Rosalie Yan is a college sophomore who, in a simple courageous act, has chosen to break the silence about her eating disorder. Though she kept it hidden for years, she decided it was time to raise her voice and help dispel some of the stigmas associated with disordered eating.

"The truth is that life with an eating disorder is not glamorous, despite its associations with Hollywood's starlets. We've all seen those tabloid headlines, but have you heard it from someone who lives it? The real day-to-day experience is exhausting and drearily dull. Food is always on the forefront of my mind... Sometimes it takes all my strength to just get through the day. Sometimes I'm not even sure I want to."

Yan goes on to recount some of the lessons she's learned in the last four years, including the very vital truth that "happiness doesn't come with a certain body shape; happiness comes with acceptance." Read more at DukeChronicle.com.

Labels: acceptance, awareness, support