It’s a highly taboo subject in the dance world. Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, are however very represented there according to Manon, professional ballerina. The 23-year-old young woman suffered from it a few years ago and decided to talk about it in front of the camera for My head and me, the series of 20 minutes on the mental health of young people. “In the world of dance, there is a rather special relationship with the body. We have to watch what we eat. […], and it’s almost normal to eat an apple for lunch. »
At 19, after a painful breakup, she gradually fell into bulimia. A disorder that involves ingesting large amounts of food in a short time, then resorting to compensatory behaviors, such as vomiting, excessive exercise, use of laxatives or fasting. “I hated myself. I felt like I had no will. It destroyed my self-confidence. »
Manon had to hang up her slippers to get treatment. “I stopped dancing, telling myself that that way I wouldn’t see myself in a mirror and therefore that I wouldn’t hate myself every day. “After a long follow-up with a psychologist and a nutritionist, as well as transcranial stimulation sessions, Manon feels better. “It was a very long road but in the end, I got out of it. »
Manon’s video testimony can be found at the top of this article.