Why I'm Walking For NEDA

30 Million People Will Suffer From An Eating Disorder, And That Is Why I'm Walking For NEDA

Come join my team or make a donation for the West Chester NEDA Walk!

Lauren Burkholder
Lauren Burkholder Oct 22, 2018
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Did you know that over 30 million men and women will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their life? I am one of these people, and I am walking to support NEDA and it's mission: to raise awareness about eating disorders and treat individuals and families affected by them.

For over six years, I suffered from a mix of anorexia, exercise addiction, and binge eating disorder. I was hospitalized once and relapsed four times. I wanted to give up countless times, but I never did stop fighting, no matter how hard things got. It took a lot of physical and mental growth to overcome my eating disorders, and it is something I never could have done without the support of my family, friends, therapists, and medical professionals.

Even though I am technically considered to be "recovered" now, I will admit that I still have to fight urges to engage in disordered eating behaviors. I still struggle to maintain a body positive mindset and properly take care of myself. I am still extremely hard on myself. I now have some adverse medical conditions resulting from the damage I did to my body, but I am managing them. Each day I choose recovery rather than giving in to my behaviors, I grow stronger. Each day I forgive myself for not being perfect, it gets easier to accept who I am and all of the flaws I have. Each day I look in the mirror, instead of degrading myself, I think about how far I have come. I think about the goals I have, the friends and family I love, and the positive characteristics that define me.

I am sharing a little insight into my story because I want everyone else battling an eating disorder to know that they are not alone. I want everyone struggling to know that it is 100% okay to ask for help and there is nothing to be ashamed of. I want everyone to know that recovery is extremely difficult, probably the hardest thing you will ever have to do in your life, but it is possible and you are worth the fight. It will be challenging. It will be hard to see yourself physically changing. There will be a lot of ups and downs. There will be tears. There will be setbacks and, potentially, relapses. It will take time, patience, determination, motivation, and dedication. But I want everyone to know that recovery is possible and every single challenge is worth it the fight.

I am walking because raising awareness about eating disorders, what they do, how they affect families and relationships, and how they can be treated is something that is very important to me. If this is something important to you, too, please join my team, WCU Group Fitness, in walking at East Goshen Park on Saturday, November 3rd. The walk starts at 11 am but it is recommended to arrive early to get your goodies! You can register through the NEDA wbsite (the password is "ramsup"). If you can make the walk, please feel free to make a donation to our fundraising page, also through the link below. If you want to hear more of my story, I am happy to share more of it with you, too :)

Thank you for supporting NEDA and it's mission with me! I, along with the millions of individuals and families affected by eating disorders, appreciate it very much!

Lauren Burkholder
Lauren Burkholder Oct 22, 2018
At West Chester University

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Everything You Will Miss If You Commit Suicide

The world needs you.
Brittani Norman
Brittani Norman Apr 5, 2016
993393
views

You won't see the sunrise or have your favorite breakfast in the morning.

Instead, your family will mourn the sunrise because it means another day without you.

You will never stay up late talking to your friends or have a bonfire on a summer night.

You won't laugh until you cry again, or dance around and be silly.

You won't go on another adventure. You won't drive around under the moonlight and stars.

They'll miss you. They'll cry.

You won't fight with your siblings only to make up minutes later and laugh about it.

You won't get to interrogate your sister's fiancé when the time comes.

You won't be there to wipe away your mother's tears when she finds out that you're gone.

You won't be able to hug the ones that love you while they're waiting to wake up from the nightmare that had become their reality.

You won't be at your grandparents funeral, speaking about the good things they did in their life.

Instead, they will be at yours.

You won't find your purpose in life, the love of your life, get married or raise a family.

You won't celebrate another Christmas, Easter or birthday.

You won't turn another year older.

You will never see the places you've always dreamed of seeing.

You will not allow yourself the opportunity to get help.

This will be the last sunset you see.

You'll never see the sky change from a bright blue to purples, pinks, oranges, and yellows meshing together over the landscape again.

If the light has left your eyes and all you see is the darkness, know that it can get better. Let yourself get better.

This is what you will miss if you leave the world today.

This is who will care about you when you are gone.

You can change lives. But I hope it's not at the expense of yours.

We care. People care.

Don't let today be the end.

You don't have to live forever sad. You can be happy. It's not wrong to ask for help.

Thank you for staying. Thank you for fighting.

Suicide is a real problem that no one wants to talk about. I'm sure you're no different. But we need to talk about it. There is no difference between being suicidal and committing suicide. If someone tells you they want to kill themselves, do not think they won't do it. Do not just tell them, “Oh you'll be fine." Because when they aren't, you will wonder what you could have done to help. Sit with them however long you need to and tell them it will get better. Talk to them about their problems and tell them there is help. Be the help. Get them assistance. Remind them of all the things they will miss in life.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline — 1-800-273-8255

Cover Image Credit: Brittani Norman
Brittani Norman
Brittani Norman Apr 5, 2016
At Influencers of Montana

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My Eating Disorder Was A Secret, Even From Me

No one ever talks about it, and if they had my life might be different.

Laura Stringer
Laura Stringer Apr 23, 2019
233
views

I remember ninth grade health class very well, specifically one day in particular. The day we talked about eating disorders, I was ready to hear about anorexia and bulimia. I was not ready to walk out of that classroom with confirmation that I had an eating disorder, but that is exactly what I did that day.

After speaking on anorexia and bulimia, my teacher told us about Binge Eating Disorder.

My 14-year-old ears perked up. I had never heard of this disease, but I was immediately interested. I knew anorexia and bulimia well, they were the diseases that, at the time, I wish I had the determination to try, but I was too scared to hurt my body.

Binge Eating Disorder was new to me. My teacher described it as continuing to eat after you were full and eating for hours at a time. As the signs and symptoms continued to be read, I realized... that the last three years of my life had been plagued by binges. There was a lot I couldn't control in my life, but eating was one thing that I always had control over. It was the one thing that always brought me comfort.

Most binges would start after I came home from a hard day at school, or maybe after I got in a fight with a family member. Maybe I felt insecure about the growing number on the scale, but I ate.

It always started with half a bag of chips, then maybe a cookie or other sweet treat, and then I would finish with something else I could find in the pantry. My mother would come home and begin making dinner.

Ashamed, I would hide the food anywhere so my family could not tell I had been eating and then I would go eat dinner.

This was a common occurrence for me, but I had no idea that my habits were wrong or should point to an eating disorder. The only thing that I knew was wrong with me, was that I was gaining weight.

For the longest time, I thought an eating disorder was something that helped you lose weight unhealthily, not gain weight. It wasn't until I sat in a health class that I realized that there was anything wrong with me.

Education is so important in overcoming eating disorders. We are making such great strides about informing people about the dangers of eating disorders and positive body image.

It is so important that we start making Binge Eating Disorder a topic that is as known as anorexia and bulimia. No one ever discusses Binge Eating Disorder, not even the dangers of it, maybe if they had my life might have been different.

Maybe I would have found out about it earlier and could have gotten help before it got out of hand.

I wish I could say that I left that health class that day and never had a binge again. The truth is I binged several times after that, and still to this day I have an episode, although they are very rare.

It would be unrealistic to tell you that I overcame my eating disorder that day because it is a journey I am still completing. Every day presents a new challenge, and sometimes I fail, but I will succeed, and succeeding is worth a few failures.

Laura Stringer
Laura Stringer Apr 23, 2019
At Missouri State University

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