Eating Disorders Awareness: How I'm Beating Anorexia

20th February 2012, 17:42

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As part of a special feature on Heart during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Cara from Ipswich tells us her story of struggling with Anorexia.

In support of Eating Disorders Awareness Week (20-26 February 2012), Suffolk’s community eating disorders team has vowed to help ‘break the silence’ surrounding the illnesses. 

The team, who are part of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, have provided adult community eating disorders services in Suffolk and Thetford since 2003.

Student Cara Moran, 24, from Ipswich, was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa when she was 17.

Cara said: “It can be really hard for people with eating disorders to ‘break the silence’. We are often perfectionists, which makes it really hard to admit something is wrong… but recovery is so worthwhile!

“My advice for anyone who thinks they might have an eating disorder is to ‘break the silence’. And not to ‘break the silence’ for your friends and family – but for yourself! You deserve a happy and fulfilling life and you shouldn’t let anything stop that. 

“I got the help I needed from the Trust to get me where I am today. I was severely depressed and suffered with anxiety but now I am at university, I live with my boyfriend and I am enjoying life. 

“Recovery is the hardest thing you’ll ever do but also the most rewarding. We all deserve to be happy and live our lives how we want, not how the eating disorder wants. 

“My life has changed dramatically since I broke the silence and asked for help; I’m happy, I’m confident, I’m alive. The eating disorder will always be there in the background but it will never again control me – I will be the one in control of it.” 

Hear Cara's story:

Cara's Story :

Related Articles:

http://www.heart.co.uk/norfolk/news/local/eating-disorders-awareness-week/