NEDA Week

Technorati Tags: eating disorder,lists,motivation

I’m about a week late with this post (again).  Seems to be a recurring theme with me lately.  With two months until our wedding, I really need to kick this habit and get stuff done. 

Lists help.  Showering before 5pm helps.  A lunch break that actually allows me to step away from my desk helps.  Its the little things that help with motivation.  I don’t know about you all, but when I sit at my desk for hours and hours with no break, I end up doing less than I do when I sit down for just an hour.

But I digress..

Last week was National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.  I thought it worth mentioning because it is a cause close to my heart (although I try not to make it the focus of this blog or my life).  It is also worth mentioning because awareness about eating disorders in general don’t just center around what is it and how to I get better.  It also includes legislation, insurance issues and education and outreach that goes far beyond what many people understand about eating disorders.

That being said, when I did my interview over at Weightless, I was contacted by a woman named Shannon Cutts who runs a program called MentorConnect.  MentorCONNECT is an organization that believes that supportive relationships are key to eating disorder recovery.  The organization works to bring together those people in recovery(or successfully recovered) with those who are seeking recovery from an ED. 

I think the model makes a lot of sense because eating disorders tend to be very isolating.  Encouraging those suffering to reach out (either to ask for help initially or to share a personal story) is probably the most important step in recovery.  Once the cycle of loneliness and lies is broken, there exists an opportunity to have new, healthy relationships that support a new and healthy life.

Shannon was kind enough to send me a copy of her book, Beating Ana: How to Outsmart Your Eating Disorder and Take Your Life Back for me to give away to one of you!

I have read the book myself and I found it to be very clear, concise and practical.  It is a book geared more towards those suffering with an ED, as it has workbook type exercises throughout.  But there are excerpts from letters that she has exchanged with other sufferers looking for help, and I found those to be very revealing. 

So, kids, for the price of a comment below, I shall enter you into the drawing.  If anyone knows anyone suffering, or is suffering from an ED themselves, this would be a very helpful resource.  If you want to remain anonymous (I understand this is a very personal issue) but still want to be entered, you can e-mail me at: RebeccaOot at gmail dot com.

I’ve never done a giveaway before, so I’ll pick a winner on Friday. Yeah. Friday.