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Connecting people concerned with eating disorders to resources, treatment, and hope.

April 2011


the length of loneliness

by Ellie Samuels
©2011 Gürze Books

this
needs no diagnoses
no status of pain
you don't have to be
near breaking
in crisis
sick or sectionable
before you meet me
on this paper
        right here, say

all you need is eyes

bring the silence
from where you are
in this day
and introduce it
to mine
so that now
it's ours

then lay down
your loneliness
next to my own
and let these letters
walk
the length of it

they might not reach
the end
but at least
we'll have met

Ellie is a 19-year-old from the UK who is in recovery and loves to write. This poem was inspired by her belief that "words can bridge the distance between people."


Happy (still) Conference Season Everyone!



Mel, Lindsey, Michelle and Chevese
Binge Eating Disorder Conference 2011

Well, we didn't get up in a helicopter, but the BEDA conference was still a great ride. This was only their 2nd annual conference, but the passion and enthusiasm was contagious. Great speakers, interesting authors (both new and old), and cutting-edge topics made for a conference that I'm sure will become increasingly influential in the coming years—especially when Binge Eating Disorder is in the upcoming DSM V. Be sure to read Melanie's "Voice of Inspiration" below about one of the amazingly powerful stories we heard at BEDA. Here we are with Michelle May (author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat) and Chevese Turner, CEO of BEDA. Way to go Chevese and the rest of her team!

The conferences coming up: Leigh and Mel will be going to AED (Miami) at the end of the month, then Leigh will head to ANAD (Chicago), and then Mel will bring books to MEDA (Massachusetts). So much good work being done by so many organizations (see upcoming events below).

DON'T MISS: Jenni Schaefer's Live Facebook Interview tonight, April 14th at 5 pm Pacific Standard Time. Become a fan of eatingdisorderblogs.com and tune in!

Start sending your questions now for Johanna McShane's Live Facebook Interview on April 26th.

Finally, from now on, all the special offers from the enews will be available at our homepage, bulimia.com, for the entire month. As always, let us know your thoughts and suggestions as to how we can serve you better.

In love, Lindsey


This month's eNews specials – 20% off

For Teens



Help Your Teenager Beat an ED


$17.95 $14.36

For Professionals

Body Image, EDs, and Obesity in Youth


$59.95 $47.96

Self-Help

Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder


$16.95 $13.56

Live Facebook Interview Series for eating disorder support

Join us for a series of live interviews with our bloggers on the following dates:

  • April 14th at 5pm PST:
        Jenni Schaefer Author of Life Without Ed and Goodbye Ed, Hello Me
  • April 26th at 5pm PST:
        Johanna McShane, PhD, Co-Author of Why She Feels Fat
  • May 3rd at 5pm PST:
        Karen Koenig, LCSW, Author of The Rules of Normal Eating and
        The Food & Feelings Workbook
  • May 5th at 5pm PST:
        Amiee Lui, Author of Gaining: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders

Send your questions to Johanna—at either of the links below—before April 26th:

EatingDisordersBlogs on Facebook

Johanna Marie McShane on Facebook


Featured Treatment Facilities


  

Be Sure To Visit!

Recovery, Dance, & Music

At the 2011 iaedp Symposium, Elisa Mott Ed.S. performs a yoga dance to Jenni Schaefer's "I Miss Me" (song from her new CD "phoenix, Tennessee").

  

Upcoming Events

Voices of Inspiration

Your Story Can Make a Difference

By Melanie Aldis-Figaro

As Lindsey mentioned, it's conference season, which is so inspiring. I wish I could share all that I have learned with you, but you would be reading for days! The consistent message I heard from the most recent events I attended—the BEDA Conference and the NEDA 10-Year Anniversary Benefit last week in New York—is that no matter where you are in your recovery, you have a voice and you can positively impact society's views on eating disorders and body image.

At BEDA, we heard a particularly moving presentation about becoming an advocate from Kathleen MacDonald and Kitty Westin of the Eating Disorder Coalition (EDC). Kitty lost her daughter, Anna, on February 17, 2000, when she committed suicide after a five-year battle with anorexia nervosa. One of the many contributing factors was the lack of adequate care by her insurance company. As a result, Kitty started volunteering with the EDC. On one of the days she was advocating, a woman named Kathleen MacDonald was in attendance. Kathleen shared that on that very day she was, in fact, planning on committing suicide. Then she heard Kitty tell Anna's story, which ultimately saved Kathleen's life.

So, when you think you have nothing to offer because you are too sick or not good enough, think about Kitty and Kathleen. If they weren't brave enough to share their stories and experiences with others, Kathleen would have been lost to the disease as well. Please remember, telling your story not only helps others, but also helps you in your own recovery journey. Below is short list of how advocacy helped Kathleen:

"How the EDC & My Voice Helped Me Recover" by Kathleen MacDonald

  • Gave me hope that my suffering could end
  • I no longer felt alone
  • I realized I could make a difference
  • I realized I could effect change
  • EMPOWERED me
  • INSPIRED me
  • CHALLENGED me

You can make a difference and you can do it now. Below are organizations that are looking for your support:

www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
www.anad.org
www.medainc.org
www.aedweb.org
www.bedaonline.com
www.iaedp.com


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Gürze Books has specialized in eating disorders education and publications since 1980.

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