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From Hell to Healing - A transformational journey and
process through a 24-year eating disorder.
This is my transformational story and it is my intention to share it with
the world.
The more we discuss the implications of eating disorders, their symptoms
and behaviors. I find that we will get more of those same behaviors.
I feel that, after coming out on the other side of this transformational
journey, we need to focus on empowerment and look at the messages we are
sending to our children and all members of society, that we are not
enough, that we need more that there is someone outside of us that knows
what is better for us than we do.
In conjunction with medical intervention, we need to spend funding on
programs that empower individuals to become active participants in their
own lives and learn how to listen to their bodies.
Eating Disorders are not about the food, as many have stated so many
times before. They are about how we feel about ourselves as human beings,
living on this planet.
Somewhere along the line, being selfish and having self-care, became
construed, and children were taught not to think about themselves.
Well, at the age of 36, I am learning that my life is indeed about
me. Just like your life is about you, and it is not until I learned to
acknowledge and love all parts of myself, will I be able to live a healthy
life.
I say healthy, not thin. Health has nothing to do with numbers. I
no longer feel the need to wear the perfect size or be the perfect weight.
When I walk into the doctors office and they ask me to step on the scale, I simply
say "I don't do that, thank you anyway"
There are so many ways to decide whether or not someone is healthy.
What is the answer to eating disorders?
LOVE for myself as a human being, because somewhere I got the idea that I
wasn't enough.
I want the world to know my story. Eating disorders are not pretty,
and there are so many people who are suffering because they don't fit the DSM IV
criteria.
I was told for a long time that I didn't look like I had an
eating disorder. I was told to simply eat from all the food groups.
The individuals that made those suggestions to me were not in my chaotic
mind with all the negativity swarming around, telling me that the world
would be better off if I were dead.
Empowerment is the answer, taking an active role in our own lives and
learning how to really listen to one another and to give one another the
dignity of our own life journey and simply being with us.
That is just a glimpse of what I have to say in regards to eating
disorders. I am very passionate about this topic because I have lived it,
and spent years having others tell me there was nothing they could do, or
that "I didn't look like I had an eating disorder" and in essence they
were telling me to get over it.
Eating disorders are not something to get over. They are something to be
embraced with love. When we love the parts inside us then the
healing process can begin.
Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you.
I feel that there are many people around the world who would benefit from
hearing my story.
Any thoughts or suggestions that might come forward for you and that you
would be willing to share with me would be greatly appreciated.
Blessings-
Mary Pat
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