With the school year starting up again, we thought we'd to share this piece of uplifting news.
A few months ago, The Birmingham News published an article chronicling one of our former resident's recovery from anorexia. We are happy to report that KW has checked off quite a few items on her "bucket list," as she is now serving on the UAB Color Guard, in addition to having re-enrolled in school and secured a part-time job.
Congratulations, KW! We love you.
One of our former residents sent me this a few weeks ago, and I thought it would be a cool and refreshing reminder in the midst of all this summer heat.
I hope this letter finds you well. I am just writing because today was absolutely awesome. Try not to fall out of your chair.
Today I went on a field trip with my students to Schlitterbahn, a crazy famous water park in Texas. I spent the day swimming (Thank Chebon for me) and shooting down a ton of different tubes and water rides! I, of course, spent the day in a swimsuit, a pair of shorts and flip flops.
I have had those shorts for almost 3 years. I never wore them because ED of course told me I was too fat and I had a ton of scars from self-abuse. None of that mattered, though. I had a blast hanging out with the kiddos and it was nice to enjoy aquatic activities and a great lunch without all of the anxiety and guilt I used to feel on a daily basis over eating and having fun.
Today made me realize that this is why I fought to get to Magnolia Creek and taste recovery. Today made all of the difficulties I have experienced since discharging worthwhile. I see life- a real life that I am privileged to live with those that mean the most to me. Today just helped me to see how far I have really come, and was a reminder to send you all a sincere THANK YOU! You have continued to change my life.
Love and peace...
Recently, Magnolia Creek's Marketing Director, Marisa Goodwin, was interviewed about her 14-year recovery from anorexia on ShareWIK, a community networking site where users share their personal accounts and experiences with various health issues and medical treatments.
As eating disorders rarely just affect those struggling, Marisa's mom, Shirley Goodwin, was also interviewed about her experience as a parent of someone with an eating disorder. Luckily, they were not interviewed at the same time :)
A recent study conducted by the John Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health points to the damaging role "pro-ana" and "pro-mia" websites play in the development of eating disorders.
The study found that more than 90 percent of the websites were open to anyone and almost 80 percent had interactive features, such as calorie and body-mass index calculators.
As it is virtually impossible to police the entire internet, how do we keep our clients/students/children from accessing this harmful information? Is the answer rather to hope we have instilled in them the skills needed for filtering unhealthy messages?
Do you have thoughts you'd like to share about this article? Leave us a comment.
Summer is usually a time for fun in the sun, but here at Magnolia Creek, we've been keeping busy! Here are just a few things we've been up to, along with some links for some extra summer reading:
A generous silent donor has offered to match any funds donated to Manna up to $45,000 before August 15, and Magnolia Creek will donate a 45-day stay for a potential total of 90 days of eating disorders treatment. For more details, read our recent press release. And, please, please visit the Manna Scholarship Fund website, and donate to this worthy cause. Your dollars will automatically be matched, and double in value.
Magnolia Creek will be working with Dr. Thomas Joiner, Jr.'s research team to conduct studies exploring the relationship between eating disorders and suicide, as well as self-harm. We hope that this study will help us and other treatment providers come to a greater understanding of individuals who are affected by eating disorders and thoughts of suicide and offer them better quality treatment and care. For more details, read our recent press release, and contact Magnolia Creek directly with any questions.
Check out our new Contributed Articles page to read two recently published articles written by associate therapist Sarah Moorad, clinical director Dr. Mary Bartlett, and executive director Dr. Nicole Siegfried. We've also listed here other articles that have been contributed by various members over the past three years.
It's that lovely time of year again! Spring finds Magnolia Creek in full bloom and ready to welcome our alumnae back for a reunion weekend.
Mark your calendars for June 11 and June 12. We have planned another ropes course outing, an open house at Magnolia Creek to reconnect with staff and friends, and a very special experiential, recovery-focused workshop facilitated by Kevin Hays, LPC.
I always love hearing from former clients, and this new request for Bucket List completions has brought in some really wonderful responses. Here's what FM from New Braunfels, TX had to contribute. Thank you so much for sharing, and we really do hope you manage to make it to an Oprah episode!
Oh, my sweet Bucket List!!! I recently went back over my Bucket List and was surprised at how many things I have done without any REAL conscious effort! I am still working at most of them, but because Oprah is quitting her show, I probably won't make it to her "Oprah's Favorite Things" show.
That is a bit of a downer. I have attached pics. I hope you get them!! I will keep you updated on the progress.
One of my favorite things to do at Magnolia Creek is to have our clients make out a "bucket list" to focus on once they are out of treatment. If you don't know what the term means, a "bucket list" is a list of 100 things you want to accomplish before you die.
I've asked our clients to email me each time they complete something on our list. We've started a page on the website under our "News" section called "The Bucket List" which lists all of the bucket list items our clients have checked off and told us about.
L.H. shared with us three of her bucket list accomplishments, and sent us some pictures to share.
Thank you for sharing your bucket list items with us and for inspiring us. And don't forget to keep us posted on the rest of that list!
An interview with executive director Dr. Nicole Siegfried is featured in last month's "You Are Not Alone" support letter as an "Inspiring Woman." Dr. Siegfried shares her personal experience with an eating disorder, advice, and information about Magnolia Creek.
The newsletter, founded by recovered author Andrea Roe, is a valuable resource filled with inspriational quotes (you know how much we love those), recovery stories, artwork and poetry contributed by fellow recoverees and sufferers, and advice and coping strategies.
I thought it was time to share with you another note that I received a few weeks ago from one of our former residents. Stories like these always warm my heart and remind me why I love my job so much. Thank you, A, for sharing this with us.
Another awesome thing that happened today...I have not wanted to know my weight ever since I returned from MC. Every time I've been to the doctor and had to be weighed, I'd always close my eyes and tell them to "please not tell me my weight."
Today I had to be weighed at my appt. and I told the nurse the same thing. After she weighed me, she took me back to the room and when she put my folder on the desk I saw a sticky note on top with my weight written on it. I knew I'd gained weight over the last 2 years and when I saw what I weighed it didn't even bother me.
I felt great and wanted to shout it from the mountaintops!! That is such an accomplishment for me. What a freeing feeling!!!! It's been 2 years ago this week that I came to MC and it has taken me 2 years to feel totally free of the desire to go back to those old, awful habits.
I love MC and everyone who is a part of it.
Take care,
A
Peacefully situated beside a private lake and nestled among more than thirty wooded acres near Birmingham, Alabama, Magnolia Creek provides residential and day treatment for women struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and other eating & exercise disorders. Our programs provide a comprehensive treatment experience, addressing the psychological, medical, nutritional, spiritual, and relational needs of our clients.
Licensed by the State of Alabama
Accredited by The Joint Commission
Accredited by the Better Business Bureau
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