Recovering bulimic says she was triggered by going to the DOCTOR after he made crude remarks about her weight and reveals the one remark that made her feel 'so small'
- Jade Ebony Morris, 25, from Cairns has been battling bulimia for past six years
- She has seen huge improvements and her focus has been on health and fitness
- Triggering comment from doctor sent her spiraling and brought back old habits
A young woman has opened up about her ongoing battle with bulimia and revealed the simple question a doctor asked that almost destroyed her.
Jade Ebony Morris, 25, from Cairns, has worked hard to overcome her eating disorder, which she says began when she was 19.
During the past two years the disability support worker has managed to change her thinking to focus less on what the scales say and more on her health and fitness.
However, two weeks ago, while visiting her GP for a medical certificate, the doctor mentioned that she looked like she had put on weight.
The comment sent her spiraling and she started restricting how many calories she was consuming. She also began weighing herself every day.
Jade Ebony Morris, 25, from Cairns, has worked hard to overcome her eating disorder, which she says began when she was 19
During the past two years the disability support worker has managed to change her thinking to focus less on what the scales say and more on her health and fitness
'I'd seen this doctor once before, he took one look at my file and I don't know what he saw, it must've had a comment about having an eating disorder and he must've just thought weight gain was a positive,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
'Literally his first words were ''oh, you've out on weight''.
'I was like ''oh, have I? I've just been on holiday for three weeks''.'
Share this article
The doctor then grabbed a set of scales and made her weigh herself.
'I knew it was going to make me feel unconformable but I did it. And it just made me feel so small.
'I couldn't even believe what happened. I have not stopped thinking about.'
Ms Morris, who has battled bulimia for the past six years, admits her eating disorder is an ongoing struggle.
Two weeks ago, while visiting her GP for a medical certificate, the doctor mentioned that she looked like she had put on weight
The comment sent her spiraling and she started restricting how many calories she was consuming. She also began weighing herself every day
She said food still controls her life, it even controls if she goes to social events but she has had to learn techniques to manage the issue.
Ms Morris said she doesn't weigh herself anymore as it can be triggering.
'I've been very weight focused and it's only in the past two years that I started got educated with the importance of eating and my focus is no longer weight base.'
She said when the doctor commented on her weight, it sparked her old bad habits.
Ms Morris said she cried on her way home from the doctors office and spent the next two weeks starving herself in the hopes of seeing the number on the scale drop.
'It's just amazing how one comment can make it feels like it's all undone.'
Ms Morris says her eating disorder started when she was 19. She had just broken up with her long-term boyfriend
Ms Morris said she cried on her way home from the doctors office and spent the next two weeks starving herself in the hopes of seeing the number on the scale drop
'I'm in a better mind frame now but I still have that thought in the back of my mind', she said
After speaking to friends about what had happened she said she managed gain perspective and is now back to eating a healthy amount of food.
However, the thought that she has gained weight still lingers in her mind, she said/
She believes the doctor thought what he was doing was positive but said he had gone the wrong way about it.
'I think they need to consider everyone on a multi-dimensional level, people need to be more educated about the sensitivities to prevent this from happening further.'
*If you need help or support for an eating disorder or body image issue, please call Butterfly's National Helpline on 1800 334 673 or e-mail support@thebutterflyfoundation.org.au*
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
We are no longer accepting comments on this article.
