My name is Katie, I am 36, and I am recovering from anorexia. I have lived with anorexia for nearly seven years.

I am writing this to tell you that you can beat anorexia. I have.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my family. Anorexia is the darkest and deepest hole and I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support.

I can’t say it's been easy. But you need to be stronger than this voice in your head that is not yours.

When I heard that word, “Anorexia”, I remember feeling completely in denial of all the information that was being bombarded at me.

I never considered myself a typical anorexic, because it didn’t start in my teens. It wasn’t until I was 31 that I started restricting in order to cope with my divorce. I’d found out my husband was having an affair and he showed no remorse, no emotion.

People often asked me what started my anorexia. My old self had been forgotten and I was learning how to get her back again.

As with mental illnesses in general, responsibility is a major issue when it comes to eating disorders.

For me, letting go of anorexia and choosing recovery was about acknowledging that I had an identity separate from the eating disorder.

The run up to Christmas can be really exciting: preparing for holidays, time with family and friends, parties, presents and often lots of food. But that excitement can be equalled and even overshadowed by worry, guilt, resentment and panic.

There are a lot of things that often trigger people recovering from an eating disorder. Here are some of them.

Our supporter Mayuri shares some of her top tips for being kinder to yourself during your eating disorder recovery journey.

Ayisha shares her reflections on how her eating disorder affects her relationship to her Muslim faith, family, and marriage.

Our supporter Charlotte reflects on her recovery story, and shares her message of hope.

Our supporter Charlotte shares her experience of having anorexia at a boarding school and shares her message of hope

Our supporter Hannah discusses finding peace with anorexia, recovery and how the Beat helpline helped her and her family

Emma shares her experience of anorexia nervosa and how far she's come in her recovery

Harriet shares her experience of anorexia nervosa and how her experiences have shaped her into the woman she is today.

H shares her experience and reasons for recovery, offering a message of hope 10 years later.

Natalie shares how becoming a mum was the big event that moved her recovery forward after 25 years.