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Kesha shares an open letter about overcoming eating disorders
Since undergoing treatment for an eating disorder in 2014, Kesha has been an outspoken public advocate working to raise awareness and remove the stigma from eating disorders. However, she has often kept the details of her own struggle to herself.
That has changed with a new essay for Teen Vogue, where the singer goes more in-depth about her experiences with bulimia, bullying, and the pressures of stardom than ever before.
In the essay Kesha explains how experiences going back into adolescence had a lasting impact on her, saying “I was often bullied and shamed into hiding the things that made me unique. […] When I think about the kind of bullying I dealt with as a child and teen, it seems almost quaint compared with what goes on today.”
As she got older and gained more recognition, Kesha says the abuse began to increase – particularly online.
“The amount of body-shaming and baseless slut-shaming online makes me sick. I know from personal experience how comments can mess up somebody’s self-confidence and sense of self-worth. I have felt so unlovable after reading cruel words written by strangers who don’t know a thing about me.”
She continues, “It became a vicious cycle: When I compared myself to others, I would read more mean comments, which only fed my anxiety and depression. Seeing paparazzi photos of myself and the accompanying catty commentary fueled my eating disorder. The sick irony was that when I was at some of the lowest points in my life, I kept hearing how much better I looked. I knew I was destroying my body with my eating disorder, but the message I was getting was that I was doing great.”
“In the past couple of years I’ve grown up a lot. I’ve realized that once you take the step to help yourself, you’re going to be so happy you did. Taking the time to work on yourself requires bravery. Trying to change your life based on other people’s thoughts can drive you crazy. You have to figure out what makes you feel good and what keeps you in a positive head space.”
“This is one reason why I’ve changed my relationship with social media. I love it because it’s how I communicate with my fans—and nothing means more to me than my fans—but too much of it can exacerbate my anxiety and depression.”
As a survivor of an eating disorder, Kesha has shown herself to be a remarkable role model offering both positive advice and encouraging those with eating disorders to seek help.
As she concludes in her essay, “I want to pass along the message to anyone who struggles with an eating disorder, or depression, or anxiety, or anything else, that if you have physical or emotional scars, don’t be ashamed of them, because they are part of you. Remember that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. And that no one can take the magic you make.”
Read the full essay at Teen Vogue.
If you think you or someone you know may be living with binge eating disorder, give us a call at (888) 298-4673. We can answer any questions you have and find the right treatment plan for you.
