Ashli Roussel, a senior nursing major, gave a presentation Tuesday night in Cone Chapel about finding God in an eating disorder, as a personal testimony of her experience.
Roussel described her testimony as something she used to want to keep in secret but now feels moved and obligated to share with others her story, or as she is now able to refer to it, her “adventure.”
While Roussel’s testimony was primarily presented to those who have eating disorder, to those who know someone with an eating disorder or to anyone with a passion for the issue, she offered a universal message, describing not only a physical eating disorder, but also what can be acknowledged as a spiritual eating disorder, in which all may struggle.
Roussel was diagnosed with an eating disorder her junior year of high school and was in organized treatment for nine months following her diagnosis. According to Roussel, the biggest struggle from being diagnosed was not being able to run track, which had become not only her social group, but a part of her identity.
“It was the rug being pulled out from underneath my feet,” Roussel said. “That was the hardest thing because what I was so consumed with was stripped away and I was left bare.”
Roussel said she is grateful that she continued to have the same friends during that time who supported and encouraged her throughout her struggle. While Roussel admitted that she had a jealousy of her friends being able to run track, it was not because of something that they were doing wrong, but more of what she described as a jealousy of her former ability to run.
A blessing that Roussel has seen through this struggle is the ability to reach out to other girls. Roussel said she has been in contact with a couple of girls since recovering from her eating disorder and has been able to help them along in a similar journey and mutually encourage each other.
Roussel said her favorite part of her journey was discovering how God is in the middle of every battle and not just waiting for us on the other side.
“I really believe that God is not on either side of our struggles, but present and powerful right in the middle, working to bring him glory and to bring us deliverance,” Roussel said. “That applies to any struggle – and that’s the beautiful thing about the Lord.”
