For Ohio University junior Nicole Mikusa, getting help for her eating disorder was difficult, but the recovery process is more difficult than she had anticipated.
Mikusa, who studies family and consumer science education, worked with a psychiatrist, psychologist and a dietician in the beginning stages of her recovery and regularly attends an Eating Disorder Anonymous support group.
It's one thing to tell people who don't know what you're going through
and it's another to tell people who know what you're going through because they can understand Mikusa said. It's definitely been really helpful and a way to help other people with eating disorders because we're all at different stages in our eating disorders.
Today is the start of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week and to raise awareness, OU Counseling and Psychological Services, Ping Center fitness staff and the Women's Center will host events on campus.
Jonathan Mosko, a counseling intern at OU's Counseling and Psychological Services, said about 10 million Americans have an eating disorder, and one out of every 10 people with an eating disorder are male.
Though Mikusa's ongoing battle with anorexia started because of many factors, her recovery is centered on control of her body, she said.
After going through recovery I feel like it was more of a control issue now because I'm supposed to be giving up that control of knowing how much I'm eating and knowing how much I'm exercising and focusing on one battle at a time
she said.
Though many people do receive help, in some cases the damage from an eating disorder is irreversible. Jane Lonsdale, an OU senior studying broadcast journalism, said her sister Mary Lonsdale died during her senior year of high school while recovering from bulimia because of the fluctuating potassium levels effects on her heart.
What they think happened was ... that her heart gave out. It was so weak from all of the years (of her disorder)
Lonsdale said.
Encouraging friends or family members who might have an eating disorder to ask for help is important, she said.
First of all
if someone knows of someone that is doing this ... definitely bring it up to them - don't push it under the rug
Lonsdale said. I think the huge problem with my sister was that she ignored the problem for so long that it continued to have these adverse effects on her.
For Mikusa, her disorder is still something she has to deal with in her daily life, but she is learning how to accept herself.
It's kind of like this daily battle I go through to not over-exercise or under-eat. I really have to maintain ... eating what I need to and not exercising too much
Mikusa said. I definitely pray and wish that I will be 'normal' again.
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