A perfect recipe and an odd motivation to recover

Growing up a dancer, perfectionist, academic, high achiever I was the stereotypical recipe for an eating disorder. I remember being as young as 7 being conscious of my body. It wasn’t until I began high school that anorexia took hold. In months I became awfully sick. A teacher rang my mum expressing her concern and sure enough the following week I was receiving inpatient care. I spent the next 6 years in and out of hospital, a stranger to my friends and family. The golden years of my life were stolen by a monster and I will never be able to get it back, to this day that saddens me. So what was the reason I recovered? The HSC. Yes, the high achiever in me, the one that got me into the mess in the first place, was the same reason why I worked at recovery. I knew that I couldn’t sit those exams in the condition I was in and I knew my whole future was at stake. In year 11 I concentrated my energy on nourishing my body. It was a bumpy road, one filled with fear and uncertainty. In year 12 I graduated with a 96 ATAR and was accepted into my dream university course, radiography. All this time I hated doctors, after all they were the ones treating me when I didn’t want to be treated. Looking back now I realise they were saving me. Today I’m in my second year of medical school and I’m an advocate for eating disorder awareness. In my actions and my career I aspire to uplift those around me to be the support person I needed when I was younger. I’m recovering every day, I’ve formed a healthy relationship with my body and my positive affirmations provide gentle assistance with that. I never imagined myself where I am today and if I had seen my future self when I was younger I’d think she was a boss girl! Recovery is possible, and it’s so worth it!