Episode #354
(TW ED) My ED Caused Heart Failure & Almost Killed Me w/ Kate Avnaim | The Hopeaholics Podcast #354
(TW ED) My ED Caused Heart Failure & Almost Killed Me w/ Kate Avnaim | The Hopeaholics Podcast #354 Kate Avnaim's father was diagnosed with brain cancer when she was just 6 months old. When Kate was 13 they found it had spread through his whole brain. He chose quality time over more rounds of chemo. She was furious at him but she just didn't understand yet. He passed away and her mom was laid off right after, leaving Kate stuck in a permanent feeling that there was nothing in her life she could control. But she found 1 thing she could control and her eating disorder started shortly after. When her mom took her to the doctor, Kate hid it, wore a weighted vest under her clothes to fake the scale. They still knew something was wrong. They couldn't draw blood from her arm. She was diagnosed with bradycardia, a dangerously low heart rate, with fallouts happening in her sleep. Doctors told her mom on the spot: she needs to go to the hospital right now. No going home first. No packing a bag. The average hospital stay for what she had is one to two weeks. Kate was there for 35 days, on complete bed rest. After that, an online recovery program at home for 8 hours a day for about a month. Kate has since picked up training and has fallen in love with helping others see the potential within themselves and to hopefully be symbol of hope for others who are battling the same things she did growing up. National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline — 1-866-662-1235 Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials: https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off! Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction. Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC: https://www.infinitigroupllc.com Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics Our Merch: https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com #TheHopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie 06:48 — Dad diagnosed with brain cancer 07:53 — Remove the tumor and lose everything, or 7 more years 10:43 — The beginning of losing control. 11:11 — Mom laid off right after his death 15:36 — No prior body image issues 17:22 — The eating disorder started 17:51 — Wore a weighted vest to fake the scale at the doctor's office 18:34 — No blood could be drawn from her arm 19:29 — Bradycardia: dangerously low heart rate 21:24 — Hating the mirror, isolating from everyone 21:44 — 35 days in the hospital 22:48 — Online recovery program at home 23:13 — Feeling proud of her body for the first time 27:05 — ED are addiction. Once you start, you cannot stop 29:50 — Screaming at anyone who tried to help. 38:07 — Relationship with God 39:52 — Got mad at God after dad died 50:07 — Eight months recovered 52:09 — What would my dad be thinking watching me in the hospital? 54:29 — God gave you this body to use 56:03 — Exercise as a blessing instead of a punishment 1:00:22 — What would you tell someone silently struggling right now?
