Eating disorders are a really sticky topic. It’s honestly taken me five years to finally feel comfortable talking about them at all. It’s a topic that’s often danced around, ignored and stigmatized. On the one hand we’re supposed to project an image of confidence but somehow at the same time we’re made to feel arrogant if we love ourselves too much. The amount of contradiction surrounding how women (and men) are supposed to look and feel about themselves is absurd.

So I wanted to write a post to bring awareness and to open up a dialog that this is a real problem that no one should feel ashamed about discussing it. This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness week. NEDA’s 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.

You can find out more about this organization and their campaign at http://nedawareness.org/.

This year their theme is “I had no idea” to illustrate the fact that so many people either know little, or are misinformed about the severity of eating disorders.

So how can you help? There are tons of great suggestions on the website and ways to get involved. But don’t forget that the things you say can have a HUGE impact on how people feel and understand these issues. While you might not think you’re being offensive, joking about eating disorders or accusing someone of having an eating disorder isn’t funny or appropriate. The message of “I had no idea” really hits home because most likely you don’t have an idea of what kind of pain that person is going through.

It makes me cringe when people joke about eating disorders like they’re trivial things that vain women (or men) “pick up” to lose weight. The toll they take and the permanent scars they leave on people’s lives aren’t laughable. It’s not a choice.

If you’re afraid your friend, or someone you love, may be struggling, offer your love and support. When I was struggling the most, few people ever acknowledged what was going on, which made me feel even more isolated. The most helpful thing anyone ever did was tell me that they loved and cared about me no matter what I looked like and they did not judge me for what was happening.

I honestly believe that one of the most important things we can do as individuals and as a society is start talking about eating disorders and stop trivializing and stigmatizing them or any kind of mental illness. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of the rest of your body, I mean come on, you’re brain is pretty dang important!

I’m not a trained medical expert but I am a caring, empathetic person with plenty of personal experience so if you ever need to talk to anyone I’m always a listening ear. You can drop me a line at init4thelongrun4@gmail.com

P.S. You rock & your body rocks (because you’re in it) the end.

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