Eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia, or binge eating, are some of the most prevalent psychological illnesses among young people. If you, your friend, or one of your family members is suffering from an eating disorder, you need to take action. This entry will provide resources to help you.
First of all, this Buzzfeed article contains 17 stories of eating disorder survivors. They talk about their discovery, trauma, treatment, and survival. I hope that these stories can tell patients that they are not alone and to have faith in treatment. The author says, “One thing is certain: Eating disorders do not discriminate. And all too often, they are neither obvious nor visible in presentation. All too often, they are stigmatized, or silenced altogether.” This YouTube video is another story from a survivor. The young woman encourages, “You can choose to beat this. You are strong enough. I am strong enough. You are beautiful enough, and I am beautiful enough.”
For those who are looking for online support, this website has users that share their experience, strength, and hope with each other so they may solve their common problems and help others to recover from their eating disorders. It provides online meetings, stories of others, literature on the disorder, etc.
Finally, the National Eating Disorders Association provides information and resources for people seeking help for themself and others.