'My 600-lb Life': Rape, abuse and emotional unavailability made Ashley pick food as her drug
Ashey Taylor has always struggled with weight and she has reached a point where she sees food as her drug. Ashley confessed that food is the one thing that she turns to whenever she is feeling down. However, the sadness takes over her again once she is done eating. She suggested that her childhood had been filled with good memories, thanks to her grandmother and mother, but certain incidents put her in a dark place.
Ashley revealed that it had always been three of them in the family as she didn't know who her dad was. However, things changed when her mother was diagnosed with epilepsy and this made her fear for her mother's life. It was the beginning of Ashley turning towards food for comfort. To make things worse, she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a very young age.
Having to worry about herself and her mother, Ashley used to seek comfort from the food she ate. While her grandmother used to be away, it gave her more freedom to have whatever she desired. Ashley recalled that there were times when her mom and she would go and buy food together. One could say it was a bonding moment for the two but it was an act that was slowly taking over Ashley's life.
While she started growing up, her relationship with food did not change. Ashley recalled that she was also raped by her neighbor and decided to come forward only when another girl from her block spoke up. She revealed that the man has been put in jail but her life did not get any better from there.
Her mother had an attack which put her in a position that she had to be put in a care house, which left Ashley disappointed and upset. It was also the time when she found out that her family friend had been her biological dad. She found out the truth after getting a DNA test. This brought about an emotional turmoil for Ashley, who now felt that her life was a lie.
She tried to eat her way through sorrow and gained weight to the point that she started getting bullied at school. Ashley decided to stay at home as she believed if she stayed in the house, no one could hurt her. As she grew up, her relationship with food did not change and the events did not get any better.
She found out that her grandmother has cancer and she hoped she would get better. Sadly, things did not turn out the way she had expected. After her grandmother passed away, she was forced to vacate the house. She stayed in a shelter where she made friends and managed to move to her place once she registered herself as a disable person.
Once she got her place, Ashey turned towards the internet and started catfishing people. She thought it was the other addiction she had but food was still on top of her list. While chatting with people online, she met a guy that she shared a strong bond with. Unfortunately, he turned out to be abusive and the two ended their relationship soon.
Going through all these things at once, Ashley tried to seek joy from food but now she has realized that she needs to change to make sure she has a taste of real happiness.
'My 600-lb Life' airs on Wednesdays at 8pm ET on TLC.
