When I told my friends and family that I was dieting for my wedding, no one batted an eye. That statement didn’t seem out of the ordinary. In fact, it felt more like an assumption or expectation.
Unfortunately, that’s what diet culture – or the over-glorification of weight loss – is doing.
Studies have shown that individuals with an eating disorder are far more likely to develop or have a coexisting substance use disorder.1,2Sadly, this isn’t a surprising statistic and could have been me at the height of my eating disorder in college. I used food as a coping mechanism, so why not alcohol?
The summer of 2019, was the summer I thought my eighteen year old self was achieving and becoming my best self- three months of 'working hard' only turned around to be the most challenging time of actually becoming my best self, full circle.
The first time I drank, I got black out drunk. At a college Halloween party, I did my best to keep up with my older friends. Shot by shot, I felt more and more accomplished, finally outside my own head. I took selfies with friends and danced unashamedly in only a bodysuit and fishnet. In those moments, gone were the days of isolation, longing, and self-loathing. It was then I proved to myself that I, a sad girl, could have fun.
That was how I lived. Something upset me? Just forget about it. Afraid of conflict in setting boundaries? Don’t make them. Worried about gaining weight? Don’t eat. My whole existence revolved around those three solutions. When I found myself burnt out and broken starting my last year of college, I stayed true to my system. Only now, we were back in person after the pandemic. I lived away from home and was able to self-medicate however I saw fit.
As we celebrate National Volunteer Week (April 16-22), I want to express my deepest gratitude to the incredible volunteers who have dedicated their time, energy, and expertise to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).
Everyone knows a picky eater—maybe even an extremely picky eater—but few are familiar with the term ARFID, even as it gains recognition in the medical and psychiatric communities.
The picky eater I knew was my own nephew, now a twenty-five-year-old adult.
Humans are storytellers. Universally, we seek to foster understanding and harmony with one another through sharing our experiences and knowledge. Together, we are made stronger through these stories and discover new ways to communicate across divides. In this spirit, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is partnering with YouTube to produce a 52-week year long series of videos entitled “Excerpts from the Experts.”
