Starving For Love & Finding My Voice - Chloe's Story

7 On Sundays™ Podcast

Approximately 24 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. It is estimated that 10-20% of female college students struggle with diagnosable eating disorders. Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid addiction, resulting in over 10,000 deaths each year. While many individuals keep their eating struggles hidden, the numbers of these disorders are on the rise worldwide.

Today, our guest, Chloe shares her two year journey with anorexia, binge eating, sexual assault, emotional abuse, and bullying–all beginning in high school. She shares her story of staying in a toxic relationship and keeping it hidden from those who loved her most. Chloe is willing to openly discuss her preoccupations with her appearance all while being told she was “fat” by a boyfriend and his friends. Craving love, she became malnourished and then told she looked like a “skeleton.”

As Chloe says, “no one talks about having toxic relationships then trying to date” after those bad experiences. She is right. No one teaches us how to have healthy relationships. Chloe felt called to teach herself how to be a good partner after being cheated on, manipulated, and emotionally abused.

Most importantly, Chloe walks us through a personal recovery process that she created for herself. She used music and opened her voice as a path to healing. We are so grateful that she is alive, healthy, and well-nourished today thanks to a variety of self help tools she uses daily. Chloe is committed to her wellness and courageously addressing her internal battles.

If you struggle with depression, sexual assault, or bullying and need support, please reach out to your college or community counseling centers for therapy and support.

RESOURCES

If you or anyone you know needs support and information, please call the

National Eating Disorder Hotline

• 1-800-931-2237.

• Text “NEDA” to 741-741

• 988 (National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline)

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome to Seven on Sundays

01:19 Chloe's Journey: Battling Disordered Eating and Toxic Relationships

06:40 Navigating New Relationships and Learning Self-Love

11:28 Triggering Eating Disorders

16:05 How to Support and Love Someone with an Eating Disorder

18:22 Recognizing Your In Toxic Relationships

22:50 Breaking Off a Toxic Relationship

26:12 Addressing Sexual Assault and Its Impact

26:36 Journey Through Disordered Eating and Self-Healing

29:33 The Role of Therapy and Self-Care in Recovery

34:28 Navigating Relationships and Celibacy

42:55 Wrap Up: Thoughts on Eating Disorders and