16. S2, Ep4: Autism and disordered eating: an experience of treatment and recovery

Ella Pitt is 26 and was diagnosed autistic very recently. They're an English Literature graduate with a first class honours degree and they live and work in Brixton, London, in the UK. They also have a blog and write poetry.

They struggled with an eating disorder in their late teens and early twenties, and they were eventually sectioned under the Mental Health Act as their health deteriorated. They spent some time as an inpatient in a specialist hospital, where their then undiagnosed autism impacted on their treatment and recovery.

In my conversation with Ella Pitt we talk about

➡ Growing up without an autism diagnosis

➡ The interplay between autism and anorexia nervosa

➡ How accepted treatments for eating disorders play out with autistic patients

➡ The impact of finally getting an autism diagnosis - and what it means for the future

I'm aware that this conversation might be triggering for some listeners. In the first few minutes we chat more generally; the conversation about disordered eating begins at 00:12:10. If the issues we discuss in this episode affect you or someone you know, you'll find some links below where you can get more information.

Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes.

I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences.

I'm Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I'm now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issues around being a neurodivergent adult in a world that feels like it doesn't quite fit.

EPISODE LINKS:

Ella's blog: https://whatsthetimeconfessional.wordpress.com/

Their poetry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatsthetimepoetry/

Their twitter: https://twitter.com/smellaarmpitt

Information about anorexia's link to autism: https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/anorexias-link-to-autism-explained/

https://www.spectrumnews.org/features/deep-dive/the-invisible-link-between-autism-and-anorexia/

Useful information from Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/eating-problems/useful-contacts/

Beat Eating Disorders Helpline (UK): https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/support-services/helplines

Helpline and support (USA): https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

If you'd like to connect or get in touch with Squarepeg, you can find me on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/squarepegautism

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/

Or on my website: http://squarepeg.community/

Support Squarepeg on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast