“EATING disorders are silent killers. They paralyze, torment and consume their victims,” said Kirsten Quintal, a local resident who battled and beat bulimia.

Quintal, a teacher at Durban College, who managed to defeat her demons and turn her life around after suffering from bulimia for ten years. “I had a very traumatic childhood. At 16 I believed that I was unlovable and that I was a burden. I believed that everything would be alright if I got my body right, and so I began making myself throw-up,” she said.

In the beginning Quintal thought she could control her actions, and that she would be able to stop whenever she wanted to, but soon she realized that she had become consumed by the disease. “It controlled all of me and every part of my life. I got to a point where it was like hell on earth. I kept obsessing about making myself sick. It got to a point where I could not be around food or people. I was hearing voices in my head, and I had begun cutting myself. I had also become addicted to pain killers and sleeping pills. I was completely depressed,” said Quintal.

The troubled teen tried to manage the disease, and was sent to a psychologist to deal with her disease, but had little success.  After an overdose she hit rock bottom. “I felt that I could not longer deal with it. I felt that I had to live with it for the rest of my life I would rather die. However, my hope was restored by a christian councillor. She told me that I could be completely free, and after a four year battle I was able to regain my self worth and my love of life. But it took a whole team of specialists,” she said.

At the age of 31 Quintal now loves her life, her job and her body. She is is happily married, and had developed a healthy relationship with food.
Quintal now hopes to use her experience to help others and will be speaker at an eating disorder seminar. “My heart bleeds for people who are trapped in eating disorders. I want to share the message that there is a way out. Parents and friends need to be educated on this disease and need to know what goes on inside the sufferers head,” she said.

Food for Thought:
The eating disorder seminar will be held at the Durban North College on Saturday, 1 November from 8am to 4pm. Entrance costs R100 per person. The primary aim of the seminar is to educate people who suffer from eating disorders as well as family and friends. Top professionals will be providing advice. Contact 082 573 1165.

Signs of an eating disorder:
– Lying about eating
– Avoiding any events or social things that involves food
– Going to the bathroom straight after a meal
– Drinking large amounts of water, tea or coffee
– Hiding food or pretending to eat
– A lack of appetite
– Wearing baggy clothes
– Claiming to feel nauseous after a meal
– A self hatred of one’s body
– A belief that he or she is fat