I ate Cake at my Brother’s 36th Birthday
By: Carey Cronin
In February we celebrated my brother’s 36th birthday and were able to go out to buy gifts and make a cake…yes, I ate cake at my brother’s birthday celebration. At the beginning of March, we were on a stay at home order in effect until further notice. The only places we were allowed to go was to the grocery store and the pharmacy.
For the first time ever we were wearing masks and learning what about COVID-19, and how deadly it is. We are also learning how COVID-19 relates to telehealth in terms of treating those with eating disorders. COVID-19 is not ideal for those with eating disorders as it gives room for possible relapse.
I have struggled with Anorexia Nervosa for more than 20 years. Eating disorders and mental illness run in my family. I grew up in a divorced family that put a lot of strain on my life growing up. My parents’ disagreements, I believe, affected the development of my eating disorder.
The fact I pulled myself out of the grips of an eating disorder was pure luck as we know how fatal eating disorders can be. I wanted recovery more than life itself. I wanted to live a life without my eating disorder.
I have been in recovery for many years now, and have fought hard to get where I am today…it wasn’t easy, but definitely worth it. Being at home also meant my recovery was being tested, but I was not willing to give up what I worked so very hard to maintain throughout the years.
Life with an eating disorder is not living. Having a history with an eating disorder does not mean I am the exception to COVID-19. The stay at home order has been hard on me, my family, and my friends.
Recovery taught me to be patient with myself and listen to what my body needs. I have practiced what I learned from many years of treatment during the pandemic stay at home order. I have used my coping skills such as writing daily, affirmations, working on an Altered Art Journal. Being an extrovert and needing my friends has put me in small waves of depression. One thing I have done to help manage my depression is to have weekly Zoom sessions with friends where we get together, laugh, play card games, and have fun. That is something we all need in this difficult time as we are all in this together.
Today, I am happy to say I am truly living life without my eating disorder and I will not let COVID-19 stop me from finding my purpose, dreams, and passions. I advocate for eating disorders and mental health as this is my way of giving back to what I have been through.
At times I still struggle with anxiety when I go to the grocery store having to find a new normal in wearing a mask, but I know that I need to nourish my body properly and I will not let the anxiety win. I eat when I’m hungry and stop when I’m full.
The key to my recovery was finding professionals that knew how to properly treat eating disorders. I had read about evidence-based treatment and how it works and I knew I wanted that to be a part of my treatment plan.
Our community is slowly opening up in response to the virus, and in order to protect my health, I remain at home with my family. Finding distractions has helped me get through this difficult time such as reading books that interest me, watching movies, and playing with my three-year-old niece. Life is worth living and so are you!
About Carey
Carey graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in Business Marketing. Carey volunteers her time advocating for mental health and eating disorders and has been active with World Eating Disorders Action Day for four years. Carey is certified in Mental Health First Aid for the State of Oklahoma and in her spare time, you can find her reading a good book and playing with her little niece.
World Eating Disorders Action Day
World Eating Disorders Action Day is taking place across the world on June 2, 2020. For the 5th year running, this grassroots campaign brings together ALL OF YOU from more than 50 countries and over 250 organizations around the globe to increase awareness about EDs and evidence-based treatment. EDs are life threatening, brain-based disorders, with genetic linkages and metabolic factors. They are also possible to treat, especially when identified and treated EARLY.
Join us in sharing the information posted on this page, and the stories we share! We welcome stories of up to 800 words – that help to break stigma by sharing your experiences, and particularly how you have been impacted by, and are coping with the challenges of, COVID19. Also, keep checking the website www.worldeatingdisordersday.org for news of events.
To submit your story for this blog, write to: worldeatingdisorderday@gmail.com and june@junealexander.com
Remember to #StaySafe #StayHome and #ShareYourStory