Childhood Anorexia and P.A.N.D.A.S. – A Missing Link?
March 24, 2015 by Amy Leigh Mercree
Filed under Activism, Activism, ADHD, Advocacy, Anorexia, Anxiety, Body Dysmorphia, Body Image, Depression, Disordered Eating, Eating Disorders, Featured, Males with Eating Disorders, Media Literacy, Mental Health, OCD, Parents, Prevention, Recovery, Self-Harm, Suicide, Talking To Kids, Treatment, Volunteering
New evidence suggests some cases of childhood anorexia nervosa may be caused by a treatable syndrome called PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections). When I started researching PANDAS I came upon hundreds of stories of healing. Some were heartbreaking to read and learn what the children and families went through. But most end with […]
Stop Competing with Others, Compete with Yourself
February 4, 2015 by Karen R. Koenig
Filed under Empowerment, Recovery, Self Esteem, Self-Acceptance, Self-Care
A major characteristic of people I treat for eating problems is that they frequently compare themselves to others. Sometimes they do this consciously but, honestly, most of the time I don’t think they have a clue that they’re doing it. There’s nothing wrong with a healthy dose of competition, but there’s everything wrong when you […]
How to Deal with Holiday Food Pushers & Have Fun!
December 20, 2014 by Amy Leigh Mercree
Filed under Body Image, Eating Disorders, Empowerment, Featured, Finding Your Voice, HAES, Healthy Communication, Healthy Coping, Healthy Eating, Intuitive Eating, Loving Your Body, Nutrition, Parents, Self Esteem, Self-Acceptance, Self-Care, Self-Compassion, Stress Management, Wellness
The holidays can be a whirlwind of calories and obligations pulling at you from every corner. To counteract all that chaos do the following three things: 1) Make a list of what honestly sounds fun for YOU during the holidays. That could be anything from trimming your own tree solo with a glass of wine […]
Interview with Professional Dancer, Ingrid Graham: Happiness is a Direct Result of Our Actions
November 25, 2014 by mamaV
Filed under Body Image, Dance, Featured, Role Models
Please tell us about yourself and what you do? I am a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher. I also sit on two nonprofit boards and help procure funding and publicity for the causes close to my heart. I love working with children and founded a mentoring program for young aspiring dancers in the community. Can […]
Eating disorder recovery: using inspirational guides
October 28, 2014 by Joanna Poppink
Filed under Anorexia, Athletes, Binge Eating, Body Image, Bulimia, Disordered Eating, Drunkorexia, Eating Disorders, EDNOS, Empowerment, Fat Talk, Featured, Finding Your Voice, Males with Eating Disorders, Mindfulness, Obesity, Over-Exercise, Recovery, Self Esteem, Self-Acceptance, Self-Compassion, Spirituality, Writing and Poetry
Inspiring quotes and images can open your mind, invigorate your heart, refresh your soul and inspire your creative path. You need all this to stay courageous and committed on your path to your eating disorder recovery. Here are some quotes to help you on your way. Use them in your journal and in your meditations. […]
Body Image Myths and the Last Accepted Prejudice
October 24, 2014 by Amy Leigh Mercree
Filed under Activism, Body Image, Empowerment, Fat Acceptance, Fat Talk, Featured, Guys, HAES, LGBT, Loving Your Body, Media Literacy, Self Esteem, Self-Acceptance, Self-Care, Self-Compassion, Weight Stigma, Wellness
A lot of us spend a lot of time consuming media from all directions. Print, online, video, audio. We are bombarded with messages about how we are supposed to look. For women, the pressure to achieve the ideal female body image is powerful. All-around we are shown images of hyper-slim, either tall or petite, large […]
Beyonce, Thank You for Making Feminism Cool Again
August 25, 2014 by Amy Leigh Mercree
Filed under Body Image, Dance, Empowerment, Featured, Finding Your Voice, Freedom, Role Models, Self Esteem, Self-Acceptance, Self-Compassion, Voice
If you saw the 2014 VMAs, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Beyonce closed the show and brought the house down with an incredible performance. It was everything from avant garde, to provocative, to unabashedly sexy, to touching. Besides her obvious, and stunning talent and beauty the underlying message was loud and clear, “I […]
Renovation of our minds: How to transform your mind to think more positively.
July 29, 2014 by Priscilla Jadallah
Filed under Anxiety, Depression, Empowerment, Featured, Finding Your Voice, Healthy Coping, Livin in the Moment, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Recovery, Self Esteem, Self-Acceptance, Self-Compassion, Stress Management, Suicide, Wellness
Therapists work with many different types of people, people whose stories and struggle are each different and unique. One common thing I have noticed as a therapist is how powerful our thoughts truly are. Thoughts can either be your best friend or the toughest meanest bully you can ever encounter. The power however is in […]
How Can We Eliminate Fat Chat Forever?
July 10, 2014 by Amy Leigh Mercree
Filed under Activism, Anxiety, Body Image, Bullying, Depression, Empowerment, Fat Acceptance, Fat Talk, Featured, Finding Your Voice, HAES, Healthy Communication, Healthy Coping, Loving Your Body, Mental Health, Role Models, Self Esteem, Self-Acceptance, Self-Care, Self-Compassion, Sharing Feelings, Stress Management, Weight Stigma, Wellness, Wellness
I’ve wondered about this since I was in eighth grade. I stood in the lunchroom after school waiting for the bus by myself. None of my few friends were on a late bus so I was alone. Carla* sauntered up with Kerri*, who had the same birthday as me. I was wearing my brand new […]
Love Yourself and Make Your Summer Sizzle
June 3, 2014 by Amy Leigh Mercree
Filed under Body Image, Empowerment, Featured, Finding Your Voice, Freedom, HAES, Loving Your Body, Self Esteem, Self-Acceptance, Self-Care, Spirituality, Stress Management, Wellness
Summer breezes, swimming on hot days, and steamy nights provide the perfect backdrop for a self love makeover. Enacting some of the principles of Spiritual Dating can make it happen! Spiritual Dating can take an unsatisfying romantic life and turn into a fulfilling, sensual, and emotionally safe celebration of love in all it’s forms. Here […]
