“And by the way, I have had an Eating Disorder” by June Alexander

“And by the way, I have had an Eating Disorder”

June Alexander, Author

To confront the stigma/rejection/misconceptions in our communities, including our health care systems, society, I believe we professionals need to stand up, as some already do, and say: “I have all these qualifications and have worked hard on my career, and by the way, I have had an eating disorder”.

There are ethical concerns of course, and responsibility and self-care is vital – one needs to be able to say “I need time out to care for myself right now” when lapse symptoms first appear. It is far better to take action early and nip a lapse in the bud, than to try ignoring the symptoms because we are afraid of what our family, friends or peers might say, and then succumb to a full-blown relapse. It is okay to take action early with other illnesses, without feeling shame or stigma; it needs to be okay for people with eating disorders, too.  

Openness is essential

To know that you can have an eating disorder and have a full and rewarding career, be a wonderful parent, be whoever you want to be, is a message we need to get out. Recovery from an eating disorder requires a lot of courage from self; and for best results, to maintain recovery, it requires openness and acceptance in a village of people who understand and who care.

We hear a lot of stories about people who are suffering the illness, Anorexia in particular (because it is the most graphic for media). To counter this we need a lot more stories from people who have recovered and as a result of their personal struggle, they are celebrating life deeply, meaningfully, and are able to offer empathy and support in a way that those without experience of the illness may never know.
I say that we need to ‘normalise’ eating disorders – they are part of life, and need to be acknowledged openly and in the light. This is the best way of reducing their impact, of reducing the stigma, the fear, the loneliness, the isolation and the illness itself.

• This article is drawn from my blog: http://www.junealexander.com/2014/05/the-cost-of-hiding-an-eating-disorder-pretending-you-are-okay/#sthash.ppyMhbVC.dpuf

For more about my work, see http://www.thediaryhealer.com

June Alexander from Australia is a writer and international award-winning advocate in the field of eating disorders. She developed anorexia nervosa at age eleven in 1962, an illness that has largely shaped my life. Today she is a non-fiction storyteller, with a special passion for the diary. My latest title, Using Writing as a Therapy for Eating Disorders—The Diary Healer, is the main component in my Ph.D. in Creative Writing. June has been a member of the World Eating Disorders Day Steering Committee since inception!