who take the time to hear what they’re saying.
Saplings of Hope
2/26/14
The Pressure To Be Perfect
who take the time to hear what they’re saying.
2/24/14
About Eating Disorders: NEDAwareness 2014
NEDAwareness Week 2014 is officially underway! What is NEDAwareness Week? Go here, and here to find out more ;)
ABOUT EATING DISORDERS
What is an Eating Disorder?
Anorexia Nervosa:
- Restricting food intake to below the requirements for a particular individuals physical requirements
- Intense fear of weight gain and obsession with weight and continual behaviors to prevent weight gain
- Inability to recognize true body shape or recognize the seriousness of condition
- May or may not use binge eating and/or purging behaviors
Bulimia Nervosa:
- Eating an unusually large amount of food at one time followed by compensatory behaviors (such as vomiting, taking laxatives and/or excessive exercise) to prevent weight gain
- A feeling of being out of control during the binge-eating occurrence
- Self-judgment largely based on weight and shape
Binge Eating Disorder:
- Recurrent situations of eating an unusually large amount of food at one time
- A feeling of being out of control during the behavior
- May have feelings of shame or guilt towards eating which can lead to eating alone
- May eat until the individual is beyond full to the point of discomfort
Is it an Eating Disorder?
- Makes frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight
- In general, behaviors and attitudes indicate that weight loss, dieting and control of food are becoming primary concerns
- Evidence of binge eating, including disappearance of large amounts of food in short periods of time or lots of wrappers and containers indicating consumption or large amounts of food
- Evidence of purging behavior, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics
- Develops food rituals (e.g. eats only a particular food or food group, excessive chewing, doesn’t allow foods to touch, etc.)
- Skips meals or takes small portions of food at regular meals
- Hides body with baggy clothes
- Maintains excessive, rigid exercise regimen—despite weather, fatigue, illness or injury—because of the need to “burn off” calories
- Drinks excessive amounts of water and/or uses excessive amounts of mouthwash, mints and gum
How Can I Help?
Do:
- Learn the difference between facts and myths about weight, nutrition and exercise
- Ask what you can do to help
- Listen openly and reflectively; be patient and non-judgmental
- Talk with the person in a kind way, when you are not angry, frustrated or upset
- Explain the reasons for our concerns, without mentioning specific eating behavior
- Ask if he/she is willing to explore these concerns with a healthcare professional who understands eating disorders
- Remind your loved one that many people have successfully recovered from an eating disorder
Don’t:
- Invade privacy and contact the patient’s doctors, friends or others to check up behind his/her back
- Demand weight changes (even is clinically necessary for health)
- Insist the person eat every type of food at the table
- Make eating, food, clothes or appearance the focus of conversation
- Offer more help than you are qualified to give
CALL THE HELPLINE NOW
Call NEDA's toll-free, confidential Helpline, Monday-Thursday from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm and Friday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (EST)
1-800-931-2237
Kicking Off NEDAwareness Week 2014
Our Theme: "I Had No Idea"
Our Mission
What is NEDAwareness Week?
What are the Key Messages of NEDAwareness Week?
How NEDAwareness Week Works
CALL THE HELPLINE NOW
Call NEDA's toll-free, confidential Helpline, Monday-Thursday from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
and Friday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (EST)
1-800-931-2237
2/5/14
Leibster Awards
if all the places he's been, he'd love to take e there. That says a lot because he doesn't like to travel
and would rather be a hermit on the side of a mountain. Lol.
12/29/13
My New Dragonfly Friend (aka: port Huber)
I got a new accessory! No, it's not a purse, or shoes, or jewelry... It's an accessed Power Port with a Huber needle.
Ok. If you're not a dysahtonimiac, gastroparesis chick, or some other spoonie you probably have no idea wtf I'm talking about. Here's a quick synopsis:
Wikipedia's page on it says:
"In medicine, a port (or portacath) is a small medical appliance that is installed beneath the skin. A catheter connects the port to a vein. Under the skin, the port has a septum through which drugs can be injected and blood samples can be drawn many times, usually with less discomfort for the patient than a more typical "needle stick".
Ports are used mostly to treat hematology and oncology patients, but recently ports have been adapted also for hemodialysis patients.
The port is usually inserted in the upper chest, just below the clavicle or collar bone, leaving the patient's hands free."
Why a port? You see, I have terrible - I mean terrible - veins. This saves me from needing a peripheral IV ( the regular kind that goes in your arm) every time need IV hydration, medicine, or other treatment. It can stay in for years and is completely under the skin, and no open wounds ( except when accessed) is always a good thing ;) I am extremely relieved to have this and be able to do all of this at home! My daughter is still a bit nervous about me having this thing in my chest, but for the most part she has decided she likes it because Mommy gets to stay home and doesn't have to go to the doctors for long periods of time (aka: hospitalizations). I totally agree :)
With the special Huber needle, I think it looks like a Dragonfly. Don't ya think? I love dragonflies :-)
Tomorrow I'll start my first saline hydration therapy (I have no idea what the crap I'm supposed to call it. The Rx says "hydration therapy", so I guess that's what it is.)
So right now, I'm rocking it! ... or at least trying to, lol.
12/20/13
Emotional Break of The Day
I don't usually post this sort if thing on here, but I do feel very strongly about this and it has weighed on me so hard that I just needed an outlet. Please, rest assured, after this I will resume my normal topics :)
Anyway...
I Just attempted to watch Blackfish... I got 12 minutes into it and had to turn it off. I had been so excited that this documentary was being made. Orcas have always been one of my absolute favorite animals. I was ecstatic about the attention it was getting. Finally! I had to see it!
After hearing more and more, I got a little more, and more nervous. Yep, my nerves were dead on. I. Can't. Watch. It.
But I sure as hell can support it!
As a kid, they were my favorite animal. They now hold the #2 spot, just beside my beloved wolves - which is really what Orcas are, the wolves of the sea. They have very similar social structures and hunting strategies. That's probably why I love them both so much. They are extremely intelligent, powerful, perfect preditors.
What this film brings to light is ground breaking. And very much needed. It's just so, so horrible. So deplorably wrong. There aren't enough words to properly describe what happens when animals are used for entertainment.
If anyone has ever gone to Sea World and saw a show, (I did when I was a kid. It was amazing.) Or, if anyone doubts the validity of the statements made against institutions like these, then please, PLEASE just TRY to watch Blackfish. I dare you.