No life is simple, whether you have a physical illness, mental illness or a combination of the two, you can be assured that you are not alone. In my teens I loved acting and growing up watching Harry Potter I so desperately wanted a role that I even sent a letter to the casting director. However, no life is that simple. I was bullied at school for getting high grades and my family was falling apart. My parents were on the brink of divorce and my mum was abusing alcohol. There was just nowhere where I could be myself and happy. Over time these problems took their toll and my mind started to crumble. I took less joy in things I used to love, such as food, video games and school. This is when my eating disorder began.

It started with the desire to become healthier. I cut fizzy drinks first, then chocolate and sweets. With time I started to cut food groups, mainly fatty foods and my diet eventually consisted of only chicken and potatoes. I had lost a lot of weight and was unable to participate in PE at school and sports at home. With the Internet still in its infancy and eating disorders being considered a 'girl's illness' I had no idea what was happening to me. I went from doctor to doctor, having every test under the sun to find the answer. What we didn't know was that my mind was ill and my body was just being taken on a ride.

I remember the day of my diagnosis like it was yesterday. It was an appointment to discuss the results of my thyroid test, which the doctor told my father and I was negative. They were about to say something else but my dad intervened and opened a folder packed full of research he had done on eating disorders. He said, "Is it anorexia? Does my son have anorexia?" The doctor said that he took the words right out of their mouth. I was referred to our local eating disorders service and they were blown away with how bad things were. The fact that I was male delayed my diagnosis by three months and I was on the verge of heart failure. Luckily a place was open at an eating disorders unit called Rhodes Farm. Normally people have to wait months for a place but I was sent there that week.