December 2010: ED News


Link found between shoplifting and eating disorders in women
The Mainichi Daily News 

Women who habitually shoplift are also very often the victims of eating disorders, suggests a survey by Akagi-kohgen Hospital in Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture.
The institute is a psychiatric hospital that specializes in treating disorders like alcoholism. It found that over 70 percent of female patients it surveyed who were receiving treatment for kleptomania also had eating disorders like bulimia.
"Shoplifting is of course a crime, but in these types of cases, treatment to prevent a recurrence is necessary," says hospital head Michio Takemura.
Takemura and others surveyed 132 male and female patients that had received treatment for kleptomania at the hospital and affiliated clinics in the Tokyo metropolitan area from January 2008 through July 2009. Of the 92 female patients, 68, or 74 percent, also had eating disorders. Of the 40 male patients, 4, or 10 percent, had eating disorders, showing that the correlation was much higher in the female patients.
Read Shoplifting/ED Link in full. 




Why are so many kids being treating for eating disorders?
ABC 15

Did you know that the rate of kids 12 and younger being hospitalized for eating disorders has risen 119% from 1999 to 2006? This is according to a recent study published by Journal of American Pediatrics.

This is such a scary statistic, but why is this becoming an issue for kids so young?
Caroline Miller is someone who has overcome the mental illness of eating disorders.
She wrote an autobiography called “My name is Caroline” in 1988 and at that time was one of the first books to discuss eating disorders and put a face on the disease. Caroline joined us on Smart Family to talk about this battle of eating disorders.
Read So Many Kids in full.



Tis The Season: Surviving The Holidays With An Eating Disorder
Sacramento Press

When we think of the holidays, our thoughts often go to family, friends, gift-giving, shopping and, yes, food.
Celebrating the season while sharing food with loved ones is part of our collective culture and something we look forward to. But for individuals struggling with an eating disorder, this can often be one of the most distressing times of year.
In the United States, an estimated 8 million girls and women and 1 million boys and men struggle with an eating disorder. Although the average age of onset is 14 to 16, there is no age, gender or cultural limit on who struggles or for how long. Women and men in their 30s, 40s and beyond struggle with anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder. An estimated 10 percent die.
Read Tis The Season in full.
Check out this and also this for more holiday survival tips. 



'Plus-sized' model Crystal Renn looks decidedly 'model-sized' in Zac Posen's new look book

Los Angeles Times

Crystal Renn, a former traditional-sized model who became the poster girl for plus-sized modeling after gaining weight and writing about her struggle with anorexia, is still ruffling feathers for seemingly dropping the pounds that make her "plus."
Renn, who co-stars in designer Zac Posen's pre-fall 2011 look book, was never plus-sized in the traditional, size-10-to-14 sense (she claims to be a size 8), but looks even tinier in the new photographs -- a fact that hasn't escaped chatty fashion watchers online. 
Read Crystal Renn in full.


Among Jewish women, eating disorders go under-reported
Stigma of mental illness on marriageability is cited
 The Washington Times

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. | Hilary Waller remembers begging her mother to let her fast on Yom Kippur. At 10 years old, she was a bit too young, but embracing the rigid discipline seemed desperately important.

"It felt like I was practicing not eating. It was something that was reassuring and gave me strength and a sense of pride," said Ms. Waller, now a 28-year-old teacher at a religious school in Blue Bell, Pa.

It was the same rush she got years later in college each time she saw the scale tip downward. Ms. Waller, who suffered from anorexia, starved herself until she stopped menstruating, lost some of her hair and was exercising several times a day.

Health experts say eating disorders are a serious, underreported disease among Orthodox Jewish women and to a lesser extent others in the Jewish community, as many families are reluctant to acknowledge the illness at all and often seek help only when a girl is on the verge of hospitalization.
Read EDs go under-ground in full.


I’m not fat, says ballerina faulted for ‘too many sugarplums’
Today MSNBC

A ballerina who overcame anorexia doesn’t need or want an apology from the New York Times critic who made a crack about her weight in a review of “The Nutcracker,” saying the comment hurt initially but is just part of being a professional in a field that demands perfection from those who work in it.
“As a dancer, I do put myself out there to be criticized, and my body is part of my art form,” Jenifer Ringer, 37, told TODAY’s Ann Curry during an interview Monday. “At the same time, I am not overweight."
Read Ballerina in full.



 all sources linked above

NEDA College Survey Project

NEDA is looking for participants for a survey about ED resources at colleges.

"Ever wondered if your college (or your child’s campus) offered eating disorder and body image resources? Is there treatment available on campus? Diagnosis? Prevention?

NEDA Announces its College Survey Project to review eating disorder-related services and programs available on college and university campuses. Complete the survey by 12/15 to be entered into a drawing for free NEDAwareness Week Workplace Kit!
Who is eligible to participate?
All college and university campus staff members who are involved in developing and implementing mental health and well-being programs and services related to eating disorders and body image issues on college and university campuses.

Why participate?
By filling out this short 15-30 minute survey, you can help NEDA identify what services and programs are available on campuses around the country for students struggling with, recovering from, and at risk of developing eating disorders and related body image issues.

What is the Deadline?
Submissions must be received by December 15, 2010. All participants will be entered into a drawing to win a free NEDAwareness Week Workplace Kit, complete with 2011 “It’s Time to Talk About It” Posters, How to Help a Friend Brochures, Helpline Cards and Pens!
Be sure your school is represented! Please forward the survey link to anyone who may be an appropriate participant in this study.

*This study has been approved through the Pace University Institutional Review Board."

Click here to participate in the survey.
*Share this and spread the word.

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Recovery Quote Of The Week: December 7th, 2010

Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.
Helen Keller

See sidebar menu for more Recovery Quotes Of The Week and Inspirational Recovery Quotes.



picturesource:http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4427417620/

Eating Disorder Recovery: Video Quotes


Video by Holdingon

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope your day was filled with love, support, friends, and family.
MrsM




picsource: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewan_traveler/4146423231/

Eating Disorders and The Holidays: Links To Help See You Through

Surviving Thanksgiving When You Have An Eating Disorder

12 Ideas To Help

Resources: hotlines, websites, organizations

Relapse Prevention

Coping With The Holidays When You Have An Eating Disorder

Giving Thanks 


picsource: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattimattila/4001221570/

Recovery Quote Of The Week: November 22, 2010

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.
Danny Kaye


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Image source: MrsM

EDs Seen Around The Web: November 2010


When Mom Has an Eating Disorder, Everybody Suffers
parentdish.com

It's every mom's nightmare: Finding out your daughter has an eating disorder. Even worse is knowing you're probably to blame.

Teresa Coates, a 40-year-old mom and solo parent of two, was anorexic in high school. She survived on 3 Musketeers bars and not much else. After high school she continued her bizarre eating habits until one day she went into convulsions at work and was rushed to the hospital. The ER doctor told her if she ever wanted to have children, which she did, she would have to start eating.

Teresa's daughter recently turned 13 and she worries about her. A lot. "I worry genetically about my daughter because I come from a family of very heavy women. And that was a concern when she came home from the hospital. I remember being worried about that. It's a hard thing to know you're genetically predisposed to not be thin."

She does feel, however, that her daughter is off to a much better start than she was at her age. "I came from a real working-class family. We didn't eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and the vegetables we ate came from cans. My take on healthy food wasn't really there. I've been cognizant trying to teach both my kids how to tell if food is good for you. They both read labels, a lot. They eat a lot of fruit and vegetables. They're very aware that you need to drink water."

But that doesn't mean it's easy.
Read in full: When Mom Has An ED 


Making Sense of ED Mortality Statistics
ANAD.org 
By Kathy Chen, MA
Chicago Professional School of Psychology

The topic of eating disorders (EDs) and mortality can be particularly sensitive because of the controversial findings in the research and perhaps their implications.  The common belief appears to be that EDs, especially anorexia nervosa (AN), are associated with a low rate of survival.  Many factors influence the results of research regarding EDs and mortality; yet, the more confusing point seems to be the ways in which these results are recorded.  Therefore, reviewing the research and examining the methods that lead to a study’s results could provide mental health professionals as well as friends and families with a more in-depth understanding of the relationship between mortality and EDs.

The first step to understanding the relationship between mortality and EDs is to study the specific parts of information presented in the research.  First, there are multiple definitions used to determine the rate of death in EDs (Neumärker, 2000).  For instance, the term “mortality rate” is different from the term, “standardized mortality ratio.”  The mortality rate is usually expressed as the number of deaths per 100,000 of the population, whereas the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) is the number of observed deaths divided by the number of expected deaths in a specific population.    In addition, when authors write of mortality rate, they usually refer to the crude mortality rate, which includes the number of deaths out of the total number of people studied during a specific amount of time.  Let me give you a simple example.  Let’s imagine we are researchers who have 100 people in our study.  If we check back with these people in 10 years and find that 5 of them have passed away, then the crude mortality rate would be 5 percent.  To calculate the SMR, let’s again think of a simple example.  We are researchers who have 100 people in our study.  This time these 100 people are adolescent females with AN.  We observe that 50 of them have died within a certain amount of time.  However, let’s say that the expected number of deaths for adolescent females without an ED is 10.  Therefore, the SMR in this hypothetical example would be 5.  This result means that the sample of adolescent females with AN has a level of mortality that is 5 times greater than the average adolescent female population without an ED.  Though these terms may seem similar, they can nonetheless impact the ways in which readers interpret these results.  Thus, when one reads research findings, one would likely want to be aware of the different ways that mortality is measured for the purpose of having a more comprehensive understanding of the research findings.
 Read in full: Making Sense of ED Mortality Statistics


Binging to Lose the Bulge: The Dangers of Drunkorexia

richlandchronicle.com

The disorder ‘anorexia' isn't a new one, but the dangerous eating disorder has now found a new partner. Drunkorexia is a new slang term used to describe people who don't eat in order to save the calories for their alcoholic beverages later.
Although it's not an official medical term, drunkorexia is starting to become widely known across college campuses. College students seem to be the main target, and narrowing it down further, female college students.
The restriction of food in order to binge on drinking is the same concept as other deadly eating disorders including bulimia.
During an interview with ABC News, Savannah, a 22-year-old graduate from the University of Texas talked about her experience being a proclaimed ‘drunkorexic'.
"It was just something I always did while in college as a normal part of my diet so that I could stay skinny but still go out and drink," Savannah said. "I do know a lot of people who skip meals to drink, drink heavily and don't gain any weight. Obviously, their success in this way encourages others to try it. I've done [drunkorexia] for years and I'm still healthy. I'm still skinny."
Read in full: The Dangers of Drunkorexia 


University Course to Study Bulimia and Anorexia

EATING disorders are to be studied by students and professionals at a new course launched by Cardiff University.
The Collaborative Working in Eating Disorders module, run by the university’s School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies is the first of its kind in Wales and supports the implementation of a recent Assembly Government report.
In Wales, more than 1,000 new cases of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are diagnosed each year.
Such disorders can lead to enduring mental health problems often affecting sufferers’ physical, social and psychological wellbeing.
Read in full: University Course to Study


sources linked above



Recovery Quote Of The Week: November 13, 2010


















Kites rise against, not with the wind. No man has ever worked his passage anywhere in a dead calm.
John Neal


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Veterans Day Thank You


To all who have served and all who are currently serving, thank you and God bless. 


Child Of God: Eating Disorders Poetry


Child Of God

Whats wrong with this child that wanders alone
So lost in the dark and frightened
Who scared this beautiful child of God
And put her in the dark that she hides in
What is this child of God looking for
Often does she wonder
Answers to questions that she can’t find
Or to scared to want the answers
Who hurt this beautiful child of God
Does she hurt herself
By binging and purging and starving herself
What will it take to heal this child of God
Often does she wonder
The answers lies within the child of God
She has all the answers.
by: Jaquita King



*Please see sidebar menu "submissions" for more Eating Disorders and Body Image Poetry by readers.  




picture sourcehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/alexreyes/2225734510/

Eating Disorder & Body Image: Share Your Poetry/Writings



Writing is a very powerful tool for many with Eating Disorders and an excellent way for others to relate and be inspired. Do you have a poem(s) and/or writing(s) about your struggles, experiences, or recovery with your Eating Disorder that you'd like to share with others? Weighing The Facts would like to feature your writing here so that others can relate, find support, and encouragement towards recovery.

Participation may be anonymous or credited, whichever you feel comfortable with. Poems/writings must be your own work. If you're interested in participating please contact me at Mrsmenopausal@yahoo.com.

Thank you.
MrsM


*Check out the sidebar menu for submissions and read the wonderful poetry and writings others have already shared on Weighing The Facts.




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Eating Disorders In The News: November 2010



















Unplanned Pregnancies More Common In Women With Anorexia Nervosa
Times of India 

Women with anorexia nervosa are much more likely to have both unplanned pregnancies and induced abortions than women who don't have the serious eating disorder, according to a new study.

The study has been conducted by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Norwegian researchers.

Lead author Cynthia M. Bulik said that these results may be driven by a mistaken belief among women with anorexia that they can't get pregnant because they are either not having menstrual periods at all or are having irregular periods.

"Anorexia is not a good contraceptive. Just because you're not menstruating, or because you're menstruating irregularly, doesn't mean you're not at risk for becoming pregnant," said Bulik.

"Physicians and other health care providers need to be aware of this as well. Doctors who treat women and adolescent girls, in particular, "need to make sure that they have the conversation about sexuality and contraception as clearly with patients with anorexia as they do with all other girls and women," she added.
Read in full: More Common In Women With Anorexia Nervosa


Eating Ourselves Sick 
HeraldSun.com 

DANGEROUS eating habits are becoming so normal they affect nearly one in two women, new research reveals. A Victoria University study has found almost half of the participants had experienced at least one episode of vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse or uncontrolled binge eating to control their weight in the previous six months.

It also found more than 90 per cent of the 209 women were dissatisfied with their bodies, causing extreme dieting among older women as well as younger ones.
Researcher Lyndsey Nolan, a psychology lecturer at Victoria University, said the findings were alarming.

"Women have begun to resort to destructive means to achieve weight loss," Dr Nolan says.
Read in full: Eating Ourselves Sick 


Kirstie’s Beating Teenage Anorexia
Walesonline

KIRSTIE McLEAN knows only too well the hell caused by anorexia.
The 17-year-old’s weight plummeted to just over five stone last year, and she has been battling the condition ever since.

This year she fought back from the illness to be a finalist in the Miss Cardiff beauty pageant. Kirstie, a student from Rumney, Cardiff, said more needed to be done to spot the condition earlier.
“When I went to the doctor’s I wasn’t half as bad as I got,” she said.

“They should be taught how to recognise it and visit their patients regularly to stop it before it gets out of control.”

Kirstie said airbrushed models and film stars in magazines portrayed an unrealistic image of health and beauty.

“They are causing people to put themselves in danger by trying to do the impossible,” she said.
Read in full: Kirstie's Beating Teenage Anorexia


Children As Young As 8 Treated For Eating Disorders 
Walesonline 

Doctors must be better trained to spot life-threatening eating disorders in young children.
That is the demand from health professionals today as doctors admit to a “lack of awareness” in dealing with eating disorders in young children, who they sometimes simply diagnose as fussy eaters.

The call comes as figures reveal children as young as eight are being admitted to Welsh hospitals
suffering from eating disorders.

The alarming data uncovered by Wales On Sunday shows youngsters are developing life-threatening conditions like anorexia having barely reached primary school.

Our research reveals the shocking age of the youngest patient in the country, but also shows children aged nine, 10, and 11 have been hospitalised.

But experts warn the figures reveal “the tip of the iceberg” and the problem is increasing.
Read in full: Children As Young As 8


300 Calories a DAY: Portia de Rossi Cries to Oprah as She Reveals Shocking Details of Her Anorexia
Dailymail

Portia de Rossi has sat down for a tearful interview with Oprah in which she discusses the depths of her anorexia and how she was almost 'proud' of dropping to under six stone, weighing in at just 82 lbs.
De Rossi, who has changed her name to Portia Degeneres since marrying partner Ellen Degeneres, choked up while promoting her memoir 'Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain.'

'It wasn't that I was proud of it,' she tells Oprah in the interview airing in the U.S. on Monday. 'But it was certainly a recognition for my self control.'
Read in full: Portia de Rossi


How Ricci Beat Anorexia
Toronto Sun

The threat of a hospital stay prompted actress Christina Ricci to fight her anorexia issues as a teen.
The star was just 16 when doctors and her parents urged her to consider a drastic cure for her eating disorder - but Ricci wasn't happy about the idea of being strapped to a bed for weeks.
She tells Black Book magazine, "They were going to hospitalize me, and I was worried about people force-feeding me through a tube. I didn't want that, so I fought the disease."
Ricci won her battle and now insists she'll never go back to starving herself to stay thin: "I still think about it, but I could never do it again. I remember the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness when I was in the middle of it. My brain had basically become my biggest tormentor. I'd become afraid of myself."
Read in full: Ricci


'I Heart Anorexia' T-Shirts -- Is Artist Alexsandro Palombo's Work Chic or Cruel?
NY Daily News

Is it weighty commentary or making light of a serious issue?

"I heart Anorexia" artist Alexsandro Palombo is drawing some heavy criticism online for his drawings of celebrities, depicted as skeletons.

Palombo's drawings of famously thin celebrity Victoria Beckham, with her head perched upon a pile of leopard-print bones, as well as designer Rachel Zoe, also drawn as a skeleton, perched on a toilet have some critics crying foul. 

"Want to become a perfect Skeleton fashion victim but you don't know how?," he wrote on his blog Humor Chic.  "Every day just eat a nice apple for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make sure it's always a glamorous red one, it gives the idea of substance. Don't drink water, an apple contains enough liquid. Replace it with champagne and lots of coke."

Palombo is clearly poking fun at the whole idea of idealized perfection, but not everyone is laughing.
Read in full: I Heart Anorexia



sources sited above

UPDATE: Kimkins Class Action Lawsuit Verdict


Kimkins founder, Heidi Diaz, faced the decision of the Riverside County Courts of California today, losing the case against her in a certified class action lawsuit filed by ex-members of her fraudulent diet site.

The details are emerging:

  • The courts found in favor of the plaintiffs on all points. 
  • Heidi Diaz's (aka: Kimmer) assets have been frozen. 
  • In addition to the judgement of 1.8 million dollars there was an additional $500,000 in punitive damages awarded. 
  • Injunctive relief: she can not lie to promote her diet. She cannot use fake testimonials, success stories, or photos. 
  • Diaz must put a disclaimer on any website she develops (including non-weightloss websites) explaining that she has lied, used fake testimonials, misled, and used deceptive practices. 
  • She is required to post a disclaimer stating the dangers of low calorie diets and the possible side effects.
  • A permanent restraining order was issued prohibiting any form of contact with any of the plaintiffs, class members, their families, lawyers, and/or staff. 

Official Notice From John Tiedt, lawyer for the plaintiffs:

Today, October 29, 2010, Judge Rick Brown of the Riverside County Superior Court entered a verdict for the plaintiffs in a certified national class action lawsuit. The court entered a verdict against Heidi Diaz the owner of the diet website Kimkins.com for fraud and false advertising. The court awarded the class members restitution in the amount of $1,824,210.39. The court also awarded an additional $500,000 in punitive damages as well as attorney fees. The court then issued a temporary restraining order to freeze all of the assets of Ms. Diaz. 

Most notably, the court also imposed an injunction requiring Heidi Diaz to post on all of her websites that: (1) she lied about her weight loss; (2) she lied about her after diet pictures; (3) she lied about testimonials on her website; and (4) she lied about the photographs used with the testimonials to promote the Kimkins website.

An injunction was also issued to prevent Heidi Diaz from contracting, harassing or cyberbulling the plaintiffs and the witnesses. A formal judgment will be entered before November 19, 2010. 

The original complaint was filed over three years ago on October 15, 2007. I want to thank everyone who supported the class action lawsuit. The Ducks were wonderful. I met a lot of great people and made a lot of new friends fighting for a good cause. Heidi Diaz lied on her website and made the fatal mistake of lying in the courtroom. You cannot trust Heidi Diaz. I anticipate more legal (illegal) maneuvering by Heidi Diaz to evade the judgment. We will be prepared and I will be relentless. Again, I thank all you. 


John E. Tiedt
TIEDT & HURD


*please note: Mr. Tiedt refers to "ducks" in his statement. If you are unaware of what is considered a duck, it is everyone who worked together tirelessly to expose the fraud, the lies, and provide tangible evidence to support the case. 

If you are unfamiliar with the Kimkins diet scam you can find more information here: Kimkins Info



thanks to MomtoEli for the information

Kimkins Class Action Lawsuit: The Verdict Is In!


It's been 3 years in the making but today the verdict is in. Excellently represented by John Tiedt, of Tiedt and Hurd, Carona California, consumers saw the results of their patience and hard work as the courts ruled in their favor to the tune of 1.8 million dollars in the class action lawsuit against Kimkins/Heidi Diaz.

Details to follow as they are available.


*If you're unfamiliar with the history of Kimkins/ Heidi Diaz you can find more information here: Kimkins Class Action Lawsuit



Recovery Quote Of The Week: October 29, 2010


There is magic, but you have to be the magician. You have to make the magic happen.
Sidney Sheldon


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picture source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aleca_99/3572862685/

Kimkins Class Action Lawsuit: Court Date Set For October 25th, 2010

 The class action lawsuit against Heidi Diaz (center, top right, bottom right in picture above), owner and founder of the Kimkins diet site, is scheduled to go to trial at the Riverside County Courthouse in California on October 25, 2010.

Recap:
Heidi Diaz, also known as Kimmer, claimed to have lost nearly 200 pounds in less than a year and to have maintained her weight at 118 pounds for approximately 5 years. Starting an online dieting site based on these claims she sold memberships to access the plan(s) she created. The site included many success stories accompanied by before and after pictures of amazing transformations, including her own which showed a picture of a young, beautiful woman in a clingy red dress (top left of picture). The success stories seemed too good to be true and, as it would turn out, they were
A private investigator, Robert Charlton of Alliance Investigative Services, was hired and discovered that Heidi Diaz was not what she claimed to be. Ex members and concerned citizens, banning together to uncover the fraud, discovered that she had littered her website with elaborate fabricated success stories that she had written herself, taking the before and after pictures from online Russian Bride sites, including the picture(s) she claimed to be her after her weight loss (see woman in red dress, upper left hand corner of picture above)

Heidi Diaz, having no medical, science, or nutritional background, doled out dangerous diet advice that promoted extremely low calories, laxative use, and anorexic eating behaviors and practices. Members who dared to question "Kimmer," state their concerns on her website, or question the validity of her success stories, found themselves locked out of the site, without warning or reimbursement of their "lifetime membership" fees.

Kimkins received an F rating by the Better Business Bureau: We strongly question the company’s reliability for reasons such as that they have failed to respond to complaints, their advertising is grossly misleading, they are not in compliance with the law’s licensing or registration requirements, their complaints contain especially serious allegations, or the company’s industry is known for its fraudulfent business practices.

*It is estimated that Heidi Diaz's scam netted her well over 2 million dollars.


It would be nearly impossible to site all that has happened since the fraud was first discovered. Below are some links that cover some of what has transpired in the last 3 years.



Recovery Quote Of The Week: October 17, 2010
















The important thing is to be whatever you are without shame.
Rod Steiger


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picture source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/marimoon/1533600905/

Letting Go Of Resentment: Eating Disorders Recovery



Resentment:
~noun
the feeling of displeasure or indignation at some act, remark, person, etc., regarded as causing injury or insult.
dictionary.com


Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
Carrie Fisher

The resentment felt when someone causes us pain, big or small, is especially difficult to deal with when the person who caused that pain is someone we trust and love. Unfortunately, harboring feelings of resentment is harmful to our health, both emotionally and physically. It can affect our relationships with others, cause us stress, raise our blood pressure, increase symptoms of depression, anxiety, and even chronic pain. It keeps us from being able to heal, to move on, be as happy as we can be, and live a fuller and more enjoyable life. For the sake of our own well-being it is imperative that we learn to let go of our resentments by recognizing them and dealing with them. 


Forgiving is one way of doing this. Forgiving someone who has hurt us is not something the majority of us are eager to do. We think that in forgiving we minimize the action(s) that caused us pain and excuse the person of their responsibility in inflicting that pain. We feel that we are also expected to forget it entirely, compromise our self-respect, and act as if it never happened. Some may fear they are expected to continue to have a relationship with the person if they forgive them. This is not true. Forgiveness is something that you choose to do for yourself.  


Is forgiveness always necessary? Opinions vary when it comes to the subject of forgiveness in it's relation to letting go of resentment. Both sides of the argument make sense, in my opinion, and so it's difficult to say either way. Some that believe it's not necessary state that when the hurt is caused by extreme events (sexual abuse, rape, incest, physical abuse, etc.) that the anger and rage have their place in protecting and allowing a person to distance themselves from the offender and that letting go of the resentment is possible without forgiveness. 


Either way, letting go of resentment is a conscious decision to empower yourself. It moves you out of the position of victim. It allows you to move on and enables you to experience a better and more fulfilling life. It is a process. It takes time, effort, and patience.


Resentments or grudges do no harm to the person against whom you hold these feelings but every day and every night of your life, they are eating at you.
Norman Vincent Peale


Some things we can do to work towards letting go of resentment:


Journal
   Journaling is a powerful tool and it can be an extremely useful one in the process of letting go of resentment. Take pen to paper and let it all out. All of it. Don't hold back. Don't be afraid to express your rage, sadness, or anything that you are feeling. This can be a painful process but is very cleansing. 


Analyze: 
  What has holding onto this resentment done to your life? How does it affect your relationships, decision making, feelings of security, happiness? What changes has it brought to your life? What have you missed out on because of it? What affect has it had on those you love? How has it affected how you see the world and those you come in contact with each day? How does it make you feel?


Visualize:
   Envision what letting go of your resentment would do for your life. See yourself living without those feelings. See yourself free of the thoughts, anger, fear, sadness, and free of the burden of carrying it with you each day. See yourself as you are meant to be. 
   Visualize your resentment (and pain) as if it were an object clasped in your hand. Open your hand and let it go, watch it as it is caught by the breeze and carried away from you, getting smaller as it is floats off into the distance. Watch it as it becomes a barely visible speck on the horizon. Keep watching until you can no longer see it. Now, imagine the space it occupied inside of you filling with a bright, comforting light. Feel it's warmth and it's joy spread through you.


 Put love first. Entertain thoughts that give life. And when a thought or resentment, or hurt, or fear comes your way, have another thought that is more powerful-- a thought that is love. 
Mary Manin Morrissey


These are just some suggestions for helping you let go of resentment. Experiment. See what works best for you. Practice. Keep practicing until it works. 


Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace. 
Buddha


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©Weighing The Facts


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Recovery Quote Of The Week: October 5th, 2010























It is only with the heart that one can see clearly, for the most essential things are invisible to the eye.
Antoine de Saint Exupery


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I Am Not Cut From A Pattern: Eating Disorders Poetry



I am not my heavy thighs
nor the roundness of my face

I am not the slender length of my fingers
nor the graceful curve of my neck

I am not defined by the sum of my physical parts
for I am not my body

I am not cut from a pattern
nor molded from clay

I am creative expression
and wondrous exploration

I am quick wit
and generous smiles

I am loving
and steadfast determination

I am indelible spirit
glorious and unique

I am what no one else can be
simply and brilliantly...
 me

by: Emmy M



*See sidebar menu for more submissions of ED and Body Image Poetry/Writings.

 picture source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmpznz/3921977272/

Recovery Quote Of The Week: September 25th, 2010

For a tree to become tall, it must grow tough roots among the rocks.
Friedrich Nietzsche



* See sidebar menu for more Recovery Quotes Of The Week and Inspirational Recovery Quotes


picture source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulobrandao/2762313433/

OCD/Eating Disorders Connection: Information And Resources






















It is not uncommon for many who have an Eating Disorder to also suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.



Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:
 
a psychoneurotic disorder in which the patient is beset with obsessions or compulsions or both and suffers extreme anxiety or depression through failure to think the obsessive thoughts or perform the compelling acts—abbreviation OCD; called also obsessive-compulsive neurosis, obsessive-compulsive reaction.

 
Obsessions:

  • Thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over again and feel out of the person's control.
  • The person does not want to have these ideas.
  • He or she finds them disturbing and unwanted, and usually know that they don't make sense.
  • They come with uncomfortable feelings, such as fear, disgust, doubt, or a feeling that things have to be done in a way that is "just right."
  • They take a lot of time and get in the way of important activities the person values.

What Obsessions Are Not: 

  • It is normal to have occasional thoughts about getting sick or about the safety of loved ones.

Compulsions:

  • Repetitive behaviors or thoughts that a person engages in to neutralize, counteract, or make their obsessions go away.
  • People with OCD realize this is only a temporary solution, but without a better way to cope, they rely on the compulsion as a temporary escape
  • Compulsions can also include avoiding situations that trigger obsessions.
  • Compulsions are time consuming and get in the way of important activities the person values.

What Compulsions Are Not:

  • Not all repetitive behaviors or "rituals" are compulsions.  For example, bedtime routines, religious practices, and learning a new skill involve repeating an activity over and over again, but are a welcome part of daily life.
  • Behaviors depend on the context: Arranging and ordering DVDs for eight hours a day isn't a compulsion if the person works in a video store.

A person with OCD may recognize that their compulsive fears, thoughts, and actions are unreasonable yet these feelings are intense and feel very real. 

 

OCD can start at any age but estimates show that most common age ranges are:

  • Between ages 10-12
  • Between late teens and early adulthood
  • OCD affects all ethnic groups and males/females equally,

OCD Stats:

  • Adults: 1 in 100; 2-3 million adults in the US.
  • Children: 1 in 200; approximately 500,000 kids and teens in the US.
  • On average the time between OCD beginning and treatment being obtained is 14-17 years.

What a therapist looks for when diagnosing OCD:

  • The person has obsessions.
  • He or she does compulsive behaviors.        
  • The obsessions and compulsions take a lot of time and get in the way of important activities the person values, such as working, going to school, or spending time with friends. (ocfoundation.org)

Treatment for OCD



OCD and EDs
"In relation to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a common ailment and/or sign that is seen in both eating disorders and OCD is the obsession and ritualistic behaviors that tends to be cyclic and incapacitating to the patient. In anorexia nervosa, the afflicted individuals will have unusual methods of eating, dieting and exercising to satisfy their compulsive obsession to keep weight off.  According to Thorton & Russell (1997), anorexic individuals are much more likely to have a predisposition to acquiring anorexia nervosa from pre-existing OCD and in fact, almost 37% of anorexic patients have OCD.  According to Yaryura-Tobias the cerebral functioning and the primitive brain which contains the basal ganglia, is in particular, related to motor compulsive behaviors. Other psychiatric disorders which are related to this very area in the brain include hoarding, self mutilation etc. The true manifestation behind the compulsive ritualistic behaviors, tendencies and excessive thought processes are a result of a combination of higher cortical decision making melding with the primitive brain’s compulsive motor movements."...
"Eating Disorders may also be related to OCD Spectrum Disorders.  For example, Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a spectrum disorder is highly linked to the eating disorders.  In both there is a distorted body image problem, an overemphasis of appearance and constant unremitting obsessions and compulsions centered around the body image.  Hypochondriasis may also be involved when the eating disordered individual begins to develop some physical symptoms.  Their may be an exaggerated preoccupation with the somatic symptoms."
Read more OCD/ED


OCD Self-Assessment Tests:

Way2Hope.org 
OCDChicago.org 
Psychcentral.com 
Thehealthcenter



OCD RESOURCES:

International OCD Foundation

 
Resource Database (International OCD Foundation Org)

AFOCD (OCDAwareness.com) 

ADAA Org (Anxiety Disorders Association Of America)  


OCD Ontario Org  
 
ARCVIC (Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria)


OCD Online

OCD Tribe 

NAMI  (National Alliance on Mental Illness) 

 
MHA (Mental Health America) 

What a Difference a Friend Makes

Mental Health (OCD) 

Ofear.Com (Phobia Forum)

OCD Center Org 

Brain Physics. Com 

Dialy Strength Org (OCD Support Group)

OCD Ireland Org 


Anxiety Care Org 


OCD Action Org 

OCD UK Org 

MD Junction (forum)

Support 4 Hope 






 *See sidebar menu for more ED resources, hotlines, websites and organizations






sources:http://mw2.merriam-webster.com/medical/obsessive-compulsive%20disorder
http://www.ocfoundation.org/whatisocd.aspx?gclid=CJ7a0KKwm6QCFZZM5QodmDdRGA
http://www.ocdchicago.org/index.php/experts-perspectives/article/relationship_of_eating_disorders_to_ocd/
http://www.ocdawareness.com
pic source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/katrina-nicole/4530077826/