by June Alexander Eating disorder conferences — what purpose do they serve? Increasingly, they are becoming a sounding board for stories of recovery and ongoing healing. Right now I am returning home from the 26th international conference on eating disorders, convened by the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED). This year, more than 1400 registrations set […]
Dear Diary
A story of love and acceptance, and a foreign exchange
by June Alexander A pamphlet attached to the noticeboard outside the school principal’s office caught my eye. The year was 1967 and I was 16. The words “essay,” “scholarship,” “USA,” drew me in. The American Field Service was offering scholarships to students to study the senior year of school in the United States. To have […]
Using diary-writing as a self-help tool to connect and heal
by June Alexander Twenty minutes a day is all it takes. Writing in your diary for 20 minutes each day can help you to feel in control of your life. You can write in your diary anywhere, at any time of the day. You can use pen or paper, a tablet or even a cell […]
Eating disorder recovery involves eating properly: Add a dash of feelings, faith, family and friends to meal time
by June Alexander “FOOD. I HATE IT. I would like to start being kind to myself. And not punish myself with food anymore. To me food is like a cancer, its tentacles reaching into and clawing at my emotions, my feelings, my thoughts, never giving a moment’s respite. I HATE IT. Every decision I make […]
Lessons from a little boy who cannot speak – yet
Our life is often shaped by challenges that occur beyond our control. How we respond to these challenges determines the outcome. Story-writing is an effective way to promote self-healing and make our life experience count. The catalyst for writing a story can come from unexpected sources. For Loretta, it was a reading with a psychic. […]
Sharing stories from inside out gives ED nowhere to hide
by June Alexander I was a grandmother when I “came out.” The event, in 2007, was a private girls’ school information night. Until then I had lived a part-life, struggling to appear “normal” to the outside world, while battling a private, inner hell as a captive of an eating disorder. Coming out and revealing my […]
Supporting friends and family with eating disorders
by Diana Beaudet Many individuals recovering from eating disorders, and families assisting their children and teens through recovery, receive little support and outreach during this difficult process. People tend to shy away from those with eating disorders and other mental illnesses because there isn’t a solid understanding of what the illnesses are and how seriously […]
A reflection on the journey of choosing to believe in hope
As a teenager, Alyssa encouraged a friend to seek help for her eating disorder. Today, as a young woman, she has entered a career to help others experiencing this illness. by Alyssa Sterry Well I made it. I have achieved a goal, a job I had dreamed of for about eight years. I started this […]
Peeling the onion: Losing the layers of my eating disorder
by Sarah Cannata It’s our secrets that keep us sick. This line has lingered with me uncomfortably for a long time. Every now and again, it forces its way to the top of my mind until I manage to mentally beat it down, usually by focusing on completing a meaningless task. The cost of silence […]
Moving on from an eating disorder with help from diary writing
by June Alexander Be the Master of your Ship: Journeying through an Eating Disorder … I am the master of my ship. I am in control. Yet, all too soon, it feels so wrong … … Yet, I can still choose. […]