“YOUR mental health matters, and OUR mental health matters”
Mental health is still one of the most stigmatized topics in the world; when in reality, it’s one of the most important topics in the world. My name is Skye and I am currently a sophomore in highschool. I am, unquestionably, an advocate for mental health awareness, especially because I’ve struggled heavily with it myself. I’ve always struggled with body image, comparing myself to others, feeling unworthy, and people pleasing. Throughout elementary and middle school, I would force myself to go on the new crash diet and exercise every single day, which was definitely not sustainable or healthy whatsoever. It wasn’t until the summer going into eighth grade when I started to develop orthorexia. I made sure to only eat “clean” and healthy foods every single day and I never, in a million years, would’ve allowed myself to eat a piece of candy. My orthorexia quickly transformed into anorexia. I tracked every morsel of food that I put into my body, forced myself to exercise for hours on end, and isolated myself because I was too scared of the food situations at family gatherings and birthday parties.
I lived like this for about a year until my family noticed how much my mental and physical health was declining. I started seeing a therapist and a dietician which helped me immensely. However, it took me a very long time to actively start working towards recovery and taking it seriously. It wasn’t until the very beginning of quarantine that I started my instagram account, @choosing.wellness. I wouldn’t trade anything in the world for the connections that I have formed with people who are struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating all around the world. The community has made me feel so much less alone, has encouraged me to choose recovery, and has inspired and motivated me to become an advocate for mental health and mental illnesses.
I’m currently on the road to recovery and am doing so much better mentally and physically. I no longer take any problem I have out on myself. I give myself grace. I deal with it in a healthy way: journaling, meditating, talking to my friends, family, or my therapist. I now have the food freedom I never thought I'd ever have. I now have the ability to spend time with my family and go on spontaneous ice cream dates with my friends. I now have the ability to focus on topics other than food and my body. I now have self respect for myself. I now am thankful for the body I have been given. I now have the energy to dance around in my room. I now have the knowledge and empathy to inspire and motivate others into recovery. I now can live the life I have always wanted to live, eating disorder free.
With that being said, I think there is still much work to be done in the world for eating disorder awareness. For example, almost everywhere you go, you will see or hear some form of diet culture. Whether that be someone saying, “I’m getting X because it’s the lowest calorie item on the menu” or “You should probably stop eating that ice cream, you're getting too big” or “I feel so guilty for eating this.” Regardless if we notice it or not, diet culture has been ingrained in us for almost our entire lives. When we were babies, I guarantee we weren’t thinking, “My legs are too fat” or “I need to start eating healthy so I can lose weight.” We were born intuitive eaters. Our society tells us that skinnier = better. If diet culture didn’t exist, intuitive eating would simply be called “eating.” It’s time society stops making people feel unworthy just because they are in a bigger body. MY mental health matters, YOUR mental health matters, and OUR mental health matters.
Story shared by Skye L. Follow her along on IG here!
