Jake Ferguson – a non-binary adult from Northern Ireland – has shared their story of recovery from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa through a powerful and emotional video in a bid to inspire others to seek help.
In the UK, at least 1.25 million people are living with an eating disorder – at least one in 50 people. From 24 February – 2 March its Eating Disorders Awareness Week and the theme is ‘anyone can be affected by an eating disorder’.
Jake, now 26 and living in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, struggled with disordered eating for over 10 years before seeking help.
Jake, who is non-binary and has also lived with borderline personality disorder for four years, wanted to share their story to offer hope to anyone else who might be struggling. “It feels important to me to use my voice to make the most of my lived experience.”
“I began restricting my intake when I was about 14 or 15 years old. I swung between restricting my eating and comfort eating. It didn’t seem that weird to me at the time but on some unconscious level I knew what I was doing wasn’t good for me.”
Jake’s problems escalated when they came to study at the University of Leeds. “I think food became a coping mechanism. It was the first time I’d had an unlimited supply. I was suddenly the one who had to decide what I ate every single day rather than my parents making decisions.
“In my third year some people said that I gained a lot of weight. For the first time I suddenly became really aware of my weight, so I decided to eat healthier. But it became a slippery slope into a lot of restrictive eating.”
Eventually Jake was going days without eating and their mental health started to significantly deteriorate. Jake went to see a GP and was referred to CONNECT – the adult NHS eating disorder service for West Yorkshire.
“I loved the staff at CONNECT. They were so supportive, kind and compassionate. They never judged me. I was encouraged to go at my own pace and challenge the behaviours that were causing my problems.”
Jake’s relationship with food is now much healthier. “I’m on a journey of recovery. For example, I might go to a restaurant, and I just catch myself ordering something without even thinking about it. I just live my life the way I want to live it and how I used to live it.
“It’s been helpful and affirming for me to hear directly from people who’ve experienced an eating disorder. It makes you feel so much less alone, and you realise that what you feel is normal and that others have been exactly where you are.
“Now I want to provide that for other people. What I’ve been through has provided me with an immense resource to help others and this film is just one small way that I hope I can do that.”
The CONNECT service is hosted by Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Jake got help from a specialist team there including a psychiatrist, dietitian, therapists and mental health nurses.
After nearly a year out of therapy, Jake is looking at starting a PhD in English literature, focusing on trans/queer poetic adaptations of medieval culture. They are focusing on their writing and poetry, and a few have been accepted for publication.
In their spare time, they volunteer for the Plus Importance Project – an LGBTQ+ charity, as a social media content creator.
Jake added: “The CONNECT team helped me to save my life, they were so compassionate and their care was so thorough. This will hopefully help someone else who might be struggling to feel a bit less scared to reach out.”
Find out more about anorexia on the BEAT eating disorders website
Find out more about bulimia on the BEAT eating disorders website
