Amy Winehouse Bulimic

By Kelly Clark / Underlying Issue

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  • Why should you be proactive?
  • What stops people from taking charge of their health?
  • Was Amy Winehouse bulimic? Was there something bigger going on?

Was Amy Winehouse bulimic? Yes. This revelation was made in the documentary AMY. It is a heartbreaking film.

After watching it I felt pretty low. Then I remembered, the only way to turn a difficult experience into something positive is to learn from it. Here are 3 things Amy Winehouse’s struggle can teach anyone, no matter what you’re going through.

Kelly ClarkI wanted to write this post because there is a bit of Amy Winehouse in all of us. Everyone has unique abilities that can be (and should be!) the driving force in our lives. In yet, we can be sidetracked by negative influences—such as health issues, substance abuse, difficult people or anything else unexpected that pops up along the paths we choose. But there is a way out. It took me a while to understand this. And that’s why I wanted to write about what I learned.

Amy Winehouse Lesson 1

Don’t be ashamed
When you have a concern, talk to someone about it. Don’t be embarrassed. What you’re actually saying is: “Hey, I want to improve my life.” Feel empowered by the fact you’re making self improvement a priority. Be proud of your fight to get healthy. It might not be easy the first time you confide in someone. But everything requires a learning curve–it’s what makes success satisfying. Choose someone you trust. Share what’s going on. You don’t have to explain it perfectly. You just have to get the words out. Once you’ve opened up, you’ll be on the road back to health. And you’ll be surprised how good you feel after you talk to someone who cares about you.

Amy Winehouse Lesson 2

Get help early
The longer you leave a problem the more coping mechanisms you develop. Negative coping mechanisms often become bad habits. Soon these self-defeating choices become your new normal.

If you have a barrier before you, accept it. Then seek help. Being proactive helps you figure out what’s going on and how to get better. Early intervention focuses your energy constructively. This positive guidance prevents small problems from becoming big.

Take control of your life by asking for help.

A stitch in time saves nine
– Thomas Fuller, Historian

Amy Winehouse Bulimic

Oscar-nominated documentary: AMY

Amy Winehouse Lesson 3

Deal with underlying issues
Was Amy Winehouse bulimic? Yes. Is an eating disorder just the tip of the iceberg. Yes. Like any behaviour, an eating disorder is an outward expression of bigger things going on. Being preoccupied with your weight to the degree it interrupts your life represents an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

I’m quite an insecure person. I’m very insecure about the way I look. I mean, I’m a musician I’m not a model.

– Amy Winehouse, I Told You I Was Trouble (Documentary 2007)

When you share behaviours like bulimia with a doctor, you can begin to determine and deal with underlying issues. Then you can focus on the root cause of your actions and avoid ingraining habits that create bigger barriers between you and your goals. An eating disorder can take on a life of it’s own. What’s frustrating is it’s preventable. Understanding what’s going on helps you break patterns that set you up to fail. Then you can make healthier decisions.

I have OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). OCD is an anxiety disorder that’s treatable. However, when left without being diagnosed, it can be crippling. Often people with OCD try to solve the same problem with the same solution. Why? They blame themselves instead of their method. When something I planned didn’t work I’d always tell myself I didn’t try hard enough! Whereas people without OCD will be kinder to themselves when working toward goals. They accept mistakes as part of the process. This method allows them to learn through trial and error and build on bright spots. The good news is that when you understand your choices are self-defeating, you can break the pattern. However, this pattern can be difficult to recognize if you don’t open up and talk to someone about what you’re going through.

Was Amy Winehouse bulimic?

Yes. And she’s left with world with beautiful music and important lessons.
Stop being ashamed. Get help early. Deal with your underlying issues.

After watching the AMY Documentary you get a sense that Winehouse was always seeking approval from the most toxic people in her life; her dad (Mitch Winehouse) and her husband (Blake Fielder-Civil). Amy Winehouse had this incredible voice, writing ability and stage presence and she was supporting the jet-setting lifestyle of both these men. In yet she let them make her feel small.

Sadly we see a similar pattern with Tina Turner, Cher and Whitney Houston. There are many wonderful people who let those who don’t have their best intentions in mind control their lives.

Whether at home, work or play, ask yourself, “Do the people around me lift me up or pull me down?” Any time you spend with people you don’t feel good around, you’re missing out on meeting people you’d love.

Amy Winehouse Bulimic

Listen to people who treat you with love and respect.

The fourth lesson Amy Winehouse taught us – no matter what we’re going through – was to be open and listen to the people in our lives who treat us with love and respect. Amy had a wonderful group of friends from her childhood. Often it’s easier to see what’s going on when you’re on the outside looking in. It’s important to value the opinion of people who care about you.

Thank you Amy Winehouse for your music, for valuing life beyond material goods and for the lessons you’ve taught us.

AMY Documentary Trailer, Was Amy Winehouse bulimic?

 

 

  Work with me - 1:1 Coaching Buy Now - It took me 10 years to lose 10 pounds What the F do I eat?

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Sharing what I learned makes the 10 years I STRUGGLED worth it

Do you have any suggestions for someone who’s nervous about opening up?

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