None of this came easy. I had to work on refusing food when I knew I didn’t need it, and every “no” or “thanks, I’m good” took an amount of restraint I didn’t know I had. But as my symptoms began to come under control, it started to get less difficult.

Some months later, as I lay lazily in bed, my stomach growled with hunger. I nearly cried with joy.

Although my symptoms may not completely go away, the months of restraint and reprogramming have helped my gut to significantly heal. These days, I eat when I’m hungry, and wait for my stomach to tell me it’s full.

Dr Zibarras reminded me that the key to satiety is in mindful eating – chewing food thoroughly and working through meals slowly. I was reminded of that fact as I walked to a dinner reservation a few days ago. As I salivated over the prospect of having a biryani, I gave myself a gentle reminder: “Remember to savour every bite”. Boy, have I come a long way.

If you are struggling with disordered food patterns or feelings around food, check out the Beat website.

“I lost my hunger to chronic gastritis - here’s why I’ll never take it for granted again”