Nicola Colman: I recovered from 15 years of anorexia... then helped my daughter do the same

Nicola Colman lived with anorexia for 15 years, outwardly functioning through marriage, motherhood and immigration, while giving most of her life to the eating disorder. Her turning point came when her son asked why she never ate dinner with the family - she realised her children were learning this was normal.In 2019, her 15-year-old daughter was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Despite Nicola's efforts to create a household free from diet culture, her daughter fell completely silent for 11 months and required hospitalisation. Working with an eating disorder coach as a family, they navigated recovery together. Today, her daughter is 21, about to start university, and thriving. Now Nicola works as an eating disorder coach, helping others understand that complete recovery is possible. She is focussed on on bringing eating disorders "out of the darkness" where shame allows them to grow.We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text or a voicemail by clicking here. If you need support, here are helpful links, phone numbers and resources: https://ember.org.nz/resources/in-a-crisis/