Lara Sophia 
Getting real!
Jackie Goldschneider is taking some significant steps to seek treatment for her eating disorder on the Real Housewives of New Jersey.
This week fans saw Jackie begin outpatient treatment for her “18-year long” issues with food and body image. Naturally, this process isn’t easy and can be a lifelong battle.
While Jackie’s journey plays out on RHONJ, the reality TV star opened up about taking the steps to recover on her Instagram.
“Tonight’s episode marked the beginning of my recovery from an 18 year-long eating disorder that took over my mind, my body, and my life. 18 years of dangerous habits, secretive behaviors, and obsessive eating and exercise patterns that I was terrified to let go of because I wrapped so much of my identity around being thin. I was ashamed of my behavior around food and scared that people wouldn’t understand why or how I could do this to myself. I also didn’t know how to get help, as a middle-aged woman with 4 young children,” Jackie wrote. “There’s so much shame around ED’s and so many things that people don’t know about them, and because of that, millions of us struggle in silence. A person dies every 52 minutes from an eating disorder, which means over 10,000 deaths each year.”
She continued, “In my darkest days, I desperately wanted to see someone who had suffered like I suffered and who had [successfully] recovered and lived a happy life. When I ultimately decided to acknowledge and recover from this, I wanted to be that person for as many other people as I could. Having these conversations on camera was terrifying at times and heartbreaking to watch back, but I am so thankful that I’m finally on this road, and I’m grateful to Bravo for allowing me to break my silence so publicly so that people know there is no shame in having an eating disorder or in asking for help, and that help is available for anyone at any stage of life.”
“If you are struggling with an eating disorder, please call the National Eating Disorder Association hotline at (800) 931-2237 or visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org for help getting started with recovery. Thank you for all of your messages of love and support. They have been so empowering and incredibly appreciated! Xoxo Jackie,” the RHONJ star added.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
