"I did not know I was killing myself": a teacher from Dubai talks about the battle of bulimia

World Day of Action against Eating Disorders, The National It describes how social media could fuel fears related to eating disorders, one of the types, orthorexia, is still not medically recognized and the difficulties that it has. a teacher had to face to seek help for his disabling bulimia in Dubai.

A teacher from Dubai is on the verge of self-destruction fight against bulimia has talked about how she has found his life.

"Sarah", 31 years old moved to Dubai from Canada in 2011 to make a new start, only to find that his problems had followed him around the world.

She has struggled with eating disorders since the age of nine.

"Food or the lack of food was the center of my life" said.

"I started losing weight fast in adolescence. My family was very worried and I felt like a burden to them.

As a young girl, Sarah was in the hospital and out of town. She would gorge on food and strength herself to be sick losing weight.

At her lowest point, 16, her weight dropped to 40 kilograms and she was taken to the hospital several times doctors feared that his heart could stop because of serious complications.

I was on the verge of self destruction.

Sarah, a teacher in Dubai.

"I was in my 10th and 11th years when I was in the hospital and out," she said. said.

"Teachers were a great help in getting the materials needed for my exams and studies, but it was very difficult.

"I looked terrible, my skin was yellow and I was losing my hair.

"All my vomiting was hurting my teeth. I had all the typical symptoms. "

In Canada, Sarah was pushed to treatment by her mother and sister. When she became an adult, she refused help.

After graduating from university, she decided to go to the United Arab Emirates to follow an education her job because she felt that her mental disorder was becoming too difficult for his family.

"I did not want to get better," she said. "It's a debilitating disease. You do not think rationally.

"I did not know that I was committing suicide. It was not something I could understand.

"I stayed the same for two years in Dubai before finally deciding to get treatment and take my life seriously.

"The question is very stigmatized here. I found that I did not have access to the same services as in Canada and that they were neither standardized nor accepted.

"I almost lost my job and I was on the verge of self destruction."

The doctors told Sarah that she should eat and overcome her problems.

It took him a while to find a specialist psychiatrist who understood his problems.

His therapy has continued since.

"When I started to trust someone else, things started to change." said.

"I did not know how to help myself. It is not a choice to have this disease, but it is a choice to heal. "

The World Day of Action against Eating Disorders, June 2, is a movement designed for and by people affected by a eating disorder, their families and health professionals. who support them. It aims to educate the world about eating disorders as genetically treatable diseases that can affect anyone.