I bet you know somebody that has had an eating disorder. Am I right?
Well, if you “know” me, then that’s at least one. It’s somewhat disheartening to think about how many people, particularly girls, battle some type of eating issue during their life. Right now the numbers are over 20 million women and 10 million men in just the United States. The more and more people I hear from about their struggles, the more passionate I am about helping.
It’s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and the theme is “Everybody Knows Somebody”. Last year NEDA Week hit 70 million people. It’s a big deal. Even the Empire State Building will be lit with blue and green lights on Tuesday!
Ways To Help
1. Become a NEDA Navigator. This is a new program that I’m volunteering with. From the website,
“Navigators are volunteers that have experience navigating the complex and overwhelming systems and emotions involved with the diagnosis and process of seeking help for an eating disorder. Volunteers are trained by NEDA staff and Clinical Advisors and NEDA founders Douglas Bunnell, PhD and Ilene Fishman, LCSW, to be a knowledgeable, informal source of support and guidance to those who are new to the illness.”
I took a training course and now have my own email address where I am put into contact with people that want some support either for their own eating disorder or for that of a friend or family member. We don’t provide any medical help, but let them know they aren’t alone and suggest resources to use.
Check out the criteria, and then email admin@pfn.nationaleatingdisorders.org. to be put on a training waiting list.
2. Everybody Knows Somebody Video Project. Submit a 30 second video sharing your experiences with eating disorders and encouraging others to seek help. The guidelines are here and the deadline is March 2nd.
3. Participate in a walk or a Virtual Walk. To find a walk in your area, look here. If there isn’t one, consider MentorCONNECT’s 3rd annual Virtual Walk. Details here!
4. Share this post, your own post, or the NEDA Awareness website, on your blog or social media channels.
5. Be especially supportive of a struggling friend or family member.
6. Pin or share this Infographic (© NEDA):
There are TONS more ways to help on the NEDA Awareness Website. I’d highly suggest checking it out!
My Body Doesn’t Make Me Beautiful
I thought a cool way to help would be to take what I’m calling the “My Body Doesn’t Make Me Beautiful” challenge.
See if you can refrain from talking about, judging, or valuing yourself or anyone else (including celebrities) because of their body. Not that anyone is too skinny, too fat, has a little celulite, lost the baby weight, or even looks great. Nothing. This week we will value people for their love, intelligence, compassion, humor, and more, but NOT because they have a great body.
Feel free to share that graphic or put it on your blog side bar if you want to participate.
<a href=”http://fitting-it-all-in.com/neda-awareness-week/ ”><img src=”http://fitting-it-all-in.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/beautifulbodyNEDA.jpg” border=”0″ /></a>Do you know someone that has suffered from an eating disorder?
How will you help support NEDA Awareness Week?
If you think you might be suffering from an eating disorder, take this free screening and please seek help! https://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/screening/NEDA (© NEDA)
I had no idea there was an eating disorder awareness week! I was going to contact some local middle schools today to see about coming in to do guest lectures on body image. Now I’m truly inspired!
This is awesome Clare! Thanks for spreading the awareness!
I really wanted to do an internship with this company. It’s a really big deal and as someone who has had a pretty bad ED at one point in my life, I really am passionate about them and helping others get through them. Your challenge is awesome! I am definitely going to be working on that this week!
I love that you posted about this. My school was good about raising awareness for this week so I always got involved with NEDA on campus when I was in college. I will definitely check out the program and add myself to the wait list!!
off to investigate volunteering…
Thanks for the reminder. And I take the challenge.
As an ED survivor, it’s important to bring awareness. I will check out the program. Thanks for posting.
Great post! As a person who struggles with disordered eating behaviors, I have become much more sensitive to this cause.
I love the idea that our bodies don’t make us beautiful. Even positive body talk can be harmful to those around us!
Awarness week eh?
This is awesome. I am going to participate in your challenge. We judge ourselves and others far too often on physical appearance when things like personality are so much more important!
I’m a member of NEDA and do these things all year round : ) Thank you for posting and raising awareness!!!!
I had no idea there was an eating disorder awareness week and I am so happy there is. There are SO many women and men who suffer from eating disorders (exhibit A). I was diagnosed with ED-NOS and still struggling with some issues but since learning that this thing had a name and it was more common than I thought, it felt better and easier to try to fight it. I think learning that our body does not make up beautiful, smart, or better than someone else is a crucial step to recovery. WE are ourselves, no matter if we are 10 lbs lighter or heavier, we are still the same person and that’s the most important lesson I had to learn.
It is great that you are bringing awareness to this!
I would be wary as describing it as someone “has had” an eating disorder. To me that implies that it is past, that one maybe used to have an eating disorder but no longer does, like there is a cure. I know opinions differ on this, but through my experience and treatment I have learned that I will never not have an eating disorder, the same way an alcoholic may be in recovery for the rest of his/her life but is never not an alcoholic. I may get to a point where my ED is not a part of my daily life, where I don’t think about it constantly, but I still need to be vigilant in understanding that my impulse to restrict can come back atnanytime (especially during periods of high stress) if I am not on guard and doing what I need to do to take care of myself and challenge myself. I truly think recovery is a lifelong process.
Just
Hey – agreed. I think that for most people parts of ED are always with you. However technically “having” anorexia generally means that you refuse to maintain a healthy body weight and/or have missed 3 menstrual cycles. I haven’t been part of that classification for 5 years, so I don’t consider myself to still have an eating disorder. That doesn’t mean that I’m 100% free of symptoms, just not the full blown! But yes, as you said, everyone has different opinions.
Great post. Eating disorders have been a prevalent part of my life with family members, friends, and myself. Although I was never classified as having Anorexia or bulimia I suffered from EDNOS, which I think is something that really needs a lot of attention called to it. A lot of people I find don’t get the treatment or help they need because they do not meet the full criteria of the “big name” disorders…also a lot of people consider themselves recovered while still suffering with EDNOS. It’s something extremely difficult to “recover” from and so useful to have resources available to you to talk judgement free!
You’re right, Clare, anorexia and bulimia have very specific classifications. Like Gabriella I have been dealing with EDNOS which is vaguer in definition and therefore it is harder for me to imagine what total recovery would look like (although I’m sure that is a problem for people who suffer from any ED) Eating disorders are so very complicated and difficult to deal with. I just wish we could destigmatize EDs and mental illness in general so people could start having very real, helpful discussions about it sans judgement.
Yes!! There are lots if changes that could made for the benefit of treatment.
Thank you for the information!!
Such an important message- thank you! Saw you at The Lean Green Bean!
Hi Clare! Great blog, and great blog post! Thanks for being such a wonderful and active Navigator – we appreciate you and your desire to help others. Way to go!