Good News, Good News,
Vol. 11, February 2007
...a supportive e-zine for those whose lives are touched by eating and mood disorders
NEDAW 2007NEDAW 2007
For those of you in the Pennsylvania, Texas or Kentucky areas, I will be speaking and singing at several NEDAW 2007 events during that week. There are many ways to support
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which this year falls during the week of February 25 - March 3, 2007. Sharing your story, like I will be doing at each of these events, is one way. Mentoring someone who needs support is another (more on this in future editions of
Good News!) Making a donation to the eating disorders support organization of your choice is yet another...if you would like to support the work that my organization,
Key to Life, does to reach out and mentor those with eating and related disorders, we have a safe and easy online donation system set up
HERE.
There are so many ways you can help - and YOUR HELP COUNTS. Always remember that.
Feature Article: The Power of Choice Feature Article: The Power of Choice
Before you read any further, I want you to stop, walk to a mirror, meet your own eyes, and….notice. What thoughts pop into your head? What familiar words and phrases do you hear? When you walk away, how are you feeling inside – in your body, in your mind, in your heart, in your gut?....to read the full article, click
HERE
Questions of the monthQuestions of the month
Yet again, we have many great questions this month, and I will try to answer as many of them as I can!
Q1: Hey there, I have been suffering with bulimia nervosa for about 8 years now. I am at my worst and don’t know what to do at this point. I have been in & out of inpatient treatment about three times already in the past two years. I haven't given up but I am scared....to read full question click HERE
A1: Well, the very first thing I would share with you is that statistics show that for every year spent with an eating disorder, it will take 1-5 years to heal, depending on the level of care and dedication of the individual. '....
to read Shannon's full answer click HERE
Q2: Hi Shannon - I have a question. How many years did it take you to truly " recover"? (Meaning telling people that you are recovered rather than that you are "in recovery”?) I am asking because a lot of people who have ED’s say they are a "recovered" anorexic/bulimic when they are actually STILL in "RECOVERY". ...to read full question click HERE
A2: Thank you for writing. The issue you bring up is an important one – what IS the difference between being ‘in recovery’ or being ‘recovered’? I will first say that I am proud of you for the decision you made, and the success you have achieved in your own recovery. Way to go! However, the issue you bring up.... to read Shannon's full answer click HERE
Q3: I have a friend that has high anxiety and doesn't always eat properly, although I have seen her eat normally for a number of days. She still doesn't seem to be able to gain weight. She is 5'4" and went from 88 lbs. to 80 lbs. in the past few months. My question is, could she have such a nervous stomach that she can't keep food in her ....to read full question click HERE
A3: Thank you for sharing your concern for your friend. There are many reasons why she may not be able to maintain or gain weight – the only individual qualified to make an accurate diagnosis would be her medical doctor. Unfortunately, given the current statistics.... to read Shannon's full answer click HERE
Q4:
I am in the process of recovering from anorexia, but lately I have been struggling with binging and then restricting. Since my weight is normal, no one suspects that I am struggling....to read full question click HERE
A4:
What do you think you should do? Before you read further for my answer, stop and journal an answer for yourself. You have more wisdom and insight about what is going on in your life than anyone else ever could or will, even someone else like me who has stood in similar shoes. What would you tell yourself, if our roles were reversed and I was the one who had just asked you the question above.....to read Shannon's full answer click HERE
Open Call for Song & Story Submissions!Open Call for Song & Story Submissions!
We continue to accept SONG IDEAS from you for the You Are Not Alone, Vol. 2 Companion CD Project. This project will feature a compilation CD of inspiring original songs written by women, for women, in support of recovery from eating disorders. For this project I am working with Andrea Roe, author/editor of the wonderful new book You Are Not Alone. If you want to know more about the project visit her website HERE
PLEASE NOTE: Song submissions must be directly related to recovery from disordered eating, and written by songwriters with first or second-hand personal experience of how eating disorders have impacted their lives. They may be songs you have written, or songs written by others that have supported you in your recovery journey. All songs MUST have professional-grade production quality in order to be considered.
If you would like to submit your story for consideration, please click HERE for details
Visit Shannon & Key to Life on MySpace.com!Visit Shannon & Key to Life on MySpace.com!
Shannon has THREE MySpace pages!
-To join Shannon's
Key to Life MySpace page, click
HERE
-To join Shannon's
Lift Me Up Music MySpace page, click
HERE
-To join
Behind This Mask: There is Someone Real, Shannon's invitation-only online support community, click
HERE *
*
Shannon moderates the group on a daily basis. If you would like to join, visit
MySpace and create your FREE online account first, then follow the link above to join Shannon's group. And if you know of someone else who would benefit from participating, please feel free to pass the info along!
Individual SupportIndividual Support
For those of you who are new this month to the
Good News community, you may not be aware that Shannon also offers one-on-one coaching and mentoring through
Key to Life. To find out more about scheduling individual time with Shannon, or to set up your individual meeting with Shannon now, click
HEREUntil We Meet AgainUntil We Meet Again
Do you have a related question or topic, or an inspirational poem or story you would like to share with other readers in a future edition of
Good News?
Would you like to send a message of encouragement and support to those who contributed questions for this month's e-zine? (NOTE: all messages of support will be received and published anonymously in future editions of Good News)
If you would like to submit a question and/or send a message of support please send it to Shannon c/o Good News by clicking HERE
with much love,with much love,
ShannonShannon
REPRINTS: You may reprint any of the content found in Good News in your own ezine or website. Simply send an email requesting permission by clicking HERE. Please be sure to include the full Key to Life bio box at the end of any reprint, as follows:
Shannon Cutts is known as a compassionate and charismatic advocate of our right to feel good about ourselves, our bodies and our lives. Reaching out to students, youth, parents, educators, healthcare professionals, and communities, her unique and powerful Key to Life programs bring personal transformation and life fulfilment into sharp and exciting focus. As the author of Letters to a Young Anorexic: Recovering the Lost Art of Mentoring in the Age of Eating Disorders, Shannon has dedicated her life to 'bringing healthy back' into the lives of families at home and around the world. Visit www.key-to-life.com to learn more!
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