Hi! My name is Danie van Kay
After years of endless therapy and being admitted in countless eating disorder clinics, I thankfully recovered from anorexia on my own after having being sick for nearly 10 years. Tabitha Farrar her vision was key in my own recovery, and still is in my coaching. If I can do it, so can you. It may sound like an impossible mission to you. But believe me, it isn't. Will you read along with my story?
I grew up as a reasonably happy, reasonably healthy child, who was extremely insecure. Pretty soon I started experiencing strange eating rules and restrictions. I wanted to lose weight! I tried every diet that existed. I became obsessed with calories, exercise and portion control. I lived at the gym and I was thinking of food non-stop. When I was 21, I went to college and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was getting better, but nothing could be further from the truth.
About 20 years ago I was bitten by a tick. My mom removed it and we thought all was well. Well, it was not. When I started studying I suddenly became very tired, I forgot everything and got terrible muscle pain. I tried to ignore it. There was something wrong with my body, but no doctor knew what was wrong. Until I was finally diagnosed: I had Lyme disease. I ended up in a wheelchair and before I knew it I was back in the arms of the monster called anorexia.
I lost control of my body. The only thing I thought I had control over was food. And with that I mean: not eating food. I'm very positive, but when you're always in pain and you don't enjoy anything anymore, it feels like life isn't worth it. After years, months, hours of working on myself with cognitive behavioral therapy, visiting eating disorder clinics, hospitals and more, I was exhausted. How could I ever recover from this?
At that moment something in me changed. I sat on the couch and watched Netflix, of course with Coca Cola LIGHT. I got such a terrible eye pain. I could not hold on any longer. I got in touch with someone who started working with me on this pain. After 3 months of hard work I started to notice small differences. It taught me that I was the only person who could make sure that I could recover. I had to repeat, work hard, persevere and above all: eat.
A few years later I had managed to gain weight. I was able to completely change my life. I now do things I never thought I could do. And I will always thank Tabitha Farrar for that. Recovering from an eating disorder may really feel impossible to you. But believe me, it is really possible. I promise you, if I can do it, you can too.