By Sophie Balisky, Silver Linings volunteer.
I was three years old on August 31, 1997, oblivious to the collective grief that gripped the globe following the death of Princess Diana. Until recently, my knowledge of the Princess of Wales has been limited to the fact that she was beautiful and loved by what seemed to be the entire world (including my mom). Today, twenty-some years after her death, I too find myself immersed in Princess Di’s ocean of adoration.
On the recommendation of a friend, I watched Diana: In Her Own Words on Netflix. I pressed play with an expectation of background noise or, at the most, a moderately interesting British history lesson. But by the end credits, I was full-body sobbing. Healing can often be found in the solace of shared experience... but the poignancy of such a public figure speaking openly of her struggles with bulimia and self-harm shook me to the core. I identified with her every word, feeling seen and understood in my own past battles of the same nature.
How, during all my twenty-six years, had I been unaware of the courageous vulnerability and mental health advocacy of Princess Diana? She was, in my estimation, the first celebrity to openly discuss having an eating disorder. More than two decades after her death, Diana remains an inspiring example of recovery. Here are three aspects of eating disorders that I believe Princess Diana illuminates through both her struggle and resilience.
Eating disorders are about so much more than physical appearance. Through her struggles with bulimia, Princess Diana proved that eating disorders are symptoms of emotional turmoil. They are not entirely about food and weight, as is often incorrectly believed. Princess Diana’s bulimia began shortly after she became a member of the British royal family. At 19 years of age, Diana went from being a kindergarten teacher’s aid in West London to a media obsession. This life-altering shift to life in the spotlight would soon be compounded by a stormy and restrictive marriage. She referred to her bulimia as an “escape mechanism” from the demands of her high-profile existence. She claimed that for her, bulimia was a side-effect of her unhappiness. “It was a symptom of what was going on in my marriage,“ she said. “I was crying out for help but people were using it as a coat on a hanger, claiming that (the bulimia) was the problem.”
When it comes to eating disorders, speaking up is not easy, but it is essential to healing. Diana described bulimia as “a secret disease that you inflict upon yourself because your self-esteem’s at a low ebb. You don’t think you’re worthy or valuable.” Eating disorders are known to thrive in secrecy and are often accompanied by the heaviness of shame. Diana described how hard it was for her to reach out for help: “When you have bulimia you’re very ashamed of yourself and you hate yourself, you don’t want to discuss it with people.” She struggled in silence for multiple years before beginning therapy.
Beyond recovering, Princess Diana further revolted against bulimia’s demands for secrecy in becoming one of the first celebrities to openly discuss having lived experience with an eating disorder. Her candidness created “The Diana Effect,' a phenomenon that saw a significant spike in access to eating disorder helplines and mental health resources. Through her bravery to be vulnerable, she gave permission for others to speak out about what was previously thought to be unspeakable.
Eating disorders do not define those who suffer from them. Amidst the pain of living with an eating disorder, it is possible to feel consumed and defined by your struggles. For this reason, recovery can seem daunting. Yet, Princess Diana proves that an eating disorder does not have the power to define you. I’m sure there were times when Diana felt complete hopelessness as if she would never succeed in escaping her illness. Evidently, nothing could have been further from the truth. Diana recovered, helped others to do the same and will forever be renowned for her work as a humanitarian. She transformed her pain into compassion and devoted herself to helping others feel seen and understood. No one thinks of Princess Diana and merely remembers her as someone with a mental illness. Even in the midst of her struggles, she was infinitely more than that. She is evidence that an eating disorder is not a life sentence or an identity. Instead, she serves as ever-living proof that an eating disorder can be overcome.
