Demi Lovato Is Healing Voice for Eating Disorders 

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Demi Lovato Is Healing Voice for Eating Disorders

Lovato\'s formula is not an easy one: See a therapist, get on the proper medication, stick to a treatment plan and above all be honest. From my experience, eating disorders are a lie, not just to those who love you, but to yourself. Honesty is a big part of getting well.

DENTON, Texas (WOMENSENEWS)--Demi Lovato is more than just a pretty voice. The 22-year-old actress, singer and songwriter is a mezzo-soprano with a three-octave range that has helped her attract 27 million Twitter followers.

Lovato\'s advocacy for mental illnesses such as eating disorders recently led CNN to put her at the top of their list of nine mental-wellness warriors. Her openness about her struggles with an eating disorder and an underlying bipolar disorder reveals both the good and the ugly.

Lovato did a three-month stint in rehab in 2010 after she slapped a backup dancer, behavior for which she took full responsibility. Last year, she admitted she could have returned to rehab in 2013 if her boyfriend, Wilmer Valderrama, hadn\'t noticed the eating disorder and held her accountable.

As a licensed professional counselor who has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders for 30 years, I can say with certainty that speaking up is a part of the recovery process. Not everyone has the personality to speak up, but those who do seem to fortify their recovery.

Lovato\'s formula is not an easy one: See a therapist, get on the proper medication, stick to a treatment plan, and above all, be honest. From my experience, eating disorders are a lie, not just to those who love you, but to yourself. Honesty is the antithesis of an eating disorder, and it is a big part of getting well.

The most courageous part of Lovato\'s message is her willingness to address the larger issue of mental health. Eating disorders are mental illnesses with serious medical consequences, although they are often not seen that way by our health care delivery system, and they are glamorized on some levels by our culture.

Bipolar disorder, which is comorbid with eating disorders, is probably even more misunderstood than eating disorders. Researchers in one study found a higher rate of eating disorders in bipolar patients; 14 percent of patients with bipolar disorder also suffer from an eating disorder.

Lovato\'s honesty may help reverse the stigma of bipolar disorder. Her decision to cut back her schedule is wise, since bipolar disorder can be triggered by stress.

In a succession of tweets in November 2014, she wrote, "There\'s a wide misconception that anorexia and/or bulimia is a choice and you often hear people say things like \'Why doesn\'t she just start eating?\' or \'just stop throwing up\'? It\'s the ignorance and lack of education on mental illness that continues to put mental health care on the back burner, even though this is an epidemic that is sweeping our nation, and causing more and more tragedy every day."

During that time, Lovato also tweeted "Eating disorders do not discriminate… These are deadly diseases that are taking lives daily. So please, let\'s be cautious of the words we use when discussing ED\'s and other mental illness."

People making uninformed comments about eating disorders should expect a comeback from Lovato.

Last year when Meghan Trainor\'s body-image anthem "All About that Bass" was at the top of the charts, she quipped that she didn\'t have the strength to have an eating disorder. Lovato tweeted successively, "Having an eating disorder doesn\'t show \'strength.\' Strength is when you are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long."

People can and do recover from eating disorders. Go ask Demi Lovato.

Annetta Ramsay, Ph.D., is a nationally certified and licensed professional counselor who has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders for 30 years. She founded and directs the Chrysalis Treatment Program in Denton, Texas, and she is an Op-Ed Thought Voices Fellow at Texas Woman\'s University.

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