Breakfast with Matt & Alex on Triple J has recently been making us LOL with their Secret Drawer Week – readings from teenage diaries and so on. It’s been cringeworthy/wonderful.
Except today, we got pretty teary at 7:30 in the morning, listening to guest speaker and Triple J newsreader Steph Boulet, read out a diary entry from when she was a teenage girl severely suffering from anorexia.
Eating disorders (and the stigma they still unfortunately carry within society) are still largely unspoken about, so it was refreshing to hear a personal experience on national radio that was so raw, and so emotional.
Triple J shared with us some of the anonymous text messages they received after Steph’s story had aired; her story hit the heartstrings of so many people across Australia.
“Just wanted to say thanks so much to your news reader Steph for talking about anorexia. I’m in my late-twenties and have been suffering from anorexia for two years. Hearing steph’s story and that it is possible to recover completely was incredible to hear and gives me so much hope.”“Thanks so much Steph. I’m just getting through recovery now while tackling the HSC. It’s really encouraging to HEAR your success, in the way you can calmly discuss your disorder.”“I’m struggling with anorexia at the moment. Thank you for sharing your story, I’m constantly terrified that people will find out my struggle and judge me for it. Listening to that has made me feel so much less alone.”“As a father this so powerfull [sic], what a brave strong women [sic].”“Geez boys I’m tearing up here.Not a dry eye listening to that. Well done Steph.”
“Raw, real & vulnerable voice. What a brave woman you are Steph”“Keep your head up and heart strong. Feel the love and keep strong. To one sufferer to another”“Thanks for sharing your story! Love the authenticity coming through this week!! Keep it up guys!”“Thank you so much this is so moving my wife just beat her eating disorder and its people like you who inspired her and helped her”“Nice work guys. Making a 30 year old firefighter cry in his car on the way to work. Dam [sic] you.”
The more we speak openly about issues like this, the easier it will become for sufferers and survivors to speak about their experiences. Thank you, Steph. We here at PEDESTRIAN.TV are really proud of you today, and you as a teenager. Thank you for telling your story.
<3
via Triple J
If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, you can call The Butterfly Foundation on 1800 ED HOPE / 1800 33 4673 or email support@thebutterflyfoundation.org.au to speak to a counsellor.
