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Post by esther on Aug 5, 2013 16:45:27 GMT
Time to say hello. My name's Esther, I'm 19, I'm from Suffolk and I'm a marmite-hating dorky-laughing politics student at Durham. I was diagnosed with EDNOS (Eating disorder not otherwise specified), severe Depression and Anxiety disorder in sixth form, though I'd been going to the doctor with complaints for years prior to that point. I felt like I was at the bottom of a deep dark pit, with everyone else in the world standing on top straining to hear/see me. It's something that has dominated my life for as long as I can remember but I'm really starting to feel on top of it. I don't want the depression/anxiety gone, as I see that as a part of who I am, but the eating disorder can take a hike. Hopefully I'm getting closer to saying I've recovered, but it's a long old fight. I've been passionate about raising awareness of mental health and reducing the stigma ever since my diagnosis left me feeling completely alone and unsupported. I am now a mental health ambassador and welfare officer at my university, I run an eating disorder support group for students at Durham too, I'm a crisis line volunteer, a time-to-change champion, and I blog (both for charities and personally) about mental illness. One day I hope to work for a mental health charity, but I reckon I should probably focus on graduating first Anyway, that's enough for now! See you around, Est xxxx
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Deleted
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Hi there
Aug 5, 2013 16:47:56 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 16:47:56 GMT
Wow. You seem to do a lot. Welcome to MLO! You'll enjoy it on here by the sound of things! Very impressed with all you do. It's great we have people like you around
Give me a message if you need anything, but everyone is more than helpful!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 21:35:16 GMT
Welcome to the minds like ours community Esther nice of you to join us! Wow, you do an awful lot of work to try & break the stigma! Well done I understand your part of wanting to just accept that your anxiety & depression is part of you I suffer with anxiety & am one of the ambassadors for anxiety on here & I also blog too..what's your blog? feel free to drop me a message & get in touch xxx
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Post by Toni-Louise on Aug 6, 2013 14:10:51 GMT
Hi Esther, nice to meet you.Welcome to MLO. I am from Sunderland so I live quite close to Durham, it is good to hear that you play such an active role in helping raise awareness and support for mental health.Well done =] I hope you enjoy getting involved in the forum etc and if you want to talk or anything don't be afraid to ask myself or someone else on the site(ambassadors or staff perhaps).
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Post by Michaela on Aug 6, 2013 16:20:37 GMT
Hi Esther, welcome on board! It's great to hear how much awareness raising you do and I'd love to hear more about how you got into becoming a mental health ambassador and welfare officer at university and how you set up your support group. I'm trying to do a similar sort of thing at my university, but finding it difficult, so any advice would be appreciated! Look forward to getting to know you xx
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