Eating Disorder Awareness Week: 'Anorexia diagnosis saved my life'

Aoife Lennon was at the top of her game.

A full Northern Ireland international footballer, she had also captained Newry City Ladies to the Premiership title and led them into a Champions League campaign.

She was also making a significant impact for Armagh Ladies Gaelic footballers.

But, after taking herself to New Zealand in 2017, her world changed.

Feeling weak, fatigued and even to the point of blacking out, she realised something was wrong and following a trip to the doctor, she was diagnosed with anorexia.

Rather than become anxious, Aoife took the diagnosis as a 'relief' and began to change her mindset to deal with the issue at hand and confront the unresolved trauma of losing her father when she was just 13.

"I felt burnt out and had 'brain fog' and looking back, those were clear signs. New Zealand brought all this to a head," she says, speaking to highlight the issue during Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

"I had this real perfection with everything.

"It was never about performance, even when I was playing international football. It was all about how I looked. It probably started at Northern Ireland when I was 19, but I was only properly diagnosed five years later," she admits.

"I had to realise that this wasn't me and isn't who I am. I was running away from myself and I didn't have all the coping mechanism to keep me away from."

Aoife, now 30 and back playing Gaelic Football for Armagh, says her diagnosis saved her life 'in so many ways'.

"I think it (the diagnosis) was a massive relief to know that I needed help. There was no escape from this and I need to make a change in my life.

"It's helped me to grow into who I am," she feels.

"It's saved my life. When I was weighed, I was under 8 stone and the next step was to go to hospital. It wasn't what I wanted to do to my body. When I look back, it definitely saved my life in so many ways."

Still on her journey of self-discovery, Aoife readily admits that her recovery isn't always plain-sailing.

She has down days as well as up days, but in now a life coach aiming to use her experience to help others.

She has an important message for anyone who may be going through similar issues to those she is dealing with

"Please talk, because the moment you start talking about it is the moment you give power back to yourself. When you have an eating disorder, you give control to it.

"But when you go in the recovery and healing journey, you take control back. You take control of how you want to live your life," she says.

"Really invest in knowing that you are enough and don't believe everything you see on social media.

"I always felt that I wasn't good enough, until I changed my mindset and beliefs and realised I am good enough and I was brought into this world good enough.

"I want my message to be that you are enough, no matter what social media says, no matter what anyone else says.

"I hope that my message can have an impact on you to know that you can do it, you're worthy and to make health your number one priority."

If you've been affected by any of the issues involved, support is available online via the following links:

https://www.eatingdisordersni.co.uk/

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

You can check out Aoife's Instagram page for more advice at: theevolution93

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