I was 48 kilos, suffering from severe body dysmorphia: Mushk Kaleem
Popular model Mushk Kaleem, who recently garnered immense fame in a surpirsingly short amount of time, has opened up about her struggle with body dysmorphia on World Mental Health Day.
Taking to Instagram, Kaleem shared pictures from her journey, in an attempt to empower those who go through similar struggles while failing to appreciate their body.
"2019, was probably the most rewarding year of my career, but when I look back and think about all that I went through last year, I realise that my mental health had completely taken a back seat," she wrote.
The model then recalled how during the time she was adapting to fame, success and accolades, everyone naturally thought she was "living the dream."
On the contrary, Kaleem "knew then, that to complain about anything would be unthankful." But she admitted that she was hospitalised on her 25th birthday last year. "I was almost 48 kilos and suffering from severe body dysmorphia. I would spend hours obsessing over my weight, about losing those few inches on my waist, about getting those perfect hips, or about just looking the part," she said.
"I had started starving myself, not eating for 24 hours and more, I was abusing drugs, I was unhealthy. I was a 6ft girl suffering from severe anorexia. I would occasionally blackout. I needed help. I think it had less to do with my field of work and more to do with how I was okay with being so self-destructive."
Kaleem then expressed how she had become comfortable with being unhappy, but assured that hers was happy story. "Now, a year later, I’m a happier person. I’ve been clean for more than a year. I have found support and happiness in my family, friends, and pets. I have set boundaries that I never let people cross."
She explained how she told herself she could still be beautiful, no matter what number the weighing scale would say, adding that she also took therapy. "I put myself first. I tackled my issues head on, and at first it was scary and it aggravated my anxiety, but I’ve grown, and I’ve healed. It’s still an ongoing process of recovery that I’m on. But I’m glad I started somewhere."
The model concluded on a celebratory note, along with an important advise. "Our mental health impacts our thoughts, our actions and our lives. Here’s to taking care of our minds, our bodies, our souls. Happy National Mental Health day!♥️"
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