In a recent piece for Vogue this week, Tallulah Willis opened up about her struggle with anorexia and its coincidence with her father's aphasia and dementia diagnoses.
The daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore penned an essay revealing she first became aware of her self-image at the age of 11 when she read comments about herself that accompanied a photo of her with her "famously beautiful mom."
She believed—like the comments stated—people around her knew the "truth" that she was ugly but that they were trying to protect her.
"And for years afterward, protecting people right back, I told no one. I just lived with the silent certainty of my own ugliness."
Tallulah eventually went through years of therapy, got sober and sought treatment for depression.
More recently, she received help for her battle with anorexia nervosa, amid her father's recent health issues.
She revealed she was in denial about his condition but also didn't have the capacity -e2 mentally or physically - to face the reality.
“My friends and family were terrified, and I dismissed it."
And her condition only worsened.
“By the spring of 2022, I weighed about 84 pounds. I was always freezing."
“I was calling mobile IV teams to come to my house, and I couldn’t walk in my Los Angeles neighborhood because I was afraid of not having a place to sit down and catch my breath.”
Tallulah shared she thought about how her father would feel knowing her state if he was "his full self."
“The other night, I lay in bed thinking to myself, with an ache in my heart, What if my dad had been his full self and saw me at that size?”
“What would he have done? I’d like to think that he wouldn’t have let it happen.”
You can listen to her story below.
\u201cTallulah Willis opens up about Borderline Personality Disorder diagnosis and dad Bruce Willis' dementia in new moving essay for "Vogue." @eriellereshef has more. https://t.co/UW7PAhwBC3\u201d— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1685622157
People on social media learning of Tallulah's recent struggles are rooting for her.
\u201c@TODAYshow Good luck babe I hope ya can beat the sickness and be healthy feeling for a long time\u201d— TODAY (@TODAY) 1685587510
\u201cThinking of you, Tallulah and Bruce. It's a tough road to travel. Many people are wishing you love. https://t.co/wb6TJmhlfD\u201d— CJ Frederick \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@CJ Frederick \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1685627468
\u201c@NBCNews You being healthy for him, is his reward!\u201d— NBC News (@NBC News) 1685578519
\u201c@TODAYshow Tallulah, be with your Dad, he took care of you when you when you needed him, now it's time for you to take care of him. It will be a challenge but it will be worth it in the end. Trust me,girl\u201d— TODAY (@TODAY) 1685596805
\u201c@PageSix I imagine it feels difficult to be seen when your parents are such huge figures. I hope she finds security within herself.\u201d— Page Six (@Page Six) 1685629457
\u201c@Variety \ud83d\udc9c\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1685689201
\u201c@THR Brave girl! It must be difficult, but she sounds like a fighter and that will be good for her Father as well as herself \ud83d\udcaa\u201d— The Hollywood Reporter (@The Hollywood Reporter) 1685581097
Many also expressed their love and well wishes for her father.
\u201c@TODAYshow We love Bruce Willis blessings to him!\u201d— TODAY (@TODAY) 1685596805
\u201c@TODAYshow Shower him with love, hugs, and many kisses. We love you Bruce! \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— TODAY (@TODAY) 1685596805
\u201c@TODAYshow We love Bruce Willis blessings to him!\u201d— TODAY (@TODAY) 1685596805
Tallulah revealed she "felt a lot better" and realized “recovery is probably lifelong" after receiving treatment at a recovery center in Texas where she was also diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD).
“But I now have the tools to be present in all facets of my life, and especially in my relationship with my dad."
“I can bring him an energy that’s bright and sunny, no matter where I’ve been. In the past I was so afraid of being destroyed by sadness, but finally I feel that I can show up and be relied upon.”
While she recognizes the journey won't be easy, she is comforted in knowing she can now be present for her dad.
“I can savor that time, hold my dad’s hand, and feel that it’s wonderful."
“I know that trials are looming, that this is the beginning of grief, but that whole thing about loving yourself before you can love somebody else—it’s real.”
