Eating disorders are one of the lesser talked about mental health issues, yet they are also one of the most deadly. 10% of those diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa will die within 10 years of this diagnosis.
One of my dearest friends was diagnosed with Anorexia eight years ago, though she has had the disorder for nine years. Laura Ingram, only 18, has struggled for half of her life with this disease. A small girl whose glasses are bigger than she is, she's an accomplished writer, and a major One Direction fan. She is very loved, and it's hard for all of her friends to see her getting sicker and sicker. I'm the piggy back expert, and carry her for her enjoyment as well as keeping her from exhausting herself to the point of passing out. While she was on campus we'd see an ambulance outside our dorm, and we would run to the third floor to check on her. She would pass out in classes, or collapse in the stairwell where one or two of us would wait until she recovered for up to an hour at a time. She's become fragile enough that she'll bruise from a firm handshake or a hug even. Though currently on medical leave, we all hope for this little hurricane to come back in the fall, though we worry if her health will allow it.
As I mentioned earlier, Laura is more than her disorder. Her poetry has been nationally published over 20 times and she is an avid fan of One Direction. Her favorite member of the band is Harry Styles, and she defends their music fiercely. "Their music just makes me feel happy," she said in her recent article about them. She goes on to say that "The stigma against boy bands is in no way benign; even the most pretentious people enjoy some facet of bubblegum pop when there's a long way home..." Laura fights for what she believes and loves to challenge her friends to fight her, though she's too sick to be able to take the challenge herself.
A few of us have taken it upon ourselves to try to get her idols to visit her, and have created a petition on change.org as well as a twitter account and hashtag with the sole purpose of getting the band to acknowledge our cause. We believe a visit from them will not only cheer her on, but also be the catalyst for her recovery and an impetus of a broader discussion about eating disorders. Most people don't know very much about this illness. Mental disorders have always had a difficult time getting media attention, though issues such as depression and anxiety are making headway on the public conscious of these issues, but on eating disorders, the world is still silent, and its in silence that these disorders thrive.
I was told once that everyone knows someone with an eating disorder, whether they're aware of it or not, and I believe it. Mental illnesses are more common than people generally realize. I myself didn't know many of my closest friends struggled with mental health until as recently as last year.
Don't let the silence consume our loved ones: start the conversation.
