Hi, I'm Mio. I'm from Japan and currently studying massage& aromatherapy in Australia.

I have been suffering from eating disorder for almost 10 years and am recovering from it. It took so long time to get this point where I am now. I  became anorexic when I was 14 and had seen several doctors and caunselor in Japan, But none of them were helpful at all and I don't think they understand ED, or they didn't seem to care theirpatient at all. Because their attitude toward my treatment were so terrible, I couldn't trust them and stopped seeing them.

Also, even though I knew that I have problem, I couldn't identify my fear or why I couldn't eat as I always hated my body as I was so SKINNY. It was easier to ignore my problem and just hope Ed would go away someday. and pretended I was/would be  fine.

In May last year, I passed out from low blood sugar while i was sight seeing in Austrlia during my trip. The ambulance came& I had to stay in hospital for  1week until my mom came from Japan to pick me up as I was traveling alone.   The psychiatrist recommend one of hospital with eating disorder program in Austrlia and I decited to have treatment there as I was that hopless of japanese hospital & myself.I needed anyhelp.

I was adimitted in that hospital in Perth in Australia& hospitalized for 2-3 month, and was out patient for 1 month after that. I was sickest patient in the program but determined to do anything to get better. I had to change. It was very hard process as  I had to work twice harder than other girls, and because of the language difference and shyness, I couldn't communicate with them very well and was so lonly. But at the time I was leaving Perth after 4 monthe stay, I was totally defferent person both mentally and phsically. I was strong and more confident about myself, because of the progress I made, experiences I had, and  wonderful people Who I met there.

But after I went back to Japan I lost about 9kg even I kept eating pretty well. Iknew I shouldn't but couln't bring myself eat more.I felt I'm trapped when I was in Japan. I came back to Perth this May to study, and Started weightgain with help from my Pshychiatrist(?) and dieticain. I have gaind 7.5kg so far and still working on.

I have wasted long eanough time due to my ED , and I want & have to start enjoy my life again. And to those who are still in teenage( of course other perople too), Please keep fighting with ED until you  get stronger than him and eventually until he disappear. Because I only wish I had had started working on my problem earlier so that I could have life normal people have. It will get harder as longer period you have ED get. Sooner is better!!

sorry I wrote too long, but this is me.

P.S; I remember the thing what my psychiatrist said to me when I saw him for the first time. He said " I'll be your boss from now on because your ED is too stronger than you and you need someone stronger than him. But Eventually You have to become stronger than him  to control youself." Isn't that very impressive? So if you feel you can't resist to your ED voice, find someone you can trust and ask him/or her to be ED's boss until you get stronger.