DM me @sideeyewithmadeye and share this episode with others!