Hi, my name is Heather and I would like to share my story with you in hopes that it will inspire you to get help for yourself or someone you know.
It all started in spring of 2011. I was a senior in high school, just about to graduate. I started feeling depressed, and although I should have been excited about graduating, I wasn’t. I started getting a feeling of depression that wouldn’t go away, and it gradually got worse.
I knew something was wrong, but I just shrugged it off.
I remember my body image getting worse. I thought I could just go on a diet and lose a few pounds. I started restricting, which then turned to skipping meals…
I was losing weight, but I still felt miserable and depressed. Whatever the number, it wasn’t low enough.
A few close friends started to notice what was going on and they all were concerned that I had an eating disorder, but I thought there was no way I had one and denied it.
As the months went by, I became more and more depressed and continued to lose weight. It got to the point where I started to cut for the first time.
At the end of December 2011, I confided in a close friend of mine who had gone through self-harm before. My friend told me she had to tell my parents, but I was terrified about them finding out. I tried everything to stop her from telling them but nothing worked. Another friend told my mom about the eating disorder, so then my parents knew everything that was going on.
In January of 2012, my parents brought me to see a therapist, which led me to see a doctor who eventually recommended a treatment center for eating disorders. I saw the dietitian there for a couple months and they decided to send me to residential treatment.
About a week prior to going into residential, I had made a plan to overdose on meds. I told a couple friends who told my parents and then I had to go to the ER. They recommended getting treatment and having my meds out of my reach.
I spent May until July in treatment. I made great friends and learned amazing coping skills.
It was hard work, but totally worth it.
As I became healthier, I became happier and my depression began to fade.
Leaving treatment was a hard transition and I relapsed pretty badly, but I continued to get treatment through therapy and dietitian appointments, and eventually I started to get better again.
I am now on the road to recovery.
I hope you choose the road to recovery; it isn’t easy, there are bumps along the road, but it is so worth it!
There is light at the end of the tunnel, believe me. Almost two years ago I would have never thought I would get through all of this, but I did, and I still am learning to get through this all!
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