Mental Health Advocacy & Personal Experience - The speaker shares her personal experience with anorexia nervosa, emphasizing the importance of raw feelings over labels and numbers [1][2] - The speaker highlights the universality of struggles, shame, and pain associated with mental health challenges [2] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of compassion, validation, and hope in supporting individuals battling mental health issues [3] - The speaker created a podcast, "Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl," to share her experiences and support others [4] - The podcast has reached thousands of downloads and featured interviews with experts and advocates in the mental health field [4] - The speaker emphasizes that the goal in healing isn't perfection, but connection and sharing authentic voices [5] - The speaker received a Hidden Hero Award from Project Blackbird for her advocacy in destigmatizing mental health [6] - The speaker advocates for sharing stories to empower others and encourages seeking help when needed [7] Community & Support - The speaker underscores that individuals are not meant to cope with pain alone [7] - The speaker highlights the transformative power of speaking up in a safe and empowered environment [7]

[Music] I felt out of control lying on the bathroom floor at 23 years old, tears running down my face after consuming 40 laxatives in a single day. As a dancer living on my own for the first time, my thoughts and memories constantly haunted me. This journey started when I was 7 years old when my dance teacher gently patted me on my belly and said, "Lay off the cookies." Her words struck my spirit like a bullet.But that was the day my tumultuous lovehate relationship with my body began. My freshman year of h ...