Oh Sh*t – there it is!!
That was exactly my thoughts the 1st time ‘my story’ was ever shared.
In 2012, my story was published in the Evening Express.
Middle page – double spread.
There was me, front and centre.
As well as a picture of my sister and I and another picture of when I received my 1st ever business award in London.
‘Yup, you did it Lee – there’s NO going back!!’
When you share something incredibly personal that you’ve purposefully kept secret not only from the world but also loved ones.
It’s a very uneasy and awkward feeling.
I remember wanting to crawl under a rock, worrying about what people would think and how they would judge me.
People that I knew who would read the paper.
They would now all know my eating disorder ‘secret’.
Then I reminded myself the reason WHY I was sharing it.
And after the flood of positive responses from both those who did and didn’t suffer from eating disorders.
I knew I’d made the right decision.
Over the years, it still feels ‘a little weird’ sharing it but the secrecy and stigma which gave my eating disorder power no longer exists!
Today marks the beginning of Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2024.
4 weeks today,
I’ll be arriving in Kathmandu ready to take on my journey from ‘rock bottom to the top of the world’ by summiting Mount Everest!!
If successful,
I’ll be making Everest and Scottish mountaineering history, becoming the 1st female from Aberdeen and only 7th ever female from Scotland to achieve this.
These are some incredible stats, however, the reason behind this challenge of a lifetime runs far deeper.
It’s the ultimate in overcoming all the tough times, enduring all the pain, surviving all the days I didn’t think I would and pulling myself back from all the dark places that engulfed and consumed me.
From my eating disorder, alcohol issues, depression, amongst other demons, the recovery process has been a long and extremely challenging process.
However, I’m here….I did it.
Despite not thinking I’d live to see my 18th birthday.
I’m about to turn 42 in a couple weeks, feeling mentally and physically stronger than I ever have in my entire life!!
The purpose of sharing this today is to hopefully reach out and help others who are suffering, to let them know and realise that recovery is possible.
That no matter how dim that light is at the end of the tunnel…it’s there!!
If I can change – you can change.
My best advice to help you do that, is to get the right kind of support and contact BEAT.
BEAT is the UK’s leading eating disorder charity which does incredible work all year round not only supporting sufferers but also friends and relatives of those with eating disorders.
You can find them on Instagram and Facebook.
You can also find more information on their website.
It may be the hardest, however the 1st stage of recovery is reaching out for help.
Whether you talk to a friend/family member or get in touch with BEAT, brave that first step – you don’t have to go through it alone.
Lee ‘raising awareness’ Donald x
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