We are Assets, not Liabilities

This week is Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

In 2012, aged 16, my daughter Emily developed anorexia nervosa, the most lethal of all mental illnesses. She was unable to take her A-Level exams, spent a year in three eating disorder clinics, self-harmed, threatened suicide, and suffered from severe depression and anxiety. Her weight dropped to 70 pounds, and at her lowest point she had a tube inserted into her nose to give her the nutrition she needed to stay alive.

Last year, when we sat with Emily at a restaurant on the island of Mallorca and saw her eating a plate full of food like any other young adult, I looked at her and told her how proud I was she was finally eating normally again.

Six long years.

Anorexia Nervosa

Although it is unknown which specific genes are biologically responsible for the illness, it appears that individuals with a genetic tendency towards perfectionism and the need for control have a greater likelihood of developing anorexia. Psychologically, people who have obsessive-compulsive traits find it easier to starve themselves of food whether they are hungry or not. The drive for perfectionism causes them to believe they are never quite thin enough, even though the outside world may hold the polar opposite view. There is no doubt that the rising importance of body image in society, in particular amongst the young, and the accompanying peer pressure driven by social media, have only served to fuel the flames.

The facts are disturbing: in data published by Beat (the UK’s eating disorder charity) and MIND (the mental health charity); 1.6 million people in the UK struggle with an eating disorder; 14-25-year olds are the biggest group; 1 in 100 women suffer from anorexia; and 89% of total sufferers are female. Most disturbing of all, a review of nearly 50 years of research (Arcelus, Mitchel, Wales & Nelson, 2011 confirms that due to the effects of weight loss and starvation on the brain, anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.

Anorexia nervosa, or Ana as she was ‘affectionately’ referred to in the house, was a formidable opponent. Unrelenting, unforgiving with only one purpose in life. To kill. One ‘silver lining’ of the illness was that it taught us all to be resilient. If Plan A didn’t work, then move on to Plan B. We got through a lot of letters during the six years. Ana always seemed to have something up her sleeve. She always seemed to be one step ahead of us. She was very clever. But our daughter never gave up. Neither did we.

We are assets not liabilities

But Emily was lucky. She survived the illness and is now almost completely recovered. She lives and works in London for ITV as a researcher on a day time show.

Emily also benefitted from an extremely understanding boss during her fight against the illness. What her boss demonstrated was that it’s important not to see mental health sufferers as ‘damaged property’ but to treat them as people with an illness that might rear its ugly head every now and then. If Emily had fought so hard to get where she was despite what she had been through, how good might she become if she could be coaxed gently towards some kind of full recovery?

It has become obvious to me that the immediate boss of somebody suffering from mental illness will always play a critical role in determining whether that person flourished or floundered, whether they reach their full potential or sink into obscurity. Whether you suffer from anxiety, depression, anorexia, bulimia or any other mental health disorder, you can still contribute fully in the workplace. You must demand to be treated as an asset on the balance sheet and not a liability.

Mental Notes

1.     Whenever you come across somebody with an eating disorder, remember that this is a mental illness and not some kind of vanity project gone wrong.

2.     Somebody with an eating disorder or any mental illness can make a recovery and enjoy a fulfilling life, but only with the support and understanding of those around them, both at home and at work.

This post contains extracts from my upcoming book, Breakdown and Repair. It can be pre-ordered on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breakdown-Repair-Fathers-Success-Inspirational/dp/1912478994/ref

You can also follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentalhealthmark/

 [K1]reference this

 [MS2]https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/blog/genetic-factors-eating-disorders

 [K3]reference this

 [MS4]https://www.priorygroup.com/eating-disorders/eating-disorder-statistics

 [K5]can we get a reference for this like the others

 [MS6]https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/anorexia/anorexia-nervosa-highest-mortality-rate-of-any-mental-disorder-why