"Flourishing in Freedom".....Preparing for Eating Disorder Awareness Week!

A colleague and I are getting prepared to do a workshop entitled "Flourishing In Freedom" in honor of Eating Disorder Awareness Week which is February 22-28.  We are presenting at North Coast Calvary Chapel from 9:30-12 in the High School Room.  We seek to reduce the number of people affected by an eating disorder and to empower them to accept themselves the way that God made them.  In a safe, confidential setting~ psycho-education, contributing factors, treatment, support options and questions in general will be addressed.  There is recovery and freedom possible from an Eating Disorder; however it is vital that the denial and minimization that is often engrained in the mind of the individual struggling (along with of course the nature of addictions in general) be broken!  Coming out of isolation, hiding and shattering the toxic shame cycle are all a part of the healing process involved with leaving ED behind.  I don't have a personal story of being recovered from an Eating Disorder; however I can relate and have had previous struggles related to the cycles of perfectionism, people-pleasing behaviors, distorted body image and the thinking that many of the patients that I have worked with have who struggle with anorexia.  I believe that is why I have such a desire and compassion to see people set free!  We are taking a stand ED Awareness Week and coming together with millions of people across the country who have been affected personally or have lost loved-ones and family members to Anorexia, Bulimia or other variations of ED.  I would encourage you to get involved in some way too~the statistics say that 40% of Americans have struggled with an eating disorder or know someone who has.