by Katherine Lange The doors to Mercy Hospital swung open to me – again. For ten years, my husband and I have battled the horror and heartache of our daughters’ eating disorders. We have consulted with psychologists, physicians, and therapists for our girls while their health and lives have disintegrated. Today, they are finally…
Read moreCategory: Addictions
Finding Father
Reconnecting with vital relationships. by Alicea Jones Tall, thin, and decided, he anchored our home and gave us a sense of completion. We held Daddy in awe; he taught us the Twenty-third Psalm, about God being our shepherd and walking with us even through death. He was a dreamer, and we dreamed right along…
Read moreFreed From Bulimia
Seeking help from the perfect God for our imperfections. by Kaylie Biggs as told to Karen Whiting One of my mother’s friends prayed over me while I grew inside the womb. Her prayers worked: I arrived a healthy baby girl after a C-section. Unfortunately, due to poor choices later in life, I didn’t stay…
Read moreEscape From a Nightmare
The darkest shame finds the brightestlight of God’s healing power. by Pete Riley as told to Carol McGalliard I lived in a nightmare. I was studying to become a minister but knew I was being hypocritical: I was a sex addict. It was depressing and horrible knowing what was right and being powerless to…
Read moreMs. Jekyll, Monster Hyde
Winning the secret battle over bulimia. by Kimberly Davidson An insatiable monster crept into my life unnoticed. It started when I lost fifteen pounds. “You’re so thin!” people told me. “You look terrific!” I longed for more praise. What began at age seventeen as a mere diet turned into a battle with a life-zapping…
Read moreMy Daughter’s Addiction
The “perfect “child creates the perfect nightmare. by Connie Vigil Platt Most mothers think their children are the best at everything. That’s how I felt about my daughter, Kathy. She was beautiful: tall and slim with flawless skin that seldom produced the usual teenage blemish. Her teeth were white and straight. Others often commented…
Read moreMy Turn to Die
Navigating the ups and downs of addictive behavior. by K. P. Rojas The letter sat on my desk, unopened. Why was I afraid to open it? Because I knew there was something in that letter I didn’t want to read, didn’t want to tackle. I had no idea its pages would lead to a…
Read moreNot Just a Girl Thing
A man learns what women more often know:the emotional and physical trauma of anorexia. by Paul C. Mihalak Why did I end up like this? How did my life turn out so wrong? These questions and many others rumbled like a freight train through my foggy brain. The bright lights of the emergency room…
Read moreOne More Prayer
Finding the faith to go on. by Jewell Johnson Alone in the darkness, tears blinding my eyes, I tried to follow the beam of headlights on the highway. Coming to a decision, I declared, “I can’t pray another prayer for Jenny.” I was sick of the eating disorder that tormented our daughter, the smell…
Read moreOvercoming a Binge Eating Disorder
Too much of a good thing is dangerous. by Jeannie Moore Do you find yourself eating until you are out of control or almost sick? Or keeping secret stashes of food, such as chocolate, chips, or cookies? Does your family nag you about how much you are eating? Does food seem to bring comfort…
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