Beating Ana by Shannon Cutts

Once we acknowledge that a problem exists, we begin to practice honesty.

Once we acknowledge that a problem exists,we begin to practice honesty.Where honesty is present, humility arises. And in humility, we are finally open enough to ask for and accept help. (Beating Ana, from the chapter called "The First Step")

 

Boy, sometimes it is just so hard to say those three little words -

I'm not okay.

But sometimes it is the only thing that works.

When we acknowledge that a problem exists, honesty is the natural result.

Good News: You are Trustworthy

This month's "Good News for Eating Disorders Recovery" just went out today, and I thought I'd share this month's message with you here as well. Hope you enjoy it! :-) Shannon

 

"You are Trustworthy"

Trusting ourselves doesn't seem to be a trait that comes easily.

Yet it is part of our basic operating system.

When we go to school, we get all kinds of instruction for how to think critically, analytically, deeply, and continually.

But in all of this, our inner "trust compass" often gets silenced, smothered even by all that head-knowledge consuming our energy, our focus, our time.

It is time to come back to basics.

When we transgress against ourselves, we feel it.

When we honor ourselves, we feel it.

When we aren't sure, we feel that deep rumbling, bubbling vacillation saying, "Wait, would you just please WAIT?"

We are trustworthy. YOU are trustworthy.

All that is missing is to remember that you have more than just your head to live, to love, and to choose with.

You also have your heart.

This month, this week, today, remember and reconnect with your good and loving, wide and deep, courageous, patient, trustworthy heart.

To read the full edition of "Good News" click HERE

The eating disorder is a master of disguise. But you can beat it at its own game.

Hopefully you are now beginning to perceive that the eating disorder is a master of disguise. But you can beat it at its own game. The healthy brain is a master sleuth. It thrives on accurate knowledge the way the body thrives on the nutrients found in food. (excerpt from "Beating Ana", page 46)

It is the sad truth, but if Ed were the Wizard of Oz, if we flipped back the curtain there wouldn't be anyone there.

Not even a short, scared little man.

Ed is nothing but smoke and mirrors - that's all he is. That is all he has ever been. That is all he will ever be.

The eating disorder entity we call "Ed" is a construct of our own mind, created to point out where we are at odds with ourselves, where we want to go both ways at a crossroads, and where we feel unsure, insecure, abandoned, and alone.

"Ed" is the imaginary friend we never wanted, but now can't figure out how to give up.

When we keep company with other heroes, we become a hero as well

In many cases, we are the company we keep. When we keep company with our eating disorder, we become our eating disorder. When we keep company with our fears of being discovered as the human beings we are, we become somewhat less than human. When we keep company with those who do not wish to push through their own obstacles or support others who do,we become small, afraid, and weak. However, when we keep company with other heroes, with pioneers who persevere to carve out a path for themselves when none is easily seen, we become a hero as well. - "Beating Ana"

 

The truth is, Ed keeps some very iffy company.

He also likes to have company when he goes to hang out with his unsavory cohorts.

Specifically, he always likes for us to tag along.

But in the meantime, you will be healing

You probably will try many things before you find the exact formula that works for you. And it may be years before you realize the true significance of your discoveries. But in the meantime, you will be healing. You will be joining the ranks of the greatest adventurers, willing to endure immeasurable risk for the promise of linking arms with the immortal minority who have earned the right to count overcoming an eating disorder as amongst their greatest life accomplishments. (Beating Ana)

We are often so tempted - by Ed and others - to discount or even ignore those "in the meantime" moments.

Recovery is not accomplished in giant, dramatic, crowd-gathering leaps.

No, it isn't.

Recovery is accomplished when even Ed is so bored with the pace of our progress that he begins to let his attention wander, and that is when it happens.

Choosing the Right Level of ED Treatment for Your Needs

Every month MentorCONNECT hosts a wonderful free teleconference with an expert in eating disorders recovery. We try to pick topics that are really useful to a lot of people - topics like how to choose the right level of treatment for where you find yourself in your recovery journey. 

So if you ever find yourself asking questions like, "What is the difference between inpatient and residential treatment?", "How can I choose between all these different treatment centers that are out there?", and "What do all these treatment terms mean, anyway?", then our next teleconference is specifically for YOU.

I just wanted to issue an invitation for all of you to attend if you are interested. And if you are a treatment provider or family member who is trying to choose the right treatment center for a client or loved one who is struggling, you are warmly welcome to join in too!

The teleconference will take place on Wednesday, August 10, 2011, at 8pm central time.

RSVP HERE for "Choosing the Right Level of Treatment for Your Needs"

Choosing anything less than life means we will not survive

Ed is a selfish sucker.

He would literally rather we lose our lives than endure having to lose our company.

Yet choosing anything less than life - with all of its unutterably tough decisions, nail-biting challenges, bottomless midnight meetings with loneliness, indecisions and endless questions - means that Ed is all that we've got left.

Who wants that?!

And from Ed's desperate perspective, what it must be like to be THAT unwanted?

None of us have ever been that unwanted. Not a one of us has ever yet gotten to the point where we honestly believe that Ed is a preferable alternative to even the faintest possibility of being able to truly LIVE.

Do you know how I know this?