Icing on my cake of life

Icing on my cake of life

My blog has been dormant for a few months, for several exciting reasons.

Firstly, I have been co-authoring and editing three books this year. I am deeply appreciative to everyone who has contributed to each of these titles. The books will be released in the first half of 2013 and each has great potential to help ease the suffering of people with eating disorders. The other reason my blog has been dormant is more personal – I have met a wonderful man with whom to share my life. Having regained my life from ‘Ed’ six years ago, I was already delightfully happy and content. Free of the eating disorder bully that had tormented my mind for four decades, I have been busy catching up on life – enjoying my four beautiful children and five grand children, my friends and wonderful colleagues I have met through eating disorder advocacy. I really thought this ‘is as good as life gets’. Now I have met George, and life has reached new heights of bliss and happiness. Just goes to show that no matter how long your life has been tormented or ravaged by an eating disorder, you can regain your identity, and embrace life in all its fullness.  George is ‘the icing on my cake of life’. Here I am, a grandmother, for the first time enjoying an ED-free relationship. I am sharing this happiness because I want you to know, that whatever you do, you must NEVER ever give up your fight to regain your life! You CAN do it. You CAN have a full life. You CAN be free, too. Don’t settle for less.

Now, I would like to describe my three upcoming books – I hope you find them helpful, too.

They include A Clinician’s Guide to Binge Eating Disorder, due for release on February 19 (click on the link to order your copy now:-).  Co-editors for this book are Andrea Goldschmidt and Daniel Le Grange.

Incidence of BED appears to be on the increase. Treating it, and overcoming it, is all the more difficult, especially for those living in a culture that has an intense body image focus.

A Clinician’s Guide to Binge Eating Disorder educates the reader about its triggers and behaviours – and describes steps to treat it and resume a full and productive life. Evidence-based research outcomes provide the framework and foundation for this book. First-person case studies bring application of this science to life to help close the gap between research and treatment/care, and the importance of clinicians developing a therapeutic relationship as a healing tool with their client is discussed, recognizing that medical and psychological dimensions are inextricably intertwined.

This book allays fear of the unknown, explains the emotional chaos that can sweep in like a storm when, unintentionally, triggers are released. It provides practical steps and footholds for clinicians and researchers to help the patient take control of their life and look to a positive future.

When an eating disorder (ED) is involved, the problems caused by miscommunication can have serious consequences. A remark from a parent that is intended as positive encouragement could act as a trigger and a criticism from someone with an ED might really be a cry for help.

Talented friend and companion on the ED road, Cate Sangster, and I are co-authors and editors of ‘Ed Says U Said‘, which we believe will provide insight for parents, partners, brothers, sisters and friends when they feel flabbergasted and bamboozled by their loved one’s eating disorder behaviours. Only people who have an eating disorder know what it is really like to have ‘Ed’ screaming in your head. And they know best what helps to fight that voice and silence it. ‘Ed Says U Said’ will help carers understand what they can do and say to defuse the power of the illness and help their loved one regain their beautiful self.

Ed Says U Said aims to improve communication between someone with an eating disorder and their friends and family by revealing the eating disorder mind set and decoding language choices. Using examples of real-life, everyday conversations, Ed Says U Said translates the highly charged language of anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder and unravels the emotional chaos that can surround sufferers and those who care for them. It provides clear examples of the common pitfalls and gives invaluable advice about how to help in defusing the triggers and regaining the personality swamped by the illness.

A unique resource of information on EDs, this book will be essential reading for everyone who has been affected by eating disorders: sufferers, carers, family and friends, together with health care professionals treating people with eating disorders.

The third book I have been working on is the Second Edition of Anorexia Nervosa – A survival guide for families, friends and sufferers. This classic book, written by Professor Janet Treasure, and published for the first time in 1997, is full of helpful information. When anorexia nervosa develops in a child, the lives of both them and their family are thrown into confusion by the mixture of emotions that emerge. One of the strongest emotions is fear. The fear arises partly because so much is unknown. What has caused this to happen? What will happen now? What can we do about it? This book helps to answers some of these questions.

There is much to look forward to in 2013 – three new books plus Australia’s first Eating Disorder conference for families and sufferers, Brisbane May 23-25, 2013. More about this exciting event soon!