Written by Riya Dharne
Eating disorders aren’t always about weight loss. Sure, that may be a contributing factor, but that’s not all there is to it. My story will reflect how one eating disorder can take the form of another over time.
Trigger warning for binge eating, bulimia and self-harm. If you suffer from an eating disorder please seek help; it is always better to seek help before you reach a point where it may be too late.
A little background
Until I was 12 years old (2013), the only two things I knew about myself was that I was really good at academics and that I was very different from others. Everyone as old as me seemed to be Human 2.0. Most of my childhood was spent alone or with children who looked down upon me in school.
Our family moved to another neighbourhood shortly afterwards and I suddenly had to adjust to spending time with people in the same age group, who were pros at everything. I was just not like them, and was clueless as to how to act both in school and society and how to deal with all the criticism that surrounded me.
I was at a very healthy weight then but would regularly be informed about how fat my thighs were; how much my stomach bulged; how oily, dark and acne infested my skin was etc. Soon I started harbouring an unhealthy habit of sucking in my stomach all the time, even when I was alone. Maybe I did it more to assure myself about being thin rather than appearing thin to others.
The binge eating
To deal with all of this, I started resorting to emotional eating which, as time passed, became extremely uncontrollable. I would eat everything I could find when nobody was around. I would hide the wrappers and feel extremely guilty about it. To add to all of this, I would get yelled at daily for being a “thief”, having no control, acting like a pig, and being extremely fat (which I knew I wasn’t).
Everyone would complain how food could not be brought into the house because I would steal it. At times, they would throw food in the garbage or on the floor because that was better than me eating it.
Though I was not fat, my self-esteem continued to suffer and I struggled constantly with body dysmorphia.
My “inability to control”
It had been 6 months since I was put on psychiatric drugs for other mental health issues I was facing. Binging wasn’t considered because it was just my “inability to control” myself. I was told it did not bear any severe short term negative consequences like other eating disorders. Weren’t they wrong!
The Bulimia
There’s a drop,
in the load on the weighing scale
but that on my shoulders,
has surely increased.
they used to laugh,
hurling their mean remarks
as to how undesirable
I was,
my body being the evidence.
now,
they clap,
announcing me their idol.
as I could slip into crop tops now.
they no longer felt,
the need to point out
and remind me of
how much I eat,
everytime I took another bite ,
as that bite
hardly piled on my body,
little did they know
that it didn’t move past
the stomach either.
the secret hours
bent over the toilet,
flushing away those calories,
the secret hours,
spent in pain,
into the black hole of self starvation,
that made me hate food,
and everyone that consumed it,
somehow rendered me a success.
The psychiatric drugs significantly lowered my metabolism and increased my appetite. I was gaining weight rapidly and no amount of exercise was making a difference. I began to self-harm more.
Things took a turn for the worst when I made myself purge for the first time. I promised myself it would be the last time, but it wasn’t.
A few weeks later I read about all the terrible consequences of making myself vomit so often, so I started starving myself instead. For two weeks I barely ate anything and exercised like a crazy person. This was not about being thin anymore; this had replaced cutting as a new form of needing control. Every time the scale told me I had dropped kilos or I was complemented, I felt like I wasn’t a complete loser in at least one area of my life.
As months passed, cycles of binging, purging and starving continued. It got to a point where my food portion had reduced drastically, and yet I made myself vomit each and everything I ate.
Soon, getting out of bed was hard. I could barely read three words and make sense of it. The idea of eating scared me. This time I was hiding food so I wouldn’t eat it.
Recovery
At the point of being bedridden, I concluded I had to make a decision; did I want to fit into those crop tops at the cost of my life or did I want to conquer my life again, lift weights again and in short be able to function again? I knew I wanted me life back, and I was determined.
Now what my weight was or how I looked held no value for me. The very fact that my body was supporting me despite how I abused it made me love it.
I started getting other people to serve me food in proper quantity. I tried to not look down at the quantity and kept myself distracted while I ate, forcing myself to swallow every bite. I stopped taking the medicines that were making me gain weight.
Journal Entry – 21st January 2018
“I get to hear what a hog I am and how I am blowing up, and today the guilt took over and hence I made myself puke again.
But it’s okay. Tomorrow I’ll wake up with a new energy. It’ll be another fight but I’ll definitely make it through, and I will win!”
Out of the 10 kilos I had dropped, I gained back 3 and for the first time in my life I was overjoyed by the fact that I had gained weight!
Now I am at a healthy weight and love my body. I don’t have to purge or starve. All I had to do was to be content and grateful for what I have, and of course health, not how I looked in shorts, became my priority.
Eating disorders need to be taken seriously. Just because we aren’t underweight or hospitalized does not mean that we do not deserve help. The more we open up and seek help, the more doors will be open for others looking for help.
Image credit: congerdesign
Riya Dharne is a 17 year old who is passionate about mental health and social causes. She also loves books and dogs. She has suffered from mental health issues and has helped herself by taking her healing into her own hands. She wants to do her best to create a world where most people are mentally healthy and are treated the way they deserve to be treated.
Vinod Nair
I am really impressed by your maturity & your will power to fight. Well written article.
I am sure you will fight with the same tenacity to overcome all odds in future.
With best Wishes & Good Luck!
riya dharne
Thank you so much that means a lot!
best of luck to you, hope all your endeavors are successful!
Rajini
Hi nice Rhea .. I know a lot of kids including my daughter who has gone thru this state … god bless u dear
riya dharne
Hi, thank you!
I hope your daughter and other children who have gone through this are healthy now.
take care!
Usha Thomas
What an amazing story. Most of us go through this phase in life but never realise and understand why. I am delighted that you not only realized and made a come back. All the best my dear Rhea. You are always in my prayers and reading this felt assured that miracles do happen n prayers are always answered in the manner God wants. Three cheers n lots of love and hugs. Usha aunty
riya dharne
Thank you so much! I feel blessed to be in your prayers, there can be nothing more valuable than this!
If we believe things can work out, they will!
Lots of love,
Riya
Rajan Siva Kumar
Riya you are a fighter and keep doing it , it doesn’t matter what other think of us, everything will pass. Finally it is our own body and soul we should be worried about not the comments by people who know nothing about us. Concentrate on your studies and career and see all past buried in your beautiful future. All the very best, be a inspiration
riya dharne
Thank you so much, I’ll always keep your words with me!
Best wishes,
Riya
Jai Dujari
Dear Riya
Congratulations for what you are now After lots of turmoil in your life at this tender age
It is your hard work firm determination and sacrifice of your mother which has really brought you at this level
Keep it up and God bless you
Jai Dujari
riya dharne
Thank you! I feel the only place turmoil can exist is in our minds and since it is the only tool we really possess, it’s important that it works to our liking.
I am indeed blessed to have my mother by my side!
lots of love,
Riya
Sonia
Hi Riya. .you are a very courageous person and am so glad you’ve managed to come out of it. . Loads of luck to you and may all your aspirations come true
riya dharne
Thank you so much, wish the same for you!
Jayaram Radhakrishnan
Hi Riya,
It takes a brave person to open up and share something as personal as this. Impressed with the matter of fact writing. Keep going….God bless.
riya dharne
Thank you, after all we are all we own and we are nowhere near perfection.
Ramkumar
Hi riya, so super smart to be able to catch on and deal with this head on …. now that to me speaks of who you are and how you are going to deal with other challenges that life is sure to throw at us …..key is continuing to keep a handle on it and perhaps being an inspiration for a whole lot of other youngsters ….good luck and keep smiling.
Riya dharne
Thank you! After all there is more that we can learn from the challenges we face than what we have to deal with.
Vibha Bafna
Riya, I was touched by your story but all the same I am proud that you have taken your life in your own hands and are dealing with things in such a mature way. I am sure your story will be an inspiration to many youngsters like you!! Way to go Rhea!
Riya dharne
Thank you, I’m honoured that you have read my article!
Vibha Bafna
Rhea, I am really proud of you! , keep going
Gauri.
I am extremely proud of you for telling your story, it is not an easy task and you have done it very elegantly!
Riya dharne
Thank you so much, it means a lot!
Riya dharne
Thank you, it’s easy because of people like you!
Dr Yajyoti Singh
Very inspiring and mature analysis of your journey. A must read for children who are going through it. Very proud of you dear , may god bless you always.
riya dharne
thank you!