Amy turns life around

The 26-year-old had been hospitalised for anorexia nervosa after collapsing in the shower.

Her heart rate dropped to 28 beats a minute.

Looking back on the dark and frightening time aids Ms Singline in her recovery. 

“I just think about that night and nearly dying and I don’t ever want to go down that path again,” she said.

Ms Singline said obsessive behaviours around food and exercise began to develop when she was 21 and gradually intensified.

“It really started [as clean eating] … there was nothing wrong with me, I would say I was healthy,” Ms Singline said.

“But I started reading the magazines and clean eating … and I was just living off lettuce.

“I just pushed away my family and friends because I think deep down I knew what was happening.”  

Due to a lack of specialised eating disorder services, Ms Singline said she was in a ward alongside cancer patients. 

After she left hospital, Ms Singline sought mental health help but due to the cap of 10 free sessions a year through Medicare, could not afford ongoing treatment.

She felt she needed a fresh start, and took a “big risk” by moving to the Gold Coast to be a live-in nanny. 

Ms Singline now lives with her partner, also a Tasmanian, on the Gold Coast and is redefining her relationship with food. She aims to raise awareness and start conversations around mental health. 

Ms Singline made a mental health post on Facebook and was shocked by the number of people who privately messaged her to reveal their secret mental health battles.

“It made me quite upset, the amount of people who have had problems and experienced the same sort of thing but never felt they could speak up about it,” Ms Singline said. 

“I lost 80 per cent of my hair with my eating disorder and I was losing that and crying every morning in front of the mirror and it still didn't make me want to put on weight.

 “[But now] I feel healthy and happy.”

If you need help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636