My battle with bulimia - by Claudia Faniello
Popular singer Claudia Faniello has spoken publicly of her battle with bulimia in her teenage years.
"It was like a monster living inside me, something which stole my identity," she said about the eating disorder.
Speaking at the University as part of a campaign by medical students to raise awareness about eating disorders, the 21-year-old recounted how, at 14 she began poking her fingers deep in her mouth to throw up after eating something she felt was not good for her. After some time, this became a daily routine and Ms Faniello started inducing vomiting even after drinking a glass of water.
"The situation was getting worse and whatever went into my mouth had to come back out. It was the first thing I thought about when I woke up in the morning and the last thing before going to sleep at night."
Although throwing up was not an enjoyable experience, for Ms Faniello it became like a drug, giving her a rush. It became a premeditated daily routine and she would even take a teaspoon with her whenever she went out.
She said it was her love of singing which eventually helped her outof her addiction as the acidity in vomit was affecting her vocal chords, but the road to recovery was not easy. She now feels the need to raise awareness about the condition, urging other sufferers to seek help.
Full story:
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C.Galea
Mar 19th 2009, 11:54
Congratulations Ms Faniello for overcoming your eating disorder! You're a beautiful girl and talented singer.
About what is stated in the full story (link at the bottom of the article), I don't think the press should be giving out as much details on what an anoretic or bulimic does in order to effectively lose weight, otherwise the same thing which happened to Ms Faniello when she used to watch movies about eating disorders i.e. "I would learn every detail and afterwards emulate that behaviour" might happen to other eating-disordered people who might be reading these articles.
marlene curmi
Mar 19th 2009, 10:38
How much courage you have shown !!!!!
Only GOD knows how much good you have done not only for a short time but when ever you can keep sharing it especially with youngsters of your age.
Keep it up and may God keep blessing you in everything ................
laurence schembri
Mar 19th 2009, 00:23
Keep it up girl. Beauty is found is all shapes and forms.
Manuel Camilleri
Mar 18th 2009, 16:49
It takes courage to speak about a problem and sharing it with others . . prosit claudia
eddie debono
Mar 18th 2009, 15:36
Your story helps us parents to understand better our children, not only parents but doctors, teachers, and even children.
We all need to know more, to do more.
From my heart, as not only your fan, THANKYOU ! and may God bless you
Alia Grech
Mar 18th 2009, 11:34
Big Prosit to you....these problems are constantly ignored in Malta and in most cases labelled as over weight or underweight! We need to get more information out especially to secondary schools, where these problems mostly begin. Teaching teenagers about, sex, drinking and drugs is not enough! Bulimia or anorexia could be as much the root of such problems afore-mentioned. Please keep on campaigning, I imagine that many youngsters look up to you, so that you actaully have the potential to effect the life's of others because you will be heard
a darmanin
Mar 18th 2009, 11:19
Very couragious speaking of your story and how you managed to appreciate more LIFE.....God be with you Claudia and wishing you every success in your life!
J Galea
Mar 18th 2009, 11:02
Well Done Claudia, firstly for coming out of this addiction, and secondly for sharing your story. I really hope this confession would make our youngsters realise that by looking like a model we see on International catwalks, does'nt mean they have to suffer from this disease or worst still, Anorexia. Everyone's beautiful, LIFE is beautiful, and we have to love ourselves and others as we are.
jcmicallef
Mar 18th 2009, 10:17
...and now you are one of the most wonderful people in the whole of Malta, Claudia, well done!
nice to see that "it was her love of singing which eventually helped her out of her addiction ". so many people are missing a meaning in their life which could otherwise help them get out of their dire straits.
Every single one of us is unique and wonderful in his/her own way and it is always a great pity that someone could destroy him/herself because of such a condition.
Claudia's 'confession' should help those that need assistance so that they could seek help in time. It gives courage.
Instead of stigmatising people, we need to understand each other more, while if we adopt a policy of inclusion, a person's sense of purpose and belonging would at least be half his/her healing from the problem.
Al Buhagiar
Mar 18th 2009, 10:12
Well done Claudia on sharing your story!