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Wednesday, March 27, 2019

TRIGGERS AND EATING DISORDERS

TRIGGERS= Anything that serves as a stimulus and initiates or precipitates a reaction or series of reactions to initiate or precipitate a behavior or process. (Ex. chain of events, specific reaction, psychological process)



5 TRIGGERS

TRIGGER #1 EMOTIONS
  1. Not feeling loved makes me self destructive
  2. Exposing myself too much emotionally can allow for a relapse
  3. Need for control…{stressful situations make me want to relieve my anxiety through exercise to regain control over my life}
  4. Feelings of sadness, unhappy, disappointed make me want to seek the adrenaline rush from working out as I process these feelings


TRIGGER #2 STRESS
  1. Currently Scleroderma diagnosis,
  2. Dr. Visits and constantly being weighed and it being discussed
  3. Weighing myself multiple times a day and repeating those numbers in my head
  4. Remembering medications, treatment options (see more in my book🙏 Misunderstood coming out in 2020)

TRIGGER #3 SELF TALK
  1. Lose 1-2-3 more lbs and I will be happy but that’s never the case
  2. Resetting goals and weight being included to lose weight (see more in my book 🙏Misunderstood coming out in 2020)

TRIGGER #4 SOCIAL PRESSURE/PEOPLE
  1. Hearing people talk about diets or exercise
  2. My parents and their comments about my weight

TRIGGER #5 ENVIRONMENTAL CUES
  1. Summer pool season with daughter feeling pressure to wear shorts and show my legs
  2. Winter I typically workout more so I don’t get depressed. I can layer my clothes so nobody can see I’ve lost weight.
  3. Early spring I fast to lost weight for summer (I naturally do this without thinking) I end up being dehydrated and get sick like clockwork and hate that I do it. This is something I’m working on regarding the transition in seasons here in Ohio.
  4. Fall seems to be the most balanced time of year for me statistically speaking.
  5. I didn’t start wearing t-shirts to the gym until just a few years ago. For about twenty-five years I hid behind sweatshirts and baggy pants. After having my daughter I realized at my age it was time to try to start appreciating my body and stop hiding from it. This was a huge milestone i accomplished in the last few years.

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

HAPPINESS


If you were asked to define happiness what would your definition include?

The ancient greeks define happiness as:
“Happiness is the joy that we feel when we’re striving after our potential.”

Shirley Maclaine, Acadamy Award Winning Actress, said:
“To be happy, you have to be willing to be ok with NOT knowing.”

Michael J. Fox said:
“My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance and inverse proportions to my expectations.”

In the Movie Kodachrome, Ed Harris (a dieing man) says happiness is a myth. He states, “ happiness is narcissism, ambition, sex and rage.”

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-addiction-connection/201506/whats-your-definition-happiness?amp








Saturday, March 23, 2019

50 BOOKS TO READ ABOUT EATING DISORDERS


https://bookriot.com/2018/05/24/books-about-eating-disorders/

Note: Some books might be triggering.

Monday, March 4, 2019

MEMORY LOSS

What motivates you? What happens when your mind wants to conquer the world but, your body begins to fail you? What happens when you start having memory loss yet your career requires countless hours of memorization? As an actress, producer and writer these are things I struggle with daily. Not only due to my history of eating disorders for over thirty years but, my diagnosis of Systemic Scleroderma.

One of the most important things I’ve learned since my diagnosis Scleroderma is LIFE WILL GO ON WITH OR WITHOUT ME! I also learned that no matter what I am going through...someone else   is suffering far greater pain and uncertainty in their life.

WE MUST GET UP, DRESS UP & FULLFILL OUR INDIVIDUAL PURPOSE IN LIFE!!

Often times things don’t appear how they look on the outside at first glance.

For instance...when I was cast in the role of Mary in the film Before The Border. I had just undergone chemotherapy two days prior to showing up on set in Pittsburgh. I recieved a call, auditioned and was cast within 24 hours I was on set. I didn’t have much time to think about how I was feeling or the lack of ability to memorize my lines. “I was a wreck!” I was less then confident. I obsessed over memorizing my lines all while on the verge of feeling like I was going to pass out.

My cast members had no idea what I was going through. As a professional it was important to maintain a positive work environment our team created on set. I found it to be helpful to dive into other peoples stories. What were they going through? This helped me tremendously. It lifted my spirits. I gained so much wisdom and understanding from my fellow cast




mates. Athough it was a challenge for me...I grew for pushing myself when I could’ve just given up and not taken the role.

So, today being motivation monday...I ask you to remind yourself you are not alone. You are only alone if you make that choice. Take a moment and ask others how they are doing. Smile at a stranger and see how it lifts your spirits!

JUST DO IT!!!

Have a great day!
Keep smiling😊

Friday, March 1, 2019

EATING DISORDERS AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

Is there a link between eating disorders and autoimmune disease and other chronic conditions?

What is the latest drug used for bulimia?

With eating disorders on the rise, it is more important now more then ever to learn as much as possible to better understand the on going research being done to help those suffering daily.

Coming from a family of nearly a century of eating disorders it is my  mission to break the cycle of addiction!!!

Below is a recent article offering new info the topic mentioned above.
https://www.waldeneatingdisorders.com/what-is-the-latest-eating-disorder-research/

Research Study Opportunity

#NEDAwareness week ends today. However, research is ongoing to better understand the development and physiological components of eating disorders. Below is a link to sign up to be a part of a study. 

#postivethoughtsonly
#youarebeautiful
#loveyourself
#yougotthis




http://eatingdisorders.ucsd.edu/research/