Happy Sunday! Hope everyone has had a great weekend. Below you can find the links to some great articles that have surfaced in the last few weeks- enjoy!!

Source

Body Image: I Love How I Look-- In a World That Doesn't by Jenni Schaefer via the Huffington Post
*a must-read for anyone struggling with body image!!!


Families Don't Cause Eating Disorders, But Can Be Critical to Lasting Eating Disorders Recovery by Kenneth L. Weiner via the Huffington Post
*a great read for parents and family members of those suffering.


More Women Using Social Networking Site Pinterest to Feed Eating Disorders via CBS News
*be mindful of potentially triggering images in video attached to the story...

How I Learned To Stop Fearing My Reflection by J.J. Keith via the Huffington Post

*another good one on body image!

The Skinny by Scarlett Johansson via the Huffington Post
*for whatever reason, this article has been circulating lately but it was written 3 years ago- still a great read!

Olympian Quits After Eating Disorder Battle via Sky News

Self-Care Revisited

I've gotten a few questions recently about whether or not I've quit blogging, about whether I've lost interest in it, or if I have finally just run out of things to say about body image (the answer on that last one would be no- haha). Since January, life has just gotten (even) busier, and I have been working hard at trying to maintain some sense of balance. One thing that I am constantly emphasizing to my clients is the necessity of practicing self-care. My lack of consistent blogging lately has been a result of trying to practice self-care, and taking more time for other things! While I love (LOVE) to blog, I have been investing more time with my practice than ever before, as well as making more time in my life for other things that are important to me. I am learning that saying 'no' to good things is often difficult, but is important and needs to happen from time to time.


I wrote a post awhile back about self-care, and thought I would link to it here. Below are some great definitions of self-care.


Personal health maintenance- via Wikipedia.


Choosing behaviors that balance the effects of emotional and physical stressors- via Psychology Today


Decisions and actions that an individual can take to cope with a health problem or to improve his or her health- via Answers

One really important thing that I want to highlight about self-care (as noted in the article above linked to Psychology Today) is that it is NOT about pampering, or indulging one's self. I think we often view 'self-care' as a luxury, and while it can feel that way, self-care is about taking care of the basic needs that allow us to remain or maintain physical and mental health. Sometimes we can experience guilt in taking the time to care for ourselves, but it is crucial to do so if we want to be the best versions of ourselves!


And as a side note, while I have been busy, I have not quit blogging. I miss blogging and plan to blog just a little bit more regularly than I have been lately. Check back soon for more posts!

The American Psychological Association has named May 16th a Mental Health Blogging Party in an effort to raise awareness about mental health! I have blogged to raise awareness about mental health in the past (here, and here) and am doing so again today, because I believe it is extremely important!

If you read my blog occasionally, you know that I talk a lot about eating disorders and body image, as well as the role of the media and its impact on beauty ideals. The diet industry is notorious for distorting what true physical health looks like. As a result, there are countless books, programs, plans, etc that are designed to promote physical health. While I am all for being healthy, I think that it is important to define what true health really looks like. True physical health is not about dieting, it's not about restricting, it's not about fitting into your skinny jeans. I believe that health goes beyond the physical. Spiritual health, emotional health and mental health are all part of the equation.

What promotes positive mental health?

• Social Support- friendships, being involved in a community..
• Sleep!! 7-9 hours a night!
• Vitamin D- getting a little bit of sunlight can do the trick. Just don't forget to wear sunscreen!
• Moving around and being active can reduce stress and boost your mood!
• Participation in random (and not so random) acts of kindness. Being kind to others and having a positive impact on other people can increase self-esteem and make you feel good!
• Reducing stress, worries and negative thinking.
• Fostering your spiritual health!!
• Laugh! Have fun. Do things that make you smile.

If you find that you are practicing many of these things, and you are having difficulty getting a handle on your mental health or mood, then counseling might be a good option for you! Counseling is a great opportunity to talk to an objective person, who can help you sort out some of your feelings and thoughts, and who can provide some tools to help you manage and alleviate some of the stress that you are experiencing. Many people have a misconception about counseling- which is that you have to be really, really out of sorts in order to pursue it. While feeling out of sorts is a good motivation to pursue counseling, you might be surprised to find that some people who are very healthy pursue it in order to sort out different feelings, thoughts, and experiences! Just like sick and well people visit the doctor, the same goes for therapy! Maintaining your mental health is a crucial part of your overall health, and is something to consider at different stages in life! In honor of the APA's Mental Health Blogging Party, consider today how you might work to improve your mental health!

Happy Wednesday!! My posts have been short and sweet lately because I've been one busy girl. I wanted to highlight Project Heal in the Wall Street Journal recently- follow this link to check it out. For those of you unfamiliar with Project Heal, learn more about this organization here and here.


For more headlines and news about eating disorders recently, check out some of these stories:

• Brandy Norwood reveals she had an eating disorder as a teen
• Older Women and Eating Disorders
• Learning About Binge Eating Disorder
• What Not to Say to a Friend With an Eating Disorder

One last thing-  saw this today and thought it was worth sharing- it's a quick 2 minute video- watch and be inspired!

Odds and Ends!

Today is a very special day! Click here to find out why.


In other news, below are a few books that I have been meaning to mention here- these are all books that I recommend to clients and would encourage you to check out!

• 8 Keys to Recovery From an Eating Disorder by Carolyn Costin and Gwen Schubert Grabb

• Healing Your Hungry Heart by Joanna Poppink

• Beyond the Looking Glass- Daily Devotions for Overcoming Anorexia and Bulimia- a compilation published by Remuda Ranch

Lastly, the Raleigh NEDA Walk is this Sunday, April 15th at Meredith College, at 2p! Come out and support the National Eating Disorders Association, enjoy the sunshine, and mingle and meet some new friends, all in the name of a great cause. Follow this link for last year's first ever Raleigh NEDA Walk re-cap.