“There were blue-black marks everywhere. One never truly knows how fragile life is until you nearly lose it.”
‘What happened to your face and neck?’ In the blink of an eye, my brother became a monster.’: Childhood abuse survivor urges ‘letting go is the best gift we can give ourselves’
‘My boyfriend said, ‘I don’t want to be with a slob.’ I became fitness obsessed. My wardrobe shifted to gym clothes only. If I went to bed hungry, I was a winner.’: Woman shares journey to self-love after eating disorder battle
“I eventually started looking in the mirror and hating myself. Why wasn’t I perfect? Why wasn’t I happy now I had lost more weight? So, I continued to lose it. And lose it. And lose it.”
‘What if someone calls you FAT again?’ That word held so much pain. I associated my worth with what my body looked like.’: Woman shares journey healing from eating disorder, ‘It’s worth the messiness’
“At 13, I started dieting and exercising compulsively. It became an obsession. I hung up pictures of bodies I wanted mine to look like in front of our treadmill. It can be gruesome to think of food, something you need to survive, as an enemy.”
‘I want to do one of those bikini shows.’ My ribs were visible and my face was sunken in. My body was dying.’: Former bodybuilder shares recovery journey, ‘You’re whole just as you are’
“My life revolved around food. I ripped apart eggs to only eat the whites, not the yolks. I ate the same amount of calories as a 3-year-old. My life was a train wreck.”
‘I was knocked into the air and heard my knee POP. ‘Oh no, not again.’ All my hard work was wasted.’: Athlete overcomes knee injuries, ‘I’m finding achievement off the field’
“I felt my left leg just tighten up. I instantly began crying because I knew this couldn’t be good. My teammates helped me off the court. I needed to prove I was good enough.”
‘I’ll just get a few to hold me over.’ That one trip turned into 4 years. I couldn’t believe that little pill had total control over my life.’: Woman overcomes addiction, ‘You’re not alone’
“On days I was running low on pills, I’d be so irritable and on edge. I wanted help so badly, but I was so ashamed. I’d go to his house to steal pills. How did I let this happen? Oh my God, I am a drug addict.”
‘Oh, you’re gonna need this.’ My friends left gifts for me, all alcohol-related. With those 8 bottles, they unwittingly initiated me into a club.’: Sober mom shares recovery journey
“I received invites for yoga class with mimosas. The moms had Bailey’s in their coffee during our 8 a.m. stroll. Slowly, every connection was associated with alcohol.”
‘Your condition is dangerous.’ Blood came pouring out. I couldn’t live another day like this.’: Woman reveals ‘highs and lows’ of Crohn’s Disease, ‘I’m ready to take on what’s next’
“I ran to the bathroom thirty times a day, losing blood each time. I broke down and sobbed. I felt defeated by this disease. I was only a shadow of myself.”
‘He pulled out a baggy from his sock. ‘I think you might like this.’ I’d do anything for him.’: Woman recovers from drug and alcohol addiction, ‘I needed to change for ME’
“I drank every day, starting at 5. I’d pour vodka into mini shampoo bottles. When I moved in with my husband, I hid vodka in the closet. It was like my secret, a game.”
‘The chocolatey sponge set off fireworks in my mouth. Was there crack in this cake? I put the fork down and sat with the guilt.’: Woman describes journey to food freedom, ‘Life is meant to be lived’
“I worried what I’d look like the next day. I HAD to do better tomorrow. I lived in fear.”
