Recovery: Our Common Threads



We are unique. Each of us possesses a story, a history, a struggle, and/or triumph that will never be the same for any other person, anywhere. Our stories are personal ones. Not in the sense that they are private, without witness... but that they are simply ours, and only ours.

If you were to take two people and place them in identical circumstances you would, on some level, still get two different results because we take to each event, to each trial or celebration, to each moment in our lives... our uniqueness.

Though we are all different there is a common thread that links us together. Somewhere, in the fabric of one person's story, is a stitch or two that will resonate within us. A stitch or two that will feel familiar, connect us, inspire us.

I have never had a problem with alcohol but I can listen to a recovering alcoholic tell his/her story and I can relate. I may not ever fully understand what they are dealing with but that part that sought me out and connected with me will touch my life and change me. The underlying emotions can be so surprisingly similar.

Recovery is like that. Recovery is full of common threads. And common threads can change the fabric of our being. It is in the sharing of your own experience that can touch and inspire another who is facing their own personal struggle, or enlighten someone who is desperate to understand and help.

This is why I feature submissions by readers on Weighing The Facts and think they are so important. Because some aspect of your story will most likely reach out to another. The person who felt different and alone, finds they aren't so different. Nor are they so alone.


*see sidebar for previous submissions of writings and poetry.

If you're interested in sharing you experience on Weighing The Facts you can email me at mrsmenopausal@yahoo.com

picture source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joodles/3159122929/

Eating Disorders: A Taste of What Other ED Bloggers Are Talking About




Simeon's Protocol and The Dangerous HCG Diet
Medusa

Read about Simeons/HCG

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Actively Arielle: A Voice With a Commitment
Arielle

This week's topic is about what is learned in recovery.

Specifically, I

1) share the 3 most important things I have learned in recovery
2) talk about the hardest thing I had to overcome
3) and tell the viewers one message I'd like to tell them about recovery and why it's worth it!

Read more of What is learned in recovery
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Are You Eating With Your Anorexic?
Laura Collins

The Surface

I am so tired of hearing "at a better weight" "no longer skeletal" "maintaining a low but acceptable weight" and this sort of thing.

To me this is like swimming. You are either above the water line or not. It isn't a matter of how close you are to the surface it is about whether you get out enough to breathe.

Read more of The Surface
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Weightless
Margarita Tartakovsky

"Telling ED No!": Interview With Author Cheryl Kerrigan

Cheryl began struggling with eating disorder symptoms at five years old, and, for about 20 years, viewed ED as her world. Her story is another inspiring one that shows that it doesn’t matter how long you’ve struggled, you can recover. No matter how strong it seems ED is, you are stronger.

Read more of Telling ED No!
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Eating Disorders Coalition News and Information

Pediatricians To Screen For Mental Health Issues!
Shirley S. Wang

Pediatricians should screen children for possible mental health issues at every doctor visit, according to new, extensive recommendations a national pediatrician group issued Tuesday.

These doctors also should develop a network of mental-health professionals in the community to whom they can send patients if they suspect a child needs further evaluation, according to the task force on mental health convened by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The recommendations were made in a series of reports published in a supplement to the journal Pediatrics.

Read more of Pediatricians To Screen For Mental Health Issues
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Mamavision
Heather Blessington

Urban Outfitters T-Shirt Promotes Pro-Ana Movement

It seems “eating less” is cool these days according to Urban Outfitters. I guess it’s their hip and trendy response to the whole “obesity crisis” but perhaps they should ponder the repercussions of placing this shirt in their stores modeled by a pale skinny chick (that kind of looks stoned).

Irresponsible as hell.

Read more of Urban Outfitters T-Shirt

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Voice In Recovery

Kendra Sebieius


Letter To Urban Outfitters Re Eat Less T-Shirt

To Whom It May Concern,

I am saddened and angered by Urban Outfitter’s carrying a T-shirt that says “Eat Less” depicted on a young woman. I honestly cannot understand WHO manufactured such a message and WHO would approve this at UO to be sold to a national audience of young women.

I am sure you have received plenty of emails from people stating that anorexia nervosa and eating disorders are no joke, and are deadly. In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.

Read more Letter To Urban Outfitters
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