Looking back at old photos can stir up a whirlwind of feelings. For Sara Bond, it’s a mix of gratitude and nostalgia. “It’s almost painful to see them. They remind me of a tough time, but I’m thankful to be healthy now,” she shares.
Sara struggled with anorexia, an eating disorder that dominated her life. “I was fixated on calories and workouts. It stole my joy,” she reflects.
Her battle began during her college years at Minot State University. A combination of pressures—comments on her weight, a sense of loss after high school, and confusion about her career—planted the seeds for her eating disorder. “I started restricting my food and overexercising. Balancing grades, activities, and friendships felt overwhelming, so I turned to food and exercise to find control,” Sara explains. Unfortunately, this path led her to severe health issues.
She faced numerous physical problems: lightheadedness, low blood pressure, heart palpitations, and more. “At my lowest, I weighed just 65 pounds. My mom would come in to check if I was breathing,” she recalls. One fateful day, she fainted at the student center. An ambulance whisked her to the hospital, where her mom supported the decision to transfer her to the Sanford Eating Disorders and Weight Management Center in Fargo. “That was a turning point for me. I finally felt hope,” Sara says. “I was terrified of losing my life.”
Dr. Dorian Dodd, an expert in eating disorders and a psychologist at the Sanford clinic, notes the importance of multidisciplinary care. “Many patients are also battling anxiety and depression. We offer psychiatrists, nutritionists, and therapists to provide comprehensive support,” she explains. Patients often need help from different specialists to reclaim their lives.
Dr. Dodd mentions that spotting eating disorders isn’t always straightforward. “Family members should watch for signs like significant weight loss or avoiding meals. Compulsive exercise and disappearing after eating are also red flags,” she advises. This lack of understanding is crucial since the National Institutes of Health reports that eating disorders have some of the highest mortality rates among mental health conditions. The stigma often attached to these disorders only complicates matters.
For Sara, sharing her story is essential. She wants to reduce the stigma around eating disorders. “People need to talk about it. The more we discuss it, the better,” she says. Dr. Dodd agrees, highlighting that early treatment significantly improves outcomes. “We’re seeing more awareness, which is fantastic,” she adds.
Today, Sara works in community relations at Sanford Health, just across the street from the clinic that helped save her life. “It feels amazing to give back to an organization that supported me,” she says with a smile.
If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, the first step is talking to a doctor. They can help assess the situation and suggest appropriate care options tailored to individual needs. Sanford Health offers a range of specialists to help. You can find more information and resources through their website: Sanford Eating Disorders Clinics.
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