I am a BIG fan of quotes. Particularly recovery-related quotes. But I have noticed that so many recovery-related quotes can relate to the larger population. For today's post, I'd like you to read and discuss (if you'd like) the quote below.
At this very moment, you may be saying to yourself that you have any number of admirable qualities. You are a loyal friend, a caring person, someone who is smart, dependable, fun to be around. That's wonderful, and I'm happy for you, but let me ask you this: are you being any of those things to yourself? ~~ Phillip C. McGraw
And as always, remember, RECOVERY ROCKS!!
God bless,
-Becca
Friday, November 4, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
For everything, there is a season.
(Insert little blurb about how I know I haven't blogged in MONTHS and how I promise I'm going to get back into it like I used to be).
(start blog post)
Seasons. What does that word mean to you?? What connotations does it have?? For me, it means everything from Kentucky weather, arthritis episodes, and everything in between (positive AND negative). But more than anything, though, when I hear the word "seasons," my mind instantly goes to the word "change."
I'm going to start by using an analogy Rog made as he was driving home from visiting me in North Carolina a few weeks ago. As many of you know, I was a patient in UNC's Eating Disorders Program for 5 weeks, spanning half of September and 3 weeks of October. Those of you who live in an area densely populated with trees, and especially if you have ever driven through Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, or any other such comparable state in early fall are familiar with the beautiful changes the trees undergo. The lush greens of summer turn into breathtaking reds, oranges, and golds of fall. There are few things on earth that are as awe-inspiring as a multicolored forest in early October. What is even neater than the leaves changing colors, though, is that the changing colors are the first step to the tree being renewed, reborn, in the Spring. Of course, there are several interim stages between golden and red leaves and the new green colors that greet our eyes in March or April, but of one thing we can be sure -- the trees will rejuvenate themselves again, as they have every year they've been in existence thus far.
Now, how exactly does this relate to Recovery?? Particularly my recovery as I transitioned from one phase to another of UNC's program?? Well, I'm glad you asked!!
As with the trees, Recovery is a process. It is often cyclical (as is evidenced by the past 8 years of my life), and it provides you with constant opportunities for renewal. I equate the change from summer's green to fall's multicolored forest to the stage of Recovery I entered when transitioning from the Inpatient program to the Partial Hospitalization Program, as well as the preparations I made for the transition back home to Kentucky. Throughout the program, I underwent several changes, and most, if not all, of them helped make me into a more colorful and bright person (something my eating disorder had stolen from me). As the trees, so was I morphing from something I used to be into something I knew I could only be WITH Recovery.
You may be thinking, "Now, okay, that makes sense. But what about the part where the fall leaves literally fall off the tree and the tree dies?? What does that mean for your recovery??"
That is a little more tricky, but it IS understandable. Most people lament over the beautiful leaves falling to the ground and leaving us with dead trees. However, those same people are the first to rejoice when the trees bloom again come springtime (I am guilty of this, as well). What we (myself included) fail to acknowledge, though, is that the "death" of a tree can also be beautiful, because it is just another notch in the wheel of renewal. Relating to Recovery, I see the "death" of the trees as a parallel with the "death" of my eating disorder. Or, if not the complete death, the considerable lessening of the eating disorder's grasp on my life. And, as with the trees, I have been afforded the chance to move from that death into the springtime of Recovery.
Now, I am by no stretch of the imagination fully recovered. I am still not sure if I believe that is possible. But I do have a renewed sense of hope, and I am becoming a little more confident each day that the past 8 years I have spent in bondage to my eating disorder have merely been a season of my life--a season that is finally starting to draw to a close. There's no telling how long it will take for this season to fully end, but again, I am confident in my ability to handle it--however long it may take.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." -- Ecclesiastes 3:1
God bless,
Becca
(start blog post)
Seasons. What does that word mean to you?? What connotations does it have?? For me, it means everything from Kentucky weather, arthritis episodes, and everything in between (positive AND negative). But more than anything, though, when I hear the word "seasons," my mind instantly goes to the word "change."
I'm going to start by using an analogy Rog made as he was driving home from visiting me in North Carolina a few weeks ago. As many of you know, I was a patient in UNC's Eating Disorders Program for 5 weeks, spanning half of September and 3 weeks of October. Those of you who live in an area densely populated with trees, and especially if you have ever driven through Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, or any other such comparable state in early fall are familiar with the beautiful changes the trees undergo. The lush greens of summer turn into breathtaking reds, oranges, and golds of fall. There are few things on earth that are as awe-inspiring as a multicolored forest in early October. What is even neater than the leaves changing colors, though, is that the changing colors are the first step to the tree being renewed, reborn, in the Spring. Of course, there are several interim stages between golden and red leaves and the new green colors that greet our eyes in March or April, but of one thing we can be sure -- the trees will rejuvenate themselves again, as they have every year they've been in existence thus far.
Now, how exactly does this relate to Recovery?? Particularly my recovery as I transitioned from one phase to another of UNC's program?? Well, I'm glad you asked!!
As with the trees, Recovery is a process. It is often cyclical (as is evidenced by the past 8 years of my life), and it provides you with constant opportunities for renewal. I equate the change from summer's green to fall's multicolored forest to the stage of Recovery I entered when transitioning from the Inpatient program to the Partial Hospitalization Program, as well as the preparations I made for the transition back home to Kentucky. Throughout the program, I underwent several changes, and most, if not all, of them helped make me into a more colorful and bright person (something my eating disorder had stolen from me). As the trees, so was I morphing from something I used to be into something I knew I could only be WITH Recovery.
You may be thinking, "Now, okay, that makes sense. But what about the part where the fall leaves literally fall off the tree and the tree dies?? What does that mean for your recovery??"
That is a little more tricky, but it IS understandable. Most people lament over the beautiful leaves falling to the ground and leaving us with dead trees. However, those same people are the first to rejoice when the trees bloom again come springtime (I am guilty of this, as well). What we (myself included) fail to acknowledge, though, is that the "death" of a tree can also be beautiful, because it is just another notch in the wheel of renewal. Relating to Recovery, I see the "death" of the trees as a parallel with the "death" of my eating disorder. Or, if not the complete death, the considerable lessening of the eating disorder's grasp on my life. And, as with the trees, I have been afforded the chance to move from that death into the springtime of Recovery.
Now, I am by no stretch of the imagination fully recovered. I am still not sure if I believe that is possible. But I do have a renewed sense of hope, and I am becoming a little more confident each day that the past 8 years I have spent in bondage to my eating disorder have merely been a season of my life--a season that is finally starting to draw to a close. There's no telling how long it will take for this season to fully end, but again, I am confident in my ability to handle it--however long it may take.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." -- Ecclesiastes 3:1
God bless,
Becca
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
I'm blogging for Mental Health 2011!!
Greetings, all!!
It's been a while since I last posted, I know, but that has been because life has been super hectic.
In any case, I wanted to make sure I posted TODAY.
Why?? You might ask. Well, today is "Mental Health Blog Day 2011" and I want to raise awareness!!
There are several great blog posts going up today, so mine will be short, sweet, and to the point.
Mental health affects all of us, in some way, shape, or form, every day of our lives. Some days you may be in good mental health. Some days it may not be so good. The important thing is you recognize that the mere fact you have a MIND means you have varying degrees of mental health throughout your life.
Some may struggle with mental health issues more than others....and they should NOT have to be ashamed of that. So this is me, telling YOU that if you are suffering in silence because you feel like you can't talk about mental health....reach out and ask for support!!
It is only by asking for support that we help to reduce the stigma our society, at large, still has, surrounding mental health.
If someone you know and love is suffering, offer them your support.
If we all band together, we can end the negative stigma mental health issues have in our country, and work together to help those who need it!! Because let's face it -- everybody has "something."
Happy Mental Health Blog Day!!
It's been a while since I last posted, I know, but that has been because life has been super hectic.
In any case, I wanted to make sure I posted TODAY.
Why?? You might ask. Well, today is "Mental Health Blog Day 2011" and I want to raise awareness!!
There are several great blog posts going up today, so mine will be short, sweet, and to the point.
Mental health affects all of us, in some way, shape, or form, every day of our lives. Some days you may be in good mental health. Some days it may not be so good. The important thing is you recognize that the mere fact you have a MIND means you have varying degrees of mental health throughout your life.
Some may struggle with mental health issues more than others....and they should NOT have to be ashamed of that. So this is me, telling YOU that if you are suffering in silence because you feel like you can't talk about mental health....reach out and ask for support!!
It is only by asking for support that we help to reduce the stigma our society, at large, still has, surrounding mental health.
If someone you know and love is suffering, offer them your support.
If we all band together, we can end the negative stigma mental health issues have in our country, and work together to help those who need it!! Because let's face it -- everybody has "something."
Happy Mental Health Blog Day!!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
"When I discover who I am, I'll be free."
So I was perusing quotes the other day, and came across one I thought was worthy of sharing. The quote is actually the title of this blog post, but I've shared it below, as well:
"When I discover who I am, I'll be free." -- Ralph Ellison
I'd really love to hear what this quote means for YOU!! What does discovering who you are look like?? Do you have any idea who you really are?? What does "being free" look like to you??
Please share your thoughts -- remember, the only thing that can hold you back is you, so take a risk and make your opinions known!!
As always, remember: RECOVERY ROCKS!!
God bless
Monday, May 2, 2011
"Desperate Housewives" syndrome.
I came across an article that particularly intrigued me regarding eating disorders and the influence Desperate Housewives (my favorite TV show) has on women, particularly those who are classified as "middle aged." The full article can be read here, but I've included a couple of quotes from the article below.
“There is an epidemic of disordered eating and body image despair,” says Dr. Maine, who is giving a talk on midlife eating disorders on Tuesday at a conference organized by the National Eating Disorder Information Centre in Toronto."
"Some researchers call it the “Desperate Housewives effect,” referring to the cultural influence of the hit TV series, in which improbably thin women in their 40s prance around in short shorts."
So, for those of you who watch Desperate Housewives, or for those of you who may have just seen commercials for the show or maybe have caught only an episode or two, do you think it is an accurate statement to say that the show could perpetuate eating disorders in the middle aged women age group?? I know I, personally have my own thoughts, mainly because I, myself, have compared myself to those "improbably thin women" on the show (even though I still tune in every week), but I would LOVE to hear what y'all have to say!!
As always, remember: RECOVERY ROCKS!!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Winning.
So I came across a quote on a friend's facebook page yesterday, which I immediately applied to my own recovery, and which I then also posted as my facebook status. The quote says this:
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
How do YOU define Recovery??
Here I have another post inspired by a news article in the New York Times. The article is entitled, "In Fighting Anorexia, Recovery is Elusive" and can be read in its entirety here. If you want to read a more "Reader's Digest" version of the article, you can do so here.
The article starts by discussing a physician, Dr. Suzanne Dooley-Hash, and her views on Recovery (she has struggled with an eating disorder since she was 15).
The article caused me to ask myself a question I have thought about countless times in my own Recovery process: "Becca, how do YOU define Recovery??"
So I would like to pose the question to you readers, as well. How do YOU define Recovery?? This could be Recovery from an eating disorder or any other type of addiction. In the case of an Ed, do you define Recovery as "maintaining a stable, healthy weight for X amount of days/weeks/months/years"?? In the case of any addiction, (although my primary focus is Ed) do you define Recovery as being symptom-free for a certain amount of time?? Do you define Recovery as being free from the thoughts/urges that go along with you disorder??
What factors do you use in determining what "Recovery" truly is?? Also, something else on which I'd like to hear your thoughts....Do you think a "full Recovery" is possible?? And if so, do you think it's possible for YOU??
Comment away!! And, as always, remember: RECOVERY ROCKS!!
God bless
The article starts by discussing a physician, Dr. Suzanne Dooley-Hash, and her views on Recovery (she has struggled with an eating disorder since she was 15).
The article caused me to ask myself a question I have thought about countless times in my own Recovery process: "Becca, how do YOU define Recovery??"
So I would like to pose the question to you readers, as well. How do YOU define Recovery?? This could be Recovery from an eating disorder or any other type of addiction. In the case of an Ed, do you define Recovery as "maintaining a stable, healthy weight for X amount of days/weeks/months/years"?? In the case of any addiction, (although my primary focus is Ed) do you define Recovery as being symptom-free for a certain amount of time?? Do you define Recovery as being free from the thoughts/urges that go along with you disorder??
What factors do you use in determining what "Recovery" truly is?? Also, something else on which I'd like to hear your thoughts....Do you think a "full Recovery" is possible?? And if so, do you think it's possible for YOU??
Comment away!! And, as always, remember: RECOVERY ROCKS!!
God bless
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