Inpatient and Intensive Outpatient Treatment...

Welcome back to the Blog, Jeanette!~ We have missed you! I just sent you a card yesterday, hopefully it finds it's way to you in outpatient treatment. I received your letter yesterday. Thank you for writing. I appreciate your candor and openness.
It is difficult to recover, and stats show that the longer one has been struggling with ED, often the longer and harder it is to recover.......so be patient with yourself....you are trying..........you are a wonderful person and are not defined by your eating disorder..........it is just one facet of you that you are addressing and working on healing.....I admire your commitment to doing what you need to do to seek recovery, ie: group, treatment, therapy, etc....You are doing good work, and it does not have to be perfect.
Hang in there with treatment and give it all you got, Girl!

Jacquelyn

p.s. anyone else out there have thoughts regarding inpatient and intensive outpatient eating disorder treatment?

Ramifications of Laxative Abuse...

Last night, at the EDH recovery group, we discussed the physical ramifications of having abused laxatives....Bloating & constipation are some of the uncomfortable results of coming off laxatives....What do y'all think about this topic? Any experience with recovery from laxative abuse to encourage others suffering through the consequences and coming off laxatives? Please be careful to share constructively and not pass on unhealthy tips to others who might be vulnerable to suggestion.
But, do share your experience and what has helped you to get past the abuse of laxatives....
thanks.
Jacquelyn

Dreams, Hopes & Fears regarding treatment and getting well....

Hello Jeanette!
I can understand why you are feeling fearful and anxious about seeking treatment again...but, I am so excited for you. I have heard you talk about your educational goals, your desire for a family, health, etc. and you are taking an important step toward realizing these goals....Babycakes -- if I can get over this blasted eating disorder, I know you can.........life is still not a bowl of cherries all the time, but at least I now have a loving family of my own, am completing my educational & career goals, am healthy, and probably most importantly, am able to use my God given gifts to serve others who are hurting and want to get better.......You too, can be a "wounded healer", even if you specialize in something unrelated to eating disorder recovery, your insight, sensitivity and spirit will be a blessing to many who cross your path....you have endured so much already, it is time for you to have some of the sweeter side of life.......maybe this time treatment will be the launching pad of a much richer, fuller and peaceful life!
You can do this...
Jacquelyn
Founder of Eating Disorder Hope

p.s. anyone else have thoughts on this topic? Or encouraging words for Jeanette?

Inpatient Treatment

What do you think are the pros and cons of inpatient treatment programs? What are the challenges that prevent you from going -- if you want to go? What keeps you from wanting to go? Has anyone been through this form of treatment and what was your experience?

Jacquelyn

Osteoporosis and Eating Disorders

Here is a great resource for information about osteoporosis and eating disorders:

http://gurze.net/site12_5_00/osteo.htm

What do you think about it?

Jacquelyn

Self Esteem & Identity...

Hello Ladies! Here's an interesting question: What is your self esteem based on? What determines your sense of self worth?

Katie - I hope you had a good birthday despite it all....I know this is a difficult transitional point in your life and I appreciate your honesty and candidness...I can understand the feelings you express and I feel privileged to glimpse your beautiful soul....pain sucks.......expressing it helps......go for it...or as our beloved Dr. C says....."Let er rip!".

Jamie - I hope you are hanging in there with all this ambiguity about your plans...on and off again...it must be tough! I am glad that you are following the advice of the medical experts...we need you here, alive, in this world to bless us all with your many talents and gifts....vivaciousness, ballet, sensitive & caring person, etc...

Meg - thanks for posing again...looks like you are getting the gist of it...I hope this is an exciting time for you, preparing to go back to school and all...you have come so far...you are an inspiration to us....I am so glad you are in the group...

Amanda - we are going to miss you on Wednesday nights....I am glad that you are pursuing recovery so diligently....you are a great example of commitment and perseverence. I hope you will continue to blog and update us all regularly.

Heart Conditions, Cardiologists, and Eating Disorders...

Hello Ladies....
It seems that a lot of gals are going through heart related issues, cardiologist appts, etc. Lets discuss this all here.......tell us how you are doing, what you feel and think about all of this, etc....
Katie- so glad you posted to the blog! Good job! :) I am glad that we can stay in touch with you throughout the week this way...:)
Jamie- how are you? what is happening with dance trip vs. hospitalization?
Amanda - how did your doc visit go?
Anyone else have thoughts or feedback regarding this important issue of heart conditions related to eating disorders?
Check out this link for great heart info:
http://www.cureresearch.com/sym/heart_symptoms.htm

j.

Pregnancy and Eating Disorders

Hello. Have you read the article about the effect of eating disorders on pregnancy?
The link is: http://eatingdisorderhope.com/Pregnancy.html

Having just had a baby 1 1/2 years ago, I can tell you that it is a miraculous thing for someone who wreaked(SP?) such havoc on their body.......I was always fearful during those years of practicing an eating disorder that I would damage my body to such an extent that I would not be able to have a child..........I did struggle with infertility for 1 1/2 years, and had one miscarriage, before I conceived and carried a successful pregnancy. I feel that the trouble getting pregnant was probably somewhat related to all those years I tried so desperately to maintain a lower weight than my body was comfortable with....I am so lucky to be a mom now, and cannot imagine what it would have been like to not have this experience...Thank God I stopped practicing the eating disorder and am able to be fully present for my son.

Anyone else have thoughts on pregnancy, infertility, etc? By the way, I always had irregular menstrual cycles -- no doubt related to the ed.

love,

Jacquelyn

22 year old woman dies of anorexia/bulimia...

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.4utah.com/local_news/abc4_health/story.aspx?content_id=C128F5E4-1C99-4258-8B61-BF29B6D2C50D

Beautiful and talented Miss Ashley died after just two years of battling her eating disorder! How terrifying........she had everything to live for and now we have lost this precious young woman to disease that threatens so many lives....yet can be stopped....

What do y'all think about this? My heart is broken for Ashley and her family...

Jacquelyn

60+ year old finally recovering....

What do you think about this article regarding an older woman(60+) who struggled with anorexia/bulimia for most of her life and is finally now recovering?

Check out the article at this url: http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/11833367.htm