Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an irrational fear of food as well as extreme, life-threatening weight loss and was the cause for me entering treatment about a year ago. What started as an innocent diet and desire to lose a few pounds, turned into a way of using food or starving myself to feel more in control of my life. Anorexia is more than just a problem with food; it is a disorder entangled with control, identity, and comfort. Today, it is the most common cause of death (12 times higher than any other condition) among young women ages 15 to 24, and 1 in every 10 sufferers die. Due to high levels of malnutirition which then causes chemical changes in the brain, impairing judgement, there is also a high rate of suicide among anorexic patients. In order to help start the recovery process, a healthcare team including physicians, psychiatrists, dieticians, and therapists are often needed. This past year has been full of many obstacles -- acute kidney failure, electrolyte imbalances, bradycardia, hypotension, and a failed suicide attempt -- and has landed me in various levels of treatment. From inpatient hospitalizations to intensive outpatient services, I have learned a lot about my diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa and Major Depressive Disorder, and have decided that I am going to fight to have a life worth living. Unfortunately, throughout all of this, my insurance has not been very supportive and the financial burden has fallen on my parents. My insurance company has denied coverage multiple times and failed to support my recovery process despite my medical team's reccommendations. It has been a struggle to gain insurance's cooperation, but my family has fought for me through it all. My family is my biggest support system, and I would be lost on this path towards recovery without them. Given our family's financial situation, I know that we cannot afford all of my medical bills, but my parents are doing the best they can. Please help support my family as they try to support me and my recovery process.  Please help my family help me; any amount would be greatly appreciated at this point. I am currently in Denver at the Eating Recovery Center's partial hospitalization program, and I am committed to surrendering and living a healthier life in recovery. Thank you for your time and thank you for the care, love, and support that I have been given. I am a warrior and will continue to fight not only for myself but also for everyone else out there who has been battling this horrible disorder. Life is good. Stay strong.
Colleen McGlynn