It is widely recognized that there is stigma towards mental health (vs. physical health) problems. The perception is that many people with psychological disorders somehow “choose” to have them, that it's their “fault” for being “weak,” that they could just “pull themselves up by the bootstraps” and “snap out of it” if they wanted to, and that they deserve less empathy overall.
Blood, sweat, and tears. That’s what it takes to become a champion, right?
And then what? After you push yourself until you drop, after you win, after you abuse your body and mind to get to that one place you are so determined to get to, then what? Will happiness appear?
When I was struggling with my own eating disorder it became very clear to me that not a lot of people understood what I was going through, and when I was brave enough to talk about my illness, I felt insecure because of the stigma that having an eating disorder brought. There was a time I didn’t believe recovery would be possible for me. When I felt isolated and alone, I turned to NEDA for the encouragement to keep going when things got tough.
I firmly believe in the power of sharing our stories — it creates trust, openness, and genuine connection in a community of people who, more often than not, feel isolated and alone. When we see something with which we can relate to in another, we are more likely to connect with and learn from that person. I also believe that change cannot happen when we are completely comfortable, which is why I encourage leaning into that uncomfortability — both in their recovery and in life.
