Pictured: Serena Riley, 29
A lady who says she vomited about 8,000 instances throughout her secret nine-year battle with bulimia has fulfilled her dream of changing into a managing nurse in Australia’s first ever residential consuming dysfunction clinic.
Serena Riley was ten years’ outdated and going to main faculty in Armidale, in northern New South Wales, when she first joined a weight loss program.
During this system, which was focused at middle-aged ladies, the younger woman realized all about physique form, measurements, meals restriction and what she described as a ‘fixation’ with numbers on the size.
What started as undiagnosed anorexia become bulimia by the age of 13, which is a debilitating and doubtlessly lethal psychological well being situation that meant the younger woman threw up every little thing she ate.
The 29-year-old instructed Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday that she stored the truth of her dwindling well being hidden to the purpose the place, when she lastly divulged her massive secret at 19, her mom mentioned she had no concept.
‘Mum was shocked. During that complete time, she solely thought there was one thing improper as soon as however did not realise what it was,’ Ms Riley mentioned.
Pictured: Serena Riley together with her mum. She lastly instructed her mom she had bulimia when she was 19
Pictured: Serena Riley as a teen. She stored her sickness hidden from pals and family members
She defined that folks with bulimia usually do not seem like rake-thin, and may usually look common weight or barely chubby – that means family members cannot see any bodily proof to counsel there’s something improper.
At 19, she thought opening up about her struggles would open the doorways to restoration, however what {the teenager} did not know what that Australia did not have the assistance amenities she was searching for.
A month of looking on-line for remedy centres revealed a variety of ‘stunning’ ranches and properties within the US and Europe the place folks with consuming issues would dwell whereas they recovered, however there was nothing like that at residence.
‘I assumed I used to be being courageous and brave once I mentioned I had bulimia out loud – that admitting it was the toughest half – however I used to be improper,’ she mentioned.
Serena Riley mentioned limiting her meals consumption gave her a way of management and construction
Serena Riley (pictured left as a teen, and proper as a toddler) started limiting her meals consumption when she was ten
Serena Riley (pictured left) did not assume she might ever get well from bulimia, or dwell with out the sickness
With no assist or finish to her situation in sight, Ms Riley overdosed on treatment.
She spent three nights in intensive care earlier than being transferred to the psychological well being ward and, ultimately, into an consuming dysfunction ward – the place she spent the subsequent 12 months and a half going out and in of hospital whereas receiving remedy.
‘I wanted to push previous all of the fears I had developed about meals and realise the world would not explode if I ate one thing – the dysfunction makes you imagine issues that do not make sense,’ she mentioned.
When requested what triggered her dysfunction, Ms Riley mentioned she wasn’t completely certain, however defined she did aggressive gymnastics as a toddler, she was a proficient dancer, and he or she witnessed home violence as a toddler.
Even although her household managed to flee the violent scenario, she believes she was attempting to course of the scenario in her early teenage years.
Pictured: Serena Riley as a toddler. She witnessed home violence when she was youthful
Ms Riley (pictured as a teen) lastly realised restoration was attainable and have become impressed to assist others in her place
At 20, she desperately wished to open a residential remedy facility for folks with consuming issues (pictured: Serena Riley together with her son)
‘Regimenting my meals consumption gave me a number of construction and management and I wished in my life on the time,’ she mentioned.
When she lastly left the hospital, Ms Riley realised restoration was attainable and have become impressed to assist others in her place.
At 20, she desperately wished to open a residential remedy facility for folks with consuming issues, however she did not have the assets and determined to begin by changing into a registered nurse.
She started to specialise and ultimately landed in wards with folks affected by the debilitating situation that consumed her teenage years, till she heard that the Butterfly Foundation – an consuming dysfunction help group – have been making a facility.
Serena Riley (pictured together with her son) started to specialise and ultimately landed in wards with folks affected by the debilitating situation that consumed her teenage years
Determined to assist others like herself, Ms Riley utilized for a place and was given the job as nurse unit supervisor at Australia’s first-ever residential consuming dysfunction clinic, Wandi Nerida.
The centre sits on a 25-acre block on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, and is a 13-bed residential remedy facility that may function beneath the Butterfly Foundation Residential Eating Disorders Treatment Model of Care.
It additionally collects knowledge from sufferers in order that different centres could be opened throughout Australia, and has already obtained over 680 enquiries and 101 folks have been referred for remedy.
Ms Riley says she is totally recovered from bulimia, and needs victims to know that restoration is feasible.
‘When you might have an consuming dysfunction, it is arduous to think about that you’re going to ever get well,’ she mentioned.
Wandi Nerida (pictured) sits on a 25-acre block on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast
Wandi Nerida (pictured) 13-bed residential remedy facility that may function beneath the Butterfly Foundation Residential Eating Disorders Treatment Model of Care
‘But I’m residing proof that it is attainable.’
Medicare has offered rebates for consuming dysfunction victims since 2019, permitting folks with anorexia, bulimia and different food-related circumstances to entry as much as 40 psychological and 20 dietetic providers a 12 months.
More than a million Australians undergo from consuming issues, however just one in 4 will search remedy.
Anyone searching for help with consuming issues or physique picture points is inspired to contact:
Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) or [email protected]
For pressing help name Lifeline 13 11 14
