bold.free.new life. after an eating disorder.

a long time ago,
in a clinical setting far far away,
i worked with adolescent girls.
they were struggling.
with anorexia nervosa.
and bulimia nervosa.

i went on to start my own business.
and my clientele changed to adult women with various emotional eating issues.

but i’ve never stopped thinking about those young girls i’d worked with so many years before.
i’ve always wondered who they have become.

what did they do after graduation?
did they get married, have children?
what career paths did they pursue?
have they been back in treatment?
how many times?

i’ve wondered if they were ever able to move past the label they had acquired.
and reclaim their lives.
if they had each journeyed on to discover their true essence.

recently i decided to go back to my roots.
to work once again with individuals who have suffered from these frightening illnesses.

i now offer aftercare to adult women who are recovering from eating disorders.
women who have gone through all of the traditional treatment routes.
who have been deemed “in recovery.”
women who are going through a special kind of grieving process.
who are having to say goodbye to a sometimes long-term companion.

perhaps they are still experiencing some relapse in their behavior.
or maybe no longer find themselves exhibiting the physical manifestations,
but are still struggling with disordered thinking patterns.

as a cognitive-behavioral counselor, i know this is a tough one.
because our thoughts so often determine our feelings.
which in turn heavily influence our actions.

those young girls from long ago are strong women.
how do i know?
i’ve met them, i’ve talked with them.
at critical points in their young lives.
and they were fighting for their lives.

i sincerely hope they are no longer in crisis mode.
or consumed in any way by their often unrelenting illness.
but if they are, i’m reaching out.
to them and to every woman in that same situation.
if they need someone supportive on their side.
someone who will coach them, mentor them, be their cheerleader.

so they can finally and completely free themselves of that other voice.
the voice of their eating disorder.
and strengthen their essential voice.
the voice that announces to the world “no more. i am ready to live.”

i want to view these women apart from their eating disorder.
i want to watch them blossom without anorexia, without bulimia.
i want to help them do the work that will enable them to meet their recovery goals.
as they face the world’s challenges without isolation and private anguish.

i want to see them shine.
above and beyond the place their eating disorder has kept them hidden.

i want to offer hope as they begin to lead bold.free.new lives.
 
 

 
 
Eating disorders affect up to 24 million Americans and 70 million individuals worldwide. (The Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders)

About 80% of those who do get treatment don’t get enough of it. They receive some inpatient care, but go home before the recommended length of stay is up. (South Carolina Department of Mental Health)

Seventy-seven percent of individuals with eating disorders report that the illness can last anywhere from one to 15 years or even longer in some cases. (Mirasol Eating Disorder Recovery Centers)

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia have long been considered diseases of the young, but experts say in recent years more women have been seeking help in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and older. (Mel Evans, USA Today)

Older women with eating disorders fit into three categories: those who have struggled with the disorder since their teens; those who had an early occurrence, but recovered and remained symptom-free until later years; and those whose symptoms first cropped up well past their teen years. (Lorna Collier, Chicago Tribune)

Most eating disordered women have been suffering since adolescence. After 30 years, the eating disorder has become almost a personality characteristic for these women, as many of them define themselves by the eating disorder. (Juliann Schaeffer, Today’s Geriatric Medicine)

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do you know of anyone who has been battling an eating disorder for a very long time?
or have you been going through this experience yourself?

please consider leaving me a comment.
tell me your story.

or contact me privately if you’d like.

i’m thinking of you.
take that next step.
aftercare = hope.
 
 
 
 
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