It’s that time of year again. Time to recognize and raise awareness about eating disorders (EDs). In my book, this should be done every single day and I know that there are many of us out there who aim to do so.
You may or may not know someone who has battled or is battling an eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia or compulsive overeating/binge eating. Some think EDs are about trying to look like a Hollywood actress or trying to impress a boyfriend or girlfriend. That’s not always the case. In fact, it’s very rarely the case. EDs begin in individuals for a variety of reasons and they manifest in a variety of ways. But there is one thing that’s the same regardless and that is EDs can be fatal (no matter which ED one suffers from). It’s the reality many have had to face head-on at times.
I have a best friend right now sitting in the hospital suffering from the effects of her ED and in August I lost a friend to anorexia. These disorders are not just an attempt to lose weight or to stay as thin as possible. In fact, weight is only one part of the bigger picture..
There is hope, help and healing from EDs. This week is a time to spread the word about EDs and how more than 11 million Americans alone (both men and women) are fighting for their lives every single day. It’s a time to wear purple, to reach out and to speak up. It’s time to talk about it. Period.
There is no shame in admitting we need help. There is no shame in admitting we are afraid. There is no shame in any of it because we are human and we all have our “stuff.” Hope is not lost and in the future when I have clients sitting across from me who are where I have been, my prayer is that I can offer them something to bring them to a place of acceptance, truth, forgiveness and healing. You don’t have to succumb to your disorder.
Take time to visit the National Eating Disorders Association to learn more. There are many good resources on the site, including educational tool kits, fact sheets, recovery stories and more. The more people who are aware, the more people who can recover.
Thank you in advance.
M
This Side of the Creek 
Thanks for the post – well written! I didn’t know there was an awareness week for this.
You’re welcome. Yep, it’s always the third week of February!!! Purple is the recovery color and the butterfly is the recovery symbol.
Thank you for posting this! My 15 year old cousin is fighting an ED. She’s been in and out of therapy..and in and out of hospitals. It’s a scary situation and I really feel helpless and unable to give her any advice when she asks for it 😦
Stephanie, sometimes it’s hard to know what to say when someone is struggling – particularly if they are struggling with something you may not fully understand. The best thing I’ve found is to just know I have support and people I can talk to about my concerns, fears, feelings, etc. There are many resources out there for family members. I encourage you to visit NEDA at http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org and click on their education tab. There is much information there. If you need further assistance, feel free to email me or find me on Facebook. My email is under the “About Me” tab on this site. Thanks. Meredith