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Dying to Be Thin
- The True Story of My Lifelong Battle Against Anorexia
- Narrated by: Yaz Shah
- Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
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Dying to Be Thin
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Summary
”The figure looking back at me was little more than a skeleton with just a thin layer of tissue paper for skin, drawn over the stick-like bones. I stood staring for a good couple of minutes, considering what I'd become. And my verdict? Brilliant, I thought. It's been worth every moment of all that hard work.”
Say the name Nikki Grahame and most people will remember the bubbly, highly strung and hugely entertaining Big Brother 7 contestant. Since leaving the Big Brother house, she has forged a successful career for herself in presenting and writing. Yet Nikki isn't just another reality television contestant and her life story is not like any other you will ever read.
From the age of eight until she was nineteen, Nikki battled anorexia nervosa but few cases have been quite as extreme as hers. Aged just eight and weighing just under three stone, Nikki was diagnosed as anorexic.
For the next eight years, she was in and out of institutions - seven in total - during which time she attempted suicide twice and had to be sedated up to four times a day so that she could be force-fed. At one point, she was sedated for fourteen days while doctors sewed a tube into her stomach, through which she was fed in order to get her weight out of the critical range. The lengths that she went to avoid eating and find ways to exercise excessively shocked doctors who have worked in the field for years. As Nikki says, “I've always wanted to be the best at everything I do, so I had to be the best anorexic - and I was.”
This compelling book tells the story of an incredible journey.
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What listeners say about Dying to Be Thin
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Ktwuk
- 22-07-23
Sad true story
Hard to listen to at times
A interesting inside of would of loved a follow up from her mum maybe.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amy
- 01-11-23
Heartbreaking but vital
An essential listen for those who may have suffered from eating disorders. The true horror not to mention destroying of a shallow stereotype the author was given. This book was a massive part of my recovery from an eating disorder helping me realise the agony and insanity of it all.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lexy
- 14-06-22
So sad
RIP Nikki. What a horrendous childhood Nikki had. This explains so much of her behaviour in BB.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- sarah kate small
- 30-07-19
Insightful and honest
A vivid and honest account of how destructive Anorexia can be. The level of detail made it very interesting and the descriptions of the various units helped me visualise what Nikki's time as an inpatient must have been like. Upon listening to the book, I thought she was very brave as so much of herself is revealed. At the points where she hits rock bottom, it's hard to hear and I did have to take breaks. Well worth reading if you are interested in child and adolescent mental health.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lorna
- 24-04-21
Emotional and sad tale
I downloaded after I'd heard of nikki's passing. She'd been through so much from such a young age and it's scary to know she went through so much to get where she needed to be. I'm just sorry it took her life in the end :(
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Sarah Lowe
- 14-04-21
Beautiful Person Inside and Out
beautiful autobiography which I feel really told Niks story such a strong woman filled with character
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lisa gale
- 24-06-22
fantastic read
loved it, very moving and honest account of living with the ups and downs of anorexia
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- Catsexyfeline
- 07-05-22
Heartbreakingly beautiful
I felt so sad listening to this. Sad because the trauma that Nikki experiencedas a child was absolutely horrific, she literally lost her childhood age 8 when she was first institutionalised. I cannot begin to imagine what that was like. And then triumph over adversity, that she turned things around and found happiness. And then sadness, knowing that lockdown killed Nikki. Nevertheless, she packed a huge amount into her life and is a positive example of overcoming the horrors of anorexia.
Excellent performance by Yaz, nuances were amazing!
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- Dilly Grimwood
- 23-04-24
Bittersweet
That ending though :’( A heartbreaking listen, read with caution if facing your own difficulties, the so familiar description of the journey through disordered eating for those with their own struggles has the potential to awaken and trigger a rise of the inner demons. Nikki was absolutely right, she was so special.
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- natcat
- 02-05-19
Really enjoyable listen
the music is quite cheesy, but I absolutely enjoyed listening to the real account of living with AN and treatment. I could relate so much. the ending seemed like a fairy tale though!
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