Help raise EatingDisorder awareness

My name is Christie and I am asking for your help to raise awareness and fight stigma surrounding eating disorders. Your donation will help me publish an illustrated book that will be used as a tool for communicating the experience of living with an eating disorder. With this resource available to sufferers and their carers I hope to improve understanding of eating disorders and break down the shame that prevents so many seeking treatment.

For the past four years while living with a restrictive eating disorder I have learnt two immensely important things;
- The majority of people have no idea what it's like to live with an eating disorder (health professionals included) AND
- It is incredibly difficult to communicate to those people the severity of the struggle.

Unfortunately this drives many sufferers to use their bodies as a means of expressing their pain. This is reinforced with society's understanding that "eating disorders are not serious until you are critically unwell". As an artist I have been able to use my drawings to communicate to family and friends the depth of my pain without needing to destroy my body.

The featured picture is an example of the type of illustration that will appear in the book. It is representative of the overarching power an eating disorder has in our minds despite our body weight. That no matter how much weight we've gained or lost, as long as our eating disorder is present, our struggle is still real.

This book will be such an important tool in acting as a voice for those who can't find the right words. Reaching this goal will allow the first 50 books to be published and made available for sale. Your support in making this tool available is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.