Hanne Art's Story

Trapped in the Cycle​

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If you had told me years ago that life could be different—that I could feel free, at peace, and truly happy—I wouldn’t have believed you. Back then, I was trapped. Trapped in a cycle of rigid rules, of constant calculations, of feeling like I had control while, in reality, I was being controlled.

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From 2009 to 2015, I battled anorexia, orthorexia, and all the mental and physical struggles that came with them. It started innocently—just wanting to be healthy, and maybe cutting out a snack here and there. Before I knew it, though, I was avoiding all sugar, exercising every day, and jumping on every wellness trend I came across. What seemed like discipline turned to obsession, and before I knew it, my already-low weight was dropping further, my body was shutting down, and food ruled my life.

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Losing Control While Seeking It​

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I meticulously planned every meal, lost sleep over portion sizes, and felt constant, gnawing anxiety. My hair grew brittle, my body grew weak, and my world grew smaller. Social events, fun, spontaneity—everything that had made life full and rich faded into the background. The only thing that seemed to bring relief was tighter control. But the relief was fleeting, and the cycle continued.

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The thing about an eating disorder is that it convinces you it’s keeping you safe. That you need it. That you can’t live without it. It wasn’t until I decided to let go that I realized what I had been missing.

 

​The Turning Point

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In 2015, I reached my breaking point. I admitted myself to the hospital, uncertain of what recovery would look like but knowing that I couldn’t keep living the way I had been. Nothing changes if nothing changes. I took a leap of faith, stepped off the treadmill—literally and figuratively—and gave myself the time and space to heal. It was about gaining weight, yes, but it was also about so much more. It was about gaining life.

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By age 20, I barely would've recognized myself: I was living alone and had started university. By 21, I got my first-ever period. And now, another seven years on, I have graduated, built up my own business, and am helping others through the same journey that I once believed was impossible.

 

​Recovery and Helping Others

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Recovery is the hardest and the most beautiful thing I have ever done. And today, I work with women all around the world who are struggling with the same battles I once faced. I help them get their periods back, let go of calorie counting, release the compulsions, and find peace with their bodies and themselves. Because I know how it feels to be stuck, and I also know what it takes to get unstuck.

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There was a time I thought I would never make it here. A time when, even in a room full of people, I felt isolated and alone. When my body was shutting down and I still couldn’t bring myself to let go. But I did. And if I can do it, so can you.

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Recovery is possible.

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It is daunting, it is tough, but aren’t you tired of being sick and tired? If you’re ready to break free, let today be the day you take that leap. You're not alone, and you've got this.​