For people struggling with an eating disorder, Christmas can become an ordeal rather than a happy time of year. With food forming the main focal point of the day - from advent calendars to sitting down for a large Christmas dinner - its constant presence can feel suffocating.
Megan Lambert, 19, Phoebe Webb, 23, and Sarah Dale, 22, have all battled eating disorders and created campaigns with Fixers to show people the severity of the illness. Here, the three young women share their experiences of Christmas with an eating disorder.
Megan Lambert, 19, Burnley, Lancashire
"When you think of Christmas, you automatically think of food, so it's a really overwhelming time of year for people with an eating disorder.
I began suffering from anorexia when I was 15. I'm a dancer and started dieting when I noticed that it was the thinner girls who were put at the front of the stage during shows.
I was so anxious about Christmas; I felt suffocated being surrounded by all the food.
In the days leading up to it I ate just a few pieces of fruit a day.
Christmas day was horrible because all I wanted to do was lie down in my room and not eat; I isolated myself from my family.
Even when I was opening my presents I couldn't enjoy it because I knew what came after – Christmas dinner.
I felt sad because it used to be a time of year that I loved. My sister and I would get up and eat chocolate together for breakfast - it was our little tradition.
But as soon as we sat down for Christmas dinner, I started crying. I tried to eat but couldn't.
My family knew what was wrong but I don't think they knew what to say and they felt like they were walking on eggshells.
I went up to bed at 7pm and wouldn't speak to anyone.
I started getting help in February 2013 after I was taken to an eating disorder clinic where I was referred for long term therapy.
Since then I've started to enjoy Christmas and this year I'm looking forward to it more than I ever.
I want to cherish every moment, get involved and do all the things I missed out on."
With Fixers Megan created a film showing what it's like to have an eating disorder. You can watch it here.
Sarah Dale, 22, Newtown, Powys, Wales
"Christmas was a very distressing time for me - I felt so anxious about all the chocolate I was going to get given, and I felt pressured having to sit down and eat in front of people.
My eating disorder started in 2009 when I was 16 – I wanted to be in control of everything I was eating.
I started cutting bread and fat out of my diet and skipping meals, hiding food in my room so my mum wouldn't realise what I was doing.
I knew what was coming and in the days leading up to Christmas I was barely eating anything – some days I would just eat a few lettuce leaves.
I would spend two hours a day walking in the woods nearby.
When it came to Christmas day I actually ate all of the chocolate that I'd been given so that I wouldn't have it any more – I just wanted it gone.
By this point my family knew about my eating disorder. I refused to sit at the table and eat Christmas dinner, which made things awkward.
In January 2010, I was referred to Child Adult and Mental Health Services for treatment and now I find Christmas a lot easier to deal with.
Over the years I've found some little techniques to get through it.
This year, I'll be spending the day with my partner's family and I'm taking my two cats with me.
If things get too much then I go and spend some time with them and calm down.
I have made some progress – I'm making the Christmas cake this year and helping with the food shopping.
Nowadays I will sit and join in with Christmas dinner, but instead of turkey and all the trimmings I'll have some vegan sausages, roast potatoes and vegetables.
I still don't like people watching me eat, but as long as they understand that it's fine.
I try not to put too much pressure on myself. I've learned it's okay if everyone else is having five desserts but I can only manage fruit - it's important to just pace yourself and do what you can do.
There is a big emphasis on food at Christmas but it's just another day of the year."
With Fixers Sarah created a radio play which addresses anorexia as a mental illness.
Phoebe Webb, 23, Ipswich, Suffolk
"I began suffering from anorexia when I was a teenager as a response to my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and depression – it was a coping mechanism that became its own problem.
Christmas was a particularly difficult time because I would be surrounded by food all the time.
I remember crying over food and shouting at my parents, both for cooking dinner for me, and for not forcing me to eat it.
It caused a lot of frustration – my family tried to be supportive but it did make for some arguments and put a strain on our relationship.
We all found it very difficult – I was like a ticking time bomb and the smallest thing could set me off.
Over the years, I was hospitalised a number of times because of my eating disorder.
There was one time I remember well because it was a month before Christmas.
I wanted to join in with everyone so badly but still really struggled.
On Christmas day I was trying so hard but was still overwhelmed; I felt pressured to recover in time for the celebrations, but I wasn't ready.
It's take a lot of time, but I'm on the road to recovery.
Last Christmas was the first one that I'd enjoyed in a long time and I was really excited.
For the first time since I was a kid I could eat everything that everyone else was eating – and was able to have things like roast potatoes and dessert.
I'm two years into recovery and I don't feel anxious about Christmas at all; I'm really looking forward to it.
I hope without the presence of the eating disorder I can really enjoy the day.
If I had any advice for people struggling who want to challenge their illness over Christmas, I'd say don't set any expectations for yourself.
Even the smallest achievements are achievements, and are worth being proud of."
Click here to watch Phoebe's Fixers film about anorexia.
For information about Fixers or to make a donation, visit their website.
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