dear kj resize NEDA

Dear KJ: How Can I Talk to My Parents About Getting Treatment?

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"Dear KJ" is a monthly advice column by Dr. Kjerstin "KJ" Gruys, sociologist, author and body image activist. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology with a focus on the politics of appearance and is the author of Mirror Mirror Off the Wall: How I Learned…
Family

What Our Children’s Eating Disorders Meant for Our Parenting

For many years, the reality we lived in was one of fear; fear that ED would take the lives of our daughters. Would they be alive at Christmas or their next birthdays? As morose as that sounds, that is the reality of being parents or family members…
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Holiday Mantras That Promote Understanding and Acceptance

When our family therapist told us that family relationships were wholly repairable, I was dubious. At the time, it felt like we would never fully escape the chaos, fear, and unhappiness that an eating disorder had brought to our family. We didn’t…
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The Miracle of Macaroni (and corndogs)

As my college-aged daughter was landing on the tarmac after ED treatment away from home, I stood at the stove feeling apprehensive about the sour cream I was stirring into the chicken paprikash and the homemade macaroni and cheese that was baking…
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A Mother’s Day Message

This Mother’s Day, we want to thank all the wonderful mothers (and mother figures) for their unconditional love and support when caring for a loved one with an eating disorder.I want to give a special shout out to my own mother, Debbie, who…
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A Fantasy Letter to Our Insurer Upon Receiving the Final Denial of Our Appeal

Dear Insurer: I can’t stop thinking about you and the contract you have broken with our family.  After years of forthright service - covering the deliveries of our three children, reimbursing us for their vaccinations, paying for…
EDsDisguise

Seeing Through ED’s Disguises

Early intervention. The phrase can sound like a negative judgment to a parent whose child has been in treatment for an eating disorder for multiple years. The mind returns to the time that the clues began appearing and wonders anxiously, “What…
Language-Definition

The Language of Partners

I was raised with the belief that language is important.  I was taught that that the precision of my words could greatly affect the impact of what I say. When I first met my partner a little over two years ago, one of the main things we…
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7 Signs Your Friend or Loved One Might Be Struggling With an Eating Disorder

About three percent of teenagers and four percent of adults are affected by eating disorders, but most do not receive treatment, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.Why? Because the people around them—health professionals…
mommarch

What is a M.O.M. March?

Many of you have asked - what is a MOM March and how was it born?The M.O.M. (Mothers & Others) March was founded by Alliance For Eating Disorders Awareness, Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) and Mothers Against Eating Disorders (MAED).  The…