


People within the BIPOC community are half as likely to be diagnosed or received treatment as their white counterparts, and by some estimates, may be more likely to suffer from eating disorders.Įating disorders have among the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. They got treatment, but the eating disorder was still lurking.Īs a journalist, I set out to research eating disorder recovery and quickly came across figures indicating that even in the best of circumstances where, like me, someone is diagnosed, has access to health care, and gets evidence-based treatment. I wondered what was wrong with me that treatment didn’t “stick.” And then I started talking with other women, who told me their experiences were the same. It’s not something I talked about because it was embarrassing. In the years that followed, I’ve had more relapses than I care to count, returning to those behaviors like an old, bad influence friend in times of stress, sadness, or feeling out of control in another area of my life.

For a time, therapy helped end my most harmful behaviors, but I wasn’t equipped with much to sustain recovery. Read More: Coronavirus Presents New Challenges For Those With Eating Disorders - Here’s How Survivors Are Seeking Out Support Online
