The 22-year-old songstress is speaking out against misconception surrounding eating disorder sufferers, saying that having anorexia and/or bulimia is not a choice.
- Nov 13, 2014
AceShowbiz - Demi Lovato spoke out against misconception surrounding people who deal with eating disorders in a series of tweets posted on Wednesday, November 12. She began her tweets by giving a shout-out to an organization which helped her deal with eating disorder.
"Mental illness can be isolating. Thanks @DBSAlliance 4 showing me the power of peer support in #mentalhealth advocacy," she wrote along with a promotional video in which she urged her fans to spread awareness of mental illness.
The "Let It Go" singer then wrote, "Having an eating disorder doesn't show 'strength.' Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long. There's a wide misconception that anorexia and/or bulimia is a choice and you often hear people say things like 'why doesn't she just start eating?' Or even 'just stop throwing up.' "
"It's the ignorance and lack of education on mental illnesses that continues to but mental health care on the back burner to congress even though this is an epidemic that is sweeping our nation, and causing more and more tragedy every day," Demi added.
The "Made in the USA" singer, who has openly admitted to struggling with bipolar disorder and substance abuse problems in addition to her eating disorder, then told her fans, "Starving is not a 'diet' and throwing up isn't something that only extremely thin men or women do. Eating disorders do not discriminate.. Neither does any other mental illness."
She continued, "These are deadly diseases that are taking lives daily. So please, let's be cautious of the words we use when discussing ED's and other mental illnesses.. It's time we start taking mental illness as serious as physical illnesses. 'The brain is an important organ too....' - Patrick Kennedy."
Demi previously told Cosmo on Campus in 2013 that she wanted to be a role model for those who struggle with eating disorders. "I was about 12 or 13 when I developed my eating disorder, and at that time nobody in the public eye talked about their body issues," she shared.
"I feel that if someone had admitted they had a problem, then I wouldn't have gone down that route myself," she added, "That's my goal in talking about my problems: I want to be the person for other girls that I needed to admire when I was looking for help and strength."
