My name is Jade Angel and I live in Brooklyn, New York.

I wanted to start We’ve Been There as a place for teens to come when they felt isolated and alone with their eating disorders. January 29, 2021 was the day that I finally sat down with a professional and admitted that my relationship with food and my body had gotten out of control and I couldn’t fix it on my own. My therapist told me that of all the illnesses she treats, teens with eating disorders tell the most lies to cover up their destructive behavior and that was definitely true for me. What was the most difficult for me was how alone I was and how I felt that I had to keep my eating disorder a secret. By telling our stories I want other teenagers to know you are not alone and there is hope.

In addition to the professionals that I was so lucky to work with, I formed friendships with other people that had been there too. It’s very easy to slide back into negative habits and destructive behaviors but community can ground us. That’s why I’m encouraging whomever is comfortable to come and share your story. So we can look out for each other.

I hope this is helpful and I want as many people as possible to share their stories so please email me! Thank you for your support!