Eating Disorder Awareness Week: Jo’s Story

This week (24 Feb – 2 March) is Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Now 6 years into her own recovery journey, jogscotland’s Programme Manager, Jo Skead, has shared her experience as she hopes to help and inspire others.

You can find information and advice on Eating Disorders on the scottishatheltics website.

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In 2024 I became a Board Member for a small, young charity called SupportED.  The charity delivers community-based counselling services, befriending and group support to anyone who wants help with disordered eating, without the need for a referral.

I have 20 years’ experience with an eating disorder, having developed bulimia in my early teens, and it took me 16 years of fighting it in silence before I asked for help.

Shame, fear, not knowing what treatment would involve, being afraid people wouldn’t understand, and firmly denying that I even had a problem, prevented me from reaching out.

Deciding to start a family was my catalyst for change.  In 2013 I went to the GP and got referred to a clinic in Edinburgh and completed 12 weeks of group therapy.

My first baby came along but transitioning to motherhood made my bulimia worse.  I reached out again and got referred to the same clinic for 12 weeks Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.  It was tough, but I made myself open up, confront things from my past, keep food and thought diaries and really embrace the ‘homework’ I was set.

It was also during my second round of therapy that I became dizzy while training for a half marathon.  I was referred to the hospital for an ECG to check my heart (bulimia can cause heart conditions).   Running has been a passion of mine since my early 20’s and although at first it enhanced my focus on numbers and calories burned in an unhealthy way, I also took great joy from achieving goals and being outdoors.  Getting sent for an ECG was the wake up call I needed to get better.

I prayed that my disorder had not damaged my heart and running would be taken away from me.  Running was such an important part of my identity and the thought of not being able to run made me determined to recover.

Recovery is possible.

The first step is the hardest – reach out and ask for help, then put in the work and face what is lurking in the dark corners and behind the doors you don’t want to open.  I had no idea who I would be without my disorder; I’d had it so long and it impacted on every aspect of my life. In a way, I was scared to let it go.

Now, I am a much happier, healthier, more enhanced version of myself.  I’ve come a very long way and every time I hit a trail or a pavement for a run, I’m reminded of the journey I’ve been on, how amazingly strong and powerful my body is and how I can really do anything I set my mind to.

December 2024 marked 6 years in my recovery journey.  I am now ready to give something back and I hope sharing my story will help and inspire others.

I want to dedicate all my running events this year to help raise vital funds for SupportED, a charity that does so much to help people in their recovery journeys.  I hope to raise £2500 and currently have events planned up to August, after which I’ll add on more.

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If you like, you can sponsor Jo in her efforts.

Other useful links/resources:

scottishathletics information and advice on Eating Disorders

SAMH information and advice on Eating Problems

SupportED – The Community Eating Disorder Charity