Ryan Tubridy was joined by an extraordinary young Corkwoman today on his RTÉ Radio 1 show.
Aoife Hayes (18), who suffered from anorexia and severe anxiety, was at one stage so weak she couldn't walk up the stairs.
She has always been a sporty teenager but her exercise habits took a turn for the obsessive in 2013, going to the gym five times a week and doing double the exercise the next day if she missed a session.
Aoife told Tubridy she has always been very socially anxious as a child, but things reached their peak at an Ed Sheeran concert in 2014 when she fainted due to her body becoming so weak.
She said she wanted "to let people know it’s nothing to be ashamed of, and also that you can recover and things do get better".
She also spoke movingly about the all-consuming nature of anxiety: “There was like a little voice in my head, and it just kept telling me certain foods were really bad, and just to avoid them, and that I was really huge and I needed to exercise all the time and that people were just lying to me about my weight.'
She was eventually hospitalised and has returned to school, determined to do her Leaving Cert to become a mental health nurse and help others who are in the distressing position she was once in.
Although she said she still struggled daily with anxiety, she has learned to be kinder to herself, and practice mindfulness.
You can listen to her full interviewhere.Lead Image courtesy of RTÉ
Are saunas actually good for you? Here’s what experts have to say
These cities are the sunniest in Europe. Summer is officially here! If you’ve been looking for well-deserved city break for some sunshine, look no further, as new research has confirmed Europe’s sunniest cities. A new study completed by holiday rental platform Holidu has officially released a list of Europe’s sunniest cities. It analysed data from […]
Experts have confirmed whether saunas are actually good for our health. In Ireland, the use of saunas is becoming an increasingly popular pastime. As the Finnish custom becomes widespread across the country, people have been left wondering if it’s actually good for our health. Associate Professor of Extreme Environments at the University of Portsmouth, Dr […]
Brought to you by Fáilte Ireland Be part of the magic that makes Ireland a wonderful place to enjoy a short break. Deciding what career path you want to take post-school can be tough and filling out your CAO can be super daunting. Imagining a role that matches with your own ambition or envisioned lifestyle […]
