Tag: health

Eating Disorders Departing a rudderless sea to save myself

Departing a rudderless sea to save myself

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When young, I never imagined the world had a plan of its own. I was only aware of my existence and those close to me, never questioning there was choice between how, where, what or why anything may happen and how I was expected to manage the external world when...

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Eating Disorders Supporting Someone with an Eating Disorder During COVID-19

Supporting Someone with an Eating Disorder During COVID-19

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A COVID-19 has led to a surge in the number of people struggling with an eating disorder. Secondary care specialist eating disorder teams are stretched beyond their capacity and waiting lists continue to grow. GPs are growing increasingly anxious how best to manage these high-risk patients, and families are feeling...

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Eating Disorders Turning eating disorder thoughts into visual works of art

Turning eating disorder thoughts into visual works of art

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Eating disorders (ED) are one of the deadliest mental illnesses that continue to be severely underestimated and under resourced. Too often, people living with an eating disorder continue to be brushed aside. Since my discharge from The Geelong Clinic in 2019, I’ve struggled to find my way along an unfamiliar...

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Life Writing Look for me in a fairy tale

Look for me in a fairy tale

Fairy tales, like poetry, are an art form that can enable the expression of repressed feelings. A revelation in sourcing diary excerpts for The Diary Healer was the popularity of poetry as a form of narrative expression in the recovery process. Fairy tales, through the creative use of metaphors, also...

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Eating Disorders Chatbot KIT is helping to improve body image one chat at a time

Chatbot KIT is helping to improve body image one chat at a time

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Our next generation of young people are highly concerned about their body image. In fact, one in three 15-19-year-olds in Australia are “very” or “extremely concerned” (Tiller et al., 2020). Body image concerns are the major risk factor for the development of eating disorders (Culbert et al., 2015), which impact...

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Eating Disorders Hanging up the bikini: why I quit fitness competitions

Hanging up the bikini: why I quit fitness competitions

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In October 2014, at age 31, I achieved the award that marked the pinnacle of my fitness competition career: the coveted Bikini Athlete Pro Card. Standing onstage in a Hertfordshire theatre, smiling for the winner’s photographs, I appeared the epitome of health and fitness. But, in reality, I was suffering...

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Dear Diary ‘What can I do?’ the COVID-19 pandemic

‘What can I do?’ the COVID-19 pandemic

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Our world is facing a health challenge unprecedented in most of our lifetimes. COVID-19, which developed late last year in China, is now reaching all corners of the world with far reaching impact, and scientists and researchers are scrambling to understand this new form of coronavirus and create a vaccine...

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Life Writing ‘What can I do?’ the COVID-19 pandemic

‘What can I do?’ the COVID-19 pandemic

By June Alexander Our world is facing a health challenge unprecedented in most of our lifetimes. COVID-19, which developed late last year in China, is now reaching all corners of the world with far reaching impact, and scientists and researchers are scrambling to understand this new form of coronavirus and...

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Dear Diary The deadly cost of diversity in accessing Eating Disorder treatment

The deadly cost of diversity in accessing Eating Disorder treatment

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I was labeled the Anorexic in room #5. I have a name and it’s NOT Anorexia. I have passions, dreams, and a purpose and I am NOT defined by a diagnosis. Read Carey Cronin-Guevara’s story in support of World Eating Disorder Action Day, June 2. Eating Disorders have the highest...

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