Hope Virgo: Vulnerability Is Bravery; Openness Is Strength – R4R 228

Take Aways

1.  Embrace how you’re feeling on a day to day basis. Don’t distract yourself from your emotions. It’s braver to say you’re having a hard time, rather than bottling it up.
2. Once you start showing vulnerability, it helps pave the way for others to feel more comfortable showing vulnerability. 
3. Have a conversation with someone who’s struggling and ask them what’s going on and how you can support them. 
4. In America, only 6% of people with eating disorders are actually underweight. While eating disorders are there, they might not be physically apparent but are very much there mentally. 
5. Hope believes in the power of community to help people through their mental health and eating disorders rather than being institutionalized. 
6. Be proactive. Have people who help you stay accountable, support networks, and a plan in place.
7. If you know of someone who’s struggling, do other activities with them that are not related to food or going out to eat.

Highlights

• “Eating disorders are a mental health issue, not a physical illness.” —Hope Virgo
• “People with eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes. They can be people of all different races and backgrounds. 25% of cases are actually male. —Hope Virgo
• “We all have good days and bad days and throughout life, we work our ways up and down that spectrum. It’s about replacing those unhealthy coping mechanisms (whether through food or exercise), and replacing them with healthy things that work (like journaling or going for a walk).” —Hope Virgo

Resources:

1. The Hub of Hope (and not just because it has my name!) – it provides a quick way to pull up a list of services in your area. It also has a crisis text message scheme just in case you need someone to talk to
2. Student Space: Set up by Student Minds has a place for finding support, a place to reach out for support, and blogs to read
3. The Mix: One of the best sites I have come across! It offers online support, as well as a heap of information. It is mainly for under 25 year olds but there is a lot of great stuff on there!

1. BEAT: BEAT: Helpline: 0808 801 0677 Student line: 0808 801 0811 Youth line: 0808 801 0711 – BEAT provides online support and phone support 
2. Anorexia Bulimia Care: another amazing safe place for you to go. And if you are over 18 they also offer a be-friending scheme 
3. First Steps ED: A fantastic charity that focuses massively on early intervention, giving you a space to come and speak out up.  
4. NEDA  : (US Based) – this organization has some brilliant blogs as well as a crisis text messenger service and helpline  

Support for Families / Carers  

1. FEAST is for parents and carers of those struggling. But again a really valuable space to go for support and to read blogs
2. YoungMinds: Parent helpline 08088025544 

1. Student Minds: A huge hub of knowledge – have a look at their blogs and their support sections

 

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Thank you to Hope, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.