Lucy's Story
Lucy Victoria's journey with eating disorders began at a young age, but through years of struggle and recovery, she now helps others overcome similar challenges. After battling with her own mental and physical health, Lucy found the strength to reclaim her life and pursue a career in mental health nursing. Today, as an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, she uses her personal experiences and professional knowledge to support others on their path to healing, offering a compassionate and insightful approach to recovery.
My Story
The Start of the Struggle
​
At 13, I started to develop an obsession with “eating healthy.” I felt like I wasn’t really good at anything, and losing weight became something I was good at—it got noticed, and that made me feel seen. My parents became concerned, and I was soon seeing my GP. It wasn’t long before I was referred to children’s mental health services and diagnosed with Anorexia.
​
Things declined quickly, both mentally and physically. Before I knew it, I was admitted to a children’s ward for a few weeks, then moved to a mental health inpatient hospital, where I stayed for around 6 months. When I was discharged, I had restored weight, but nothing had changed mentally.
​Hospitalizations and Survival
​
Between the ages of 13 and 17, I was simply surviving. I ate just enough to avoid being hospitalized, but I was still trying to restrict as much as I could. At 17, I was transferred to adult services, and my health quickly deteriorated again. Now that I was considered an adult, my parents had no say in my care, and I let the eating disorder take full control. I was admitted to a general ward once more, and after about a month, I was sent to a specialist eating disorder hospital. I stayed there for another 6 months but was readmitted shortly after.
The Turning Point: Considering Recovery
​
During my final stay, something changed. I had a place at my local college to study acting, and I really wanted to pursue it. I didn’t want to keep being sent to hospitals and being away from my family. So, at 18, I began to consider recovery. It started with me just keeping well enough to avoid the hospital, but soon I wanted to have what I call “tastes of life” again.
​
I began to enjoy college and made great friends. I even started applying to universities for a degree in acting—a field that’s incredibly competitive. To my amazement, I got accepted into a highly competitive course and moved away from home to pursue it. I started to realize there was a life outside of an eating disorder.
A New Life: Helping Others Heal
​
From ages 19 to 23, I was still fairly strict with my eating, but I was living life! It became clear to me that living with an eating disorder was hell. After university, I worked a few jobs and even moved to London to try and pursue my acting career. But something shifted. I realized I wanted to help others who were suffering from eating disorders and mental health struggles.
​
By 26, I was finally certain I’d never go back to the eating disorder. I enrolled in a master’s program to become a mental health nurse and began my studies in 2018. After completing my final placement and qualifying in 2020, I started my first nursing job at the same specialist eating disorder hospital I had once been a patient in. It made me realize how far I’d come.
​
I knew that to truly help people, I needed to go beyond hospital work. I wanted to create a space where people could receive the kind of care I wish I had received earlier. I built up my nursing experience and skills through various roles, and in 2023, I launched my own coaching business as a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) and Eating Disorder Recovery Coach.
​
Now, I help people recover from eating disorders while still working as an RMN. I feel so grateful for where I am today, for the people I get to work with, and the changes I get to witness in the lives of those I help. My journey has been long and challenging, but now I get to help others build the lives they deserve—lives free from the grip of an eating disorder.