It's Time To Talk About It (National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2017)

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week kicked off this past Sunday. From the NEDA website. . .

Spearheaded by the National Eating Disorders Association, the goal of National Eating Disorders Awareness (#NEDAwareness) Week is to shine the spotlight on eating disorders and put life-saving resources into the hands of those in need. This year’s theme is It’s Time to Talk About It and we’re encouraging everyone to get screened. It’s time we take eating disorders seriously as public health concerns. It’s time we bust the myths and get the facts. It’s time to celebrate recovery and the heroes who make it possible. It’s time to take action and fight for change. It’s time to shatter the stigma and increase access to care. It’s Time to Talk About It!

I find it absoultely mind-blowing that I struggled through anorexia as an adult, for several years, and by the grace of a powerful God, have made it to the other side.

Mind-blowing because I can't imagine living in such bondage now.

Mind-blowing because I can't imagine feeling so out of control now, that food (or lack thereof) would become the source of security and safety.

Mind-blowing because I can't imagine going back to the old me. The me that let the scale become her God. The me that charted every last calorie that slipped past her lips. The me whose mind was continually consumed with thoughts of thinness, weight, food, and the like. The me that manipulated her body down to a meager 89 pounds. The me that became obsessed with the worship of self.

Six chapters of my book are dedicated to this very topic. Because I believe it is a message worth sharing. Because if my story can spare just one person from choosing body mutilation over freedom, it was worth it.

If you or someone you know could be walking through an eating disorder, please reach out. Tell someone. Don't sit alone in the struggle. Contact me and I will find a way to get the first six chapters of my book into your hands.

You can also access a free eating disorder screening here.

Other resources:
National Eating Disorders Association: Feeding hope
Eating Disorder HOPE
Hope, Help, and Healing for Eating Disorders: A Whole Person Approach to Treatment of Anorexia, Bulimia, and Disordered Eating by Gregory L. Jantz, PhD
Gaining: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders by Aimee Liu
When Eating Disorders Consume Your Family 

It's time to talk about it.

#NEDAwareness

NEDAwareness Week 2014. . . a few midweek resources

To continue highlighting NEDAwareness Week, I thought I'd link up to a few resources I have seen around the web/social media/tv the last few days. Enjoy!

On Monday, the TODAY Show kicked off a "Love Your Selfie" Campaign that is running all week. The nine perky hosts of the TODAY show told viewers about their physical insecurities and appeared on live TV without makeup as part of their “Love Your Selfie” campaign Monday. But for all they criticized about themselves, they sure love taking selfies. All nine hosts snapped pictures of themselves as part of the campaign to spread awareness about self-image. Source. Read more: Today Show Hosts Love Selfies, Hate Selves | TIME.com http://healthland.time.com/2014/02/25/today-show-no-makeup-selfies/#ixzz2uQY8DWzE

Dad's letter to daughter: Forget makeup; your beauty is inside

I am worthy - By Katie Clemons via The Art of Simple

I Had No Idea - Allison (short clip speaking to Eating Disorders and Infertility)

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NEDAwareness Week 2014

This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. 

February 23 - March 1, 2014

What is NEDAwareness Week?

NEDAwareness Week is a collective effort of volunteers, including eating disorder professionals, health care providers, students, educators, social workers, organizations and individuals committed to raising awareness of eating disorders.  The impact of increased outreach efforts leads to a greater chance of people seeking out resources and help for an eating disorder, which ultimately saves lives.

What are the Key Messages of NEDAwareness Week?

This year the National Eating Disorders Association is stressing the need to address eating disorder misconceptions - as many individuals, families, and communities are not aware of the often devastating mental and physical consequences - and highlights available resources for treatment and support. We urge you to talk about the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape these disorders with your family, friends, colleagues and community by doing just one thing during NEDAwareness Week. Learn more about the key messages for 2014 NEDAwareness Week and share with others so they can get in the know! source

Theme this year: "I had no idea"

source 

Click here to find an event in your community and to learn how you can get involved this week!

Or click here for a few FAQ.  

Also, Notorious ED blogger, Carrie Arnold, will be posting a little series this week on her blog, and I encourage you to check it out. 

I hope you will take the time to attend an event in your home town, or if nothing else, take a few seconds to read up on relevant ED information. There is always more to learn. And the more we learn, the more impact we will have, and the more impact we have, the better chance we have of ridding someone of this awful disease. Or better yet. . . preventing it. 

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Feb 24- March 2, 2013

Sunday February 24th kicked off National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

source

Here's a little bit of info from the NEDA website. . .

About NEDAwareness Week (source)

Our Theme: "Everybody Knows Somebody": This year's NEDAwareness Week theme is "Everybody Knows Somebody" because awareness of eating disorders is certainly spreading, as is the knowledge that eating disorders do not discriminate—ANYONE can be effected. Last year, NEDAwareness Week registrants spanned all 50 states and 30 other countries. This year we strive to surpass these numbers, and have everyone commit to doing just one thing!

Our Mission: The aim of NEDAwareness Week is to ultimately increase outreach and awareness of eating disorders and body image issues, while reducing the stigma surrounding eating disorders and improving access to treatment resources. Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening illnesses - not choices - and it's important to recognize the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape the disorder.

What is NEDAwareness Week?: NEDAwareness Week is a collective effort of volunteers, including eating disorder professionals, health care providers, students, educators, social workers, organizations and individuals committed to raising awareness of eating disorders.  The impact of increased outreach efforts leads to a greater chance of people seeking out resources and help for an eating disorder, which ultimately saves lives.

How NEDAwareness Week Works: NEDA asks everyone to do just one thing to help raise awareness and provide accurate information about eating disorders. NEDAwareness Week participants can choose from a huge range of ways to get involved: Distribute info pamphlets and put up posters, write one letter for our Media Watchdog program, register as a Volunteer Speaker or host a Volunteer Speaker, post information on Facebook, or plan interactive and educational events like a meditation and yoga event, panel discussion, fashion show, movie screening, art exhibit and more.

As a NEDAwareness Week participant you can be involved in any way that works with your schedule, resources, community, and interests.  These events and activities are vital to attracting public media attention - on local, national and international levels.

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I am so thankful that we have an entire week dedicated to eating disorder awareness and prevention. Anorexia, bulimia etc are such rampant illnesses that need some serious attention on all levels. There are lots of ways to get involved this week, even if it's just taking time to read up on ED's and educate yourself a little, or sending a few encouraging notes to a friend who is struggling. Reach out. Take action. Get involved. Let's fight together. Each and every sufferer is worth it. 

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2012 . . . a few videos

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If you or someone you know could be suffering from any type of eating disorder, please don't hesitate to get help. We are talking about a human life. A. Human. Life. You are worth fighting for. I think so. 

God thinks so. I hope & pray you do too.