You Are Not Alone: The Book of Companionship For Those Struggling With ED's

[Rayneonthemoon]

Hi :fishy

I decided to start a thread on this book..

The book's title is YOU ARE NOT ALONE and is a compilation of personal stories, artwork, and poetry from those recovered from eating disorders.

The woman who put the book together, Andrea, contacted me last year.. She had seen something I had written about recovery, and she wanted me to submit my full story for this book. I was thrilled. I was scared, but I was thrilled...

I am one of the thirty four women whose story appears in this book, and I have to say it has been a blessing to not only work with Andrea, but to also share my story in hopes of helping others to see that they aren't alone and they can recover.

I've been a :fishy for a long time, and alot of you had seen me at many low bottoms - emotionally, physically, spiritually, financially ...

I know I used to personally feel a sense of uncertainty because in comparison to those who are struggling, there isn't alot of stuff *out there* from those who have recovered. And that is not because recovery doesn't happen, but because when people recover they kind of navigate away from "the community" so to speak ..

So the fact that I was able to join forces and be a part of this book to raise awareness that recovery IS real and can happen for EVERYONE, was like a dream come true for me.

I have read most of the book, and it is very inspiring.. There is a "trigger warning" at the beginning of the book just as a precaution. There are *NO* numbers mentioned anywhere in the book, however it does go into detail about how far down emotionally people went and how they managed to pull themselves up.

In recent news:

* New Projects are in the works !!
* The book was just accepted into the gurze catalog and is in the process of being put on amazon

For now, you can visit the website for the book where you can purchase one, join the forum, see reviews, and there are many resources listed.

www.youarenotalonebook.com

All proceeds go to eating disorders awareness and prevention groups nation wide

Much Love :lubdub

[Levena]

Dear :hugonJesika Beth:hugoff (aka Jessica from Texas :grin)

What an exciting thing for you to have been a part of. I've read your mention of this book on one of the other threads and am glad that you gave this extra information here.
Due to anxiety about feeling like I'm too offensive to the world with my recent weight regain I've not made it to the book store or library yet but I've this massive list of books to look for and this one is certainly on it. I think having such a short attention span at the moment it will suit me well.
Great news that it has no numbers at all. I think that is the last thing anyone needs, even someone who is recovered. I've a friend who is completely recovered from anorexia and we both know that I don't need to know her weight now or when she was at her sickest and nor does she need to know mine. It just seems much safer that way. lol come to think of it, I don't know mine :wacky.
What's more the fact that I 'know' of someone in the book is very exciting, makes it more real. I'm sure once I've read it I'll come back and post on this thread, I hope that is okay?
Though I'm a little worried that I might not be able to get all the books that I want from this list as I'm Down Under. But I'll do my best.

Thank you Rayne :gimmehug

:lubdub levie

[Shuffleboard Queen]

All righty, I think the signs have been laying about for long enough. I've been doing really well in recovery work, and one month free of ED behaviors- and I also only cut once in the past six weeks. So I think this would be good for me to reward myself with. I just have to check how much is on my credit card... :ohboy

It looks like an amazing book, and I can't wait to read it.

[Sylphlover]

Hey Jesika Beth:

I'll have to check the book you contributed to :gimmehug I think it is so selfless for you to "give back" and enjoy the rewards by knowing you are probably helping someone out there :bowtie

:yay for you :yay and the others who contributed. I hope the others are doing well who wrote in the book..

[Rayneonthemoon]

:hugon Sylphlover :hugoff

Thank you hon! I think that my contributing to this book has helped me in great ways, although I don't think I've ever thought of it as "selfless" .. I just remember what it's like to not really *see* that I wasn't alone, or even trust that there was real recovery out there, even for those who were deemed "hopeless and helpless" .. I know it was at times, frustrating for me, b/c it seemed like recovery - or the kind that I was hoping for - was just few and far between. It seemed like I knew several people who went time w/o symptoms, and felt condident in that, but as far as the negativity, it still consumed people a great deal, and it only led to the behaviors again. To me, that was dissapointing.. Because I didn't want to believe "that was it", as far as growth and progress.. I didn't want to believe that I would always struggle, or that I'd just have to "manage" .. I wanted freedom from both the physical and emotional bondage. And nobody seemed to have really experienced that - or if they did, I didn't hear much about it.. I came to learn that it wasn't that that type of freedom didn't exist, but moreso that most of the time when people reach that type of freedom, they kind of dwindle away from the ED "community" .. As I got better, I realized that I wanted to help people, I wanted them to see the truth, and especially those who have seen me through a great deal of my struggle, I wanted them to have the belief in themself that they could do it .. Because sometimes that is what we really need, is evidence in tangible form.. Because then its not so "blind" anymore.. And while it was a bit anxiety provoking for me to put my story out there (which is partly why I remained somewhat anonymous - i.e., did not use my last name) if my story speaks to just one person, then I've fufilled the very purpose of having my story in the book. I don't know much about the other women in the book, and infact I have never spoken to any of them. I do have contact with Andrea on a regular basis and I am a frequent contributor to the monthly e newsletter. Thanks again, hon :gimmehug

:hugon Shuffleboard Queen :hugoff Whoohoo, way to go on your progress !! That's great, keep up the awesome work! It gets easier, much easier. I found the longer I was able to abstain from the behaviors the easier it became, and the easier it became the more emotionally healthy I became, until eventually the desire left all together.. Best of luck to you !! Much Love :lubdub

:hugon Levena :hugoff Hey there, you are beautiful just as you are, and are a beautiful addition to this world, dont let ED try to convince you otherwise :gimmehug

The book was published in Canada, and right now is available to purchase at www.youarenotalonebook.com and will be available at www.gurze.com and www.amazon.com in the near future (if it isn't already? I haven't checked) I do not think it has gone to any bookstore shelves yet though b/c it was printed in Canada, and I know I'm a main U.S. contact for Andrea, but I don't know who she has or has not contacted and who has or has not replied.. You can contact andrea directly via her email if you want more information, her e-mail addy is on the book's website.

But yah, you can definatly come back here and post, I don't mind :gimmehug

[Sylphlover]

Jesika Beth:

Because sometimes that is what we really need, is evidence in tangible form.. Because then its not so "blind" anymore..

This is something that I agree with one hundred percent :bounce :bounce

I can remember receiving the hope from the first person I met who was in recovery from the eating disorder. She was my only hope that maybe one day I could recover. Now here are people like you who are turning around and giving back the :gift of recovery.

The blessing in my life was seeing recovery when I could not even admit and/or accept I had an eating disorder.. But somehow I kept the image of the recovered womyn as an image of "hope" (for lack of a better term).. I never let go of the image of what recovery looked like.. Since I am recovered I can never let go of the image of what the eating disorder looked like. Thank G-d I can see the tanglible and know exactly where the darkness is.. IT is at a place where I will gladly reach into to throw in some light for others and pray they can see the light just as I did with the one recovered womyn years ago!

[Swiss/German descent]

Two of my poems appear in the book, I've really enjoyed reading the different stories.

[Rayneonthemoon]

Really? Cool.. Which ones are yours ? Do you keep intouch with Andrea? I talk with her often. There is a volume II coming out - one of my poems will be in that one, and the singer who is doing the CD, I've met her several times (she's recovered) I am glad that the book is taking off - hopefully it raises a great deal of awareness :yay

[Swiss/German descent]

I sent you ean email about which poems are mine. I've emailed Andrea a few times and vice versa. I sent her my story for volume Two.

[Rayneonthemoon]

I am working on another piece for volume II as well (she wants to do a "where are you now" piece on me, I think she is including several other updated stories too)

The launching of the second book is going to be in the city I live in - it's supposidly going to be some big event and Andrea's trying to get media coverage and whatnot to spread the word. The singer who is working with Andrea on the companion CD for volume II lives here in my city (I've met her a couple of times) - so yah.. That's exciting. So I'm going to do what I can to help them out. It's still a way off (I think it's going to be in October sometime??)

Well, have a great rest of your weekend !
Much Love :lubdub