The Charger Blog

Charger Blogger ӰԭGets RealӰԭ About Health and Wellness

Beatrice Glaviano Ӱԭ26 offers an honest discussion about her own wellness, sharing her fears and offering transparency and support.

April 23, 2024

By Beatrice Glaviano Ӱԭ26

Beatrice Glaviano Ӱԭ26 enjoys the beauty of a waterfall.
Beatrice Glaviano Ӱԭ26 enjoys the beauty of a waterfall.

Does anyone ever just sort of lay on the floor, listen to ColdplayӰԭs old music, and contemplate life?

Well, welcome to ӰԭLate Night Talks,Ӱԭ an I-have-no-clue-if-this-will-continue series that IӰԭm establishing at 11 p.m. for no real reason.

In this article, weӰԭre going to be getting real. Filthy, disturbingly real. If thatӰԭs not your jam, then, hey, man, change the playlist a bit Ӱԭ IӰԭll be helping myself to peanut butter and an apple in the meantime.

Because this blog thrives on being one thatӰԭs transparent, IӰԭm going to be honest with all of you and key you in on whatӰԭs been happening in my life.

Beatrice GlavianoӰԭs daffodils.
Beatrice GlavianoӰԭs daffodils.

From a health standpoint, IӰԭm basically on the verge of going outpatient for eating disorder therapy.

Yeah, the nutritional sciences student doesnӰԭt know how to be a normal person when it comes to eating. Ironic, isnӰԭt it? At least, I think it is.

Author sighs, looking into her tea and stirring it.

IӰԭm terrified.

I cried for hours. IӰԭve never been so scared of something in my entire life, even though I know it would be for my benefit, even if I canӰԭt see it. IӰԭm so close to ending the school year, passing my NREMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians), and getting a job as an EMT at the place where IӰԭve been volunteering at. It feels unfair, really, but life is never going to be fair no matter what card you play.

I preach being okay with your body and honoring change, but I can never find it in myself to do that for myself. I have never truly liked my body. All the morphing in the mirror to look pretty or worrying about the cellulite rippling on my legs. IӰԭve been out of the gym for months now, and even though I can see that IӰԭve started to heal physically and mentally, itӰԭs disheartening.

I was really, really strong at one point. Now I feel like a piece of overcooked spaghetti with a paintbrush and a laptop. Like ????

I might as well be an academic butterknife at this point.

Beatrice Glaviano Ӱԭ26 relaxes by a fire.
Beatrice Glaviano Ӱԭ26 relaxes by a fire.

Author drums her fingers on her desk.

What else has happened? Hm...Oh, well, I stayed up for thirty-eight hours straight. I got off of the overnight IӰԭd worked, had therapy (of which I was dropped the outpatient bomb of death), organic chemistry lab meeting thingy, and then studied for a few hours. Wise move? Maybe not. But, it happened. Testing those limits are fun sometimes, except when your therapist is clearly upset at you. The calls IӰԭd gotten that night werenӰԭt super bad, really, but theyӰԭre nothing IӰԭd want to go through at an older age.

Speaking of old age, did anyone else turn eighteen and then have their hips start acting up? Or a knee. Or their ankle. Or like, all of that.

IӰԭll try bending down at work and I look like a 40-year-old suburban father who doesnӰԭt salt his chicken before putting it into the pan. You know what IӰԭm talking about.

(To all 40-year-old suburban dads who donӰԭt salt their chicken out there, IӰԭm sorry but you need to educate yourself on the power of seasoning.)

Whatever the case, being a dorm dweller for most of the winter was not a fantabulous decision on my part, so IӰԭm trying to scoot around campus as much as possible.

Thank you for your support, faithful readers!

Beatrice Glaviano Ӱԭ26 is a nutrition sciences major at the University of New Haven.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder and/or mental health concern, we are here to support you. Campus resources are available, free, and confidential.

Campus Dietitian, Samantha Zajac-Standish, RDN, CDN
SZajac@newhaven.edu
(203) 836-4559