Kicking Off NEDAwareness Week 2014

So there's this really awesome thing is going on this week hosted by an incredible organization. It's called NEDAwareness Week by National Eating Disorder Assoctaion (NEDA). Aside from being an incredible force for raising awareness, NEDA also has a helpline, screening tools, and information not only for those sufferering and those in recovery, but also parents, siblings, peers, coaches, and teachers. I participate in NEDAwareness Week last year and loved it! I met some incredible people, made lifelong friends, and gained awesome resources to pass along. 

This year's theme is "Get In The Know"

 Get In The Know(from NEDA's site)

Our Theme: "I Had No Idea"

This year's NEDAwareness Week theme is "I Had No Idea" to raise awareness towards the significant impact eating disorders have on individuals, families, and communities across the nation. The more people who learn about these life-threatening illnesses, the more lives we can save. Last year, 100% of U.S. states hosted NEDAwareness Week events and activities. Additionally, 51 international countries participated in raising awareness. This year we strive to surpass these numbers, and have everyone get in the know and do just one thing to raise awareness!

Our Mission

The aim of NEDAwareness Week is to ultimately increase outreach and awareness of eating disorders and body image issues, while reducing the stigma surrounding eating disorders and improving access to treatment resources. Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening illnesses - not choices - and it's important to recognize the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape the disorder.

What is NEDAwareness Week?

NEDAwareness Week is a collective effort of volunteers, including eating disorder professionals, health care providers, students, educators, social workers, organizations and individuals committed to raising awareness of eating disorders.  The impact of increased outreach efforts leads to a greater chance of people seeking out resources and help for an eating disorder, which ultimately saves lives.

What are the Key Messages of NEDAwareness Week?

This year the National Eating Disorders Association is stressing the need to address eating disorder misconceptions - as many individuals, families, and communities are not aware of the often devastating mental and physical consequences - and highlights available resources for treatment and support. We urge you to talk about the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape these disorders with your family, friends, colleagues and community by doing just one thing during NEDAwareness Week. Learn more about the key messages for 2014 NEDAwareness Week and share with others so they can get in the know!

How NEDAwareness Week Works

NEDA asks everyone to do just one thing to help raise awareness and provide accurate information about eating disorders. NEDAwareness Week participants can choose from a huge range of ways to get involved: Distribute info pamphlets and put up posters, register as a Volunteer Speaker or host a Volunteer Speaker, post information on Facebook, or plan interactive and educational events like a community meeting, panel discussion, Barbie event, movie screening, art exhibit and more.

As a NEDAwareness Week participant you can be involved in any way that works with your schedule, resources, community, and interests.  These events and activities are vital to attracting public media attention - on local, national and international levels. 

Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect both a person’s emotional and physical health. In the United States alone, 30 million people will be impacted by an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. These conditions affect all kinds of people and don’t discriminate by race, age, sex, age or size.

If you or someone you care about might be suffering from an eating disorder, it is important to educate yourself and seek professional guidance as soon as possible because early intervention is key to successful recovery.

This page will provide a basic information about eating disorders, outlines how to spot a problem early and offers suggestions on how to talk to someone who is struggling.

Still have questions? Check out their FAQ section 

***This week I will be posting on here, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for NEDAwareness Week. I invite and encourage everyone to share this information. Widely! Check out NEDA's site. Take the screening test - it's 100% anonymous, free, quick, and completely online. Don't be afraid to call the help line.

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

Leibster Awards

I just had the privilege of learning that this really great blog, Healing Hopefully, has awarded me with a Leibster! 

No, seriously, she did. Even though I've been unable to blog lately and have been totally slacking, she has passed the torch to me. I'm extremely honored! I am also feeling that proverbial kick-in-the pants I needed to get back on track. Thank you, Megan. I needed that ;) 

I know a bit about the Leibster blogging award and what it's all about because I received it last year from Just Mildly Medicated (another super awesome spoonie blog). So here's the gist:

It's an awarded given by bloggers, to bloggers. It's reserved for "smaller" blogs - blogs with under 200 followers. It's pretty awesome. 

The questions Healing Hopefully asked us: 

1. Why did you start blogging?

It was initially just something to claim as my own. Something I did for me, at a time when all my other hobbies seemed to have vanished. Now, it has morphed into something I hope helps others. I blog about disabilities, chronic illness, autism, and eating disorders. I blog about the inqualities and ignorant preconcived notions drawn up regarding them. I blog about awareness and hope. 

2. What are your favorite hobbies?

Drawing, painting, crafting, reading, watching movies... 

3. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

Oh my, that's a very tough question. There are so many places I've dreamt of visiting. Of those places, I've plucked my top bucket list destinations: First and foremost, my husband has always dreamt of going to Alaska. I would love to take him there, and hopefully hear the Denali wolves sing :) 

After that, my main Bucket List destinations are: 

France - I just must see the Louve before I die. I'd also love to see the French countryside and lavender fields. 

Scotland - My husband and many of my friends have been to Scotland for pipe band (that's Bagpipes and drums) competatitions. I missed out on them but have heard its wonderful. My husband says that 
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. 

4. What is your favorite color and why?

Purple. 

Aside from amethyst being my birthstone, there are many other reasons why I favor it. Purple balances the intense, stimulating reds and the calming blues. It garners spirituality and creativity. It's the color of the crown chakra - Sahasrara - responsible for the nervous system. For someone with Dysautonomia and Epilepsy it seems both appropriate and ironic that my color represents the nervous system, lol. Interestingly enough, I've been told that my aura is purple. 

5. Do you have any pets? 

Yes, I do! I have 4 dogs and 3 snakes. And I love them dearly :) 

6. What's your favorite way to pass the time in bed while you or your loved one is ill?

Definitely Netflix! Reading is a super close second and of course, wasting time on the internet (namely Pinterest and Facebook) are way up there. I also really enjoy sketching when I'm able to be upright long enough. 

7. What is your favorite food?

Chocolate!!!! Anything chocolate. Especially dark chocolate. I swear I would love to live off of chocolate and coffee if I could!

8. Can you remember a recent dream you had? What was it about?

Many of my dreams are very vivid and, when they are, I often wake up feelling disoriented and exasperated. The context of my dreams seem to dissolve as I become more awake and alert. As the minutes pass, the dream vanishes. I can only remember bits and peices from them, but the theme and energy remains as vivid as whilst I was in them. Lately, the themes and energys have revolved around the old/past/familiar vs the new/future/unknown with both content and anxious energies intertwining amongst the dreams' phases. 

9. What is your favorite thing about yourself? 

My fervent desire to learn. My empathetic abilities would be my top pick, but it is often more of a curse than a blessing. 

10. What is your favorite quote?

This is another question that simply I can not strip away to just one. So are here are a few of my favs. I like quotes and there are so, so many that I love. To see what I mean just check out my Words to Live By  Pin board ;)

"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." - Nietzsche             

"Even the darkest night shall end and the sun will rise." - Victor Hugo 

"Though she be but small, she is fierce." - Shakespeare 

My 11 Random Facts:

1. I have 2 children under the age of 5

2. Aside from Dysautonomia (both POTS and NCS) I also have Gastroparesis, Epilepsy, Neuropathy, and sensory sensitivities. 

3.  I love animals and consider myself an animal activist.

4. My favorite animal is the wolf. I simply love wolves.

5. I'm a vegetarian. The rest of my family is not. 

6. I'm a Marine wife. My husband was honorably discharged about a year ago. 

7. We've been married for 9 yrs. 10 this October. 

8. Ummmm.... This is getting tricky.... Oh! I'm 27 years old (haha, found an easy one!)

9. I am an eating disorder survivor. 

10. I love old movies. I mean, real old. Like 1920's-1940's old. 

11. My top 3 favorite books are: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, We the Living by Ayn Rand, and Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia by Marya Hornbacher. 

Being the small blog that I am, I don't really know 11 "smallish" blogs *embarassed* So, I'll be awarding 4 amazing blogs. Drum roll, please..... 

Sprinklings of Happiness

Radical Nuerodivergent Speaking

Autistic Chick

Fit vs Fiction

My questions for them are:

1.) What is your favorite food?

2.) Why did you start blogging?

3.) What is your favorite book?

4.) What is your favorite (or a couple) quotes?

5.) If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

6.) Your taking a trip. Money is no object. Neither are physical limitations or obligations. Where do you go?

7.) What is something high up on your Bucket List?

8.) If you could give one piece of advice (on life, in general) what would it be?

9.) Do you have any pets?

10.) What's your favorite way to unwind?

11.) Name something on your wish list.