More New Free Support Services Coming Soon!

Keep Moving - No Matter What

Free Eating Disorder Community Support Yoga Class

• Beginning Saturday March 21, 2020, we will begin a free Eating Disorder Community Support Yoga Class from 11 -12:15pm at Birmingham Yoga. The Group will continue to meet the third Saturday of every month from then on. The class will be facilitated by an E-YRT 200 yoga instructor who works daily with clients with eating disorders alongside a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Therapist. For more information please contact us at 205-933-0041.

New Free Support Services Coming Soon!

Because Art Helps to Heal

Beginning Saturday March 7, 2020, we will begin a free Art Therapy Community Support Group from 9 - 11 am. The Group will continue to meet the first Saturday of every month from then on. The group will be run by a Board certified Art Therapist & Certified Eating Disorder Creative Arts Therapist alongside a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Therapist. For information and location please contact us at 205-933-0041.

We Believe What We Think

Your Recovery Matters (especially during the holidays)

Why do the holidays suck? Or seem to at least? The holidays are intended to be a time of connection and merriment and joy. But for those suffering with mental health issues, the holidays can greatly exacerbate intense feelings of depression, isolation and grief.

It’s an important time to remember that there are many who need compassion and kindness and hope during the season of love. If you are struggling in recovery, remember it is important to do what is best for you. No matter what. If you aren’t comfortable in a situation, it’s okay to say no to an invite or leave a place that feels overwhelming. Regardless of how you are feeling, self care is the most important thing. Your recovery is the most important gift you give yourself everyday. Honor it. Live it. No matter what.

• Plan Ahead Identify safe people in your life who can support you over the holiday break and ask for their help. Let them know what helps you and have a signal if you get overwhelmed.

• Be With People Although it may seem easier to avoid people, don’t. Isolating will only exacerbate your feelings of loneliness. Maybe stay for a shorter time, or with certain folk, but don’t isolate.

• Follow Your Meal Plan The holidays may trigger the emotions that cause you to to restrict. Don’t. The holidays are not a an excuse to not take care of yourself. In fact it’s all the more reason to use the safety net of your meal plan.

• Your Needs Matter More If someone challenges your recovery or makes insensitive comments, take care of yourself. You aren’t required to let others be mean to you. Advocate for yourself and let them know it’s not kay to say such things to someone in recovery.

• Hold Your Boundaries Being nice doesn’t mean letting people push you around. If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable let someone know and take care of yourself the best way you can.

• Allow Yourself Joy It’s not always easy but allow yourself some happiness, even when it’s hard.

• Be Kind To yourself most of all!

• Reach Out If you aren’t feeling safe or need someone to talk to reach out to a friend, a family member or contact your local crisis center or emergency room.

Crisis Intervention Contact Information

Information provided from C/Net article:

13 suicide and crisis intervention hotlines to call or text when you need help

If you or anyone you know is experiencing abuse, domestic violence, suicidal thoughts or sexual assault, these are the numbers to call.

Sarah Mitroff

October 10, 2019 9:00 AM PDT

“If you feel like you or someone you know is in immediate danger, you should call 911 (or your country's local emergency line) or go to an emergency room to get immediate help. Explain that it is a psychiatric emergency and ask for someone who is trained for these kinds of situations.

You don't need to be experiencing a crisis to contact a crisis hotline. At most of these hotlines, the volunteers and counselors who answer calls, texts and chat messages are trained to help someone in crisis. But you can also reach out if you're feeling sad, anxious or stressed and don't know where to turn. 

These hotlines also serve friends, family members and loved ones of someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis, domestic violence, abuse, addiction and many other issues. “

Mental health and suicide hotlines

These two services specialize in helping individuals (and their friends, family and loved ones) who are having suicidal thoughts. That said, both services can provide support for other mental health issues.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline -- 1-800-273-8255

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline fields calls 24/7 for anyone with suicidal thoughts or who are in crisis. They offer help for Spanish-speakers and anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing. 

Their website also offers many resources to get help for yourself or someone you know.

Crisis Text Line -- Text Hello to 741741

Crisis Text Line

Crisis Text Line fields messages about suicidal thoughts, abuse, sexual assault, depression, anxiety, bullying and more. What makes it unique is that it's entirely text-based, which makes it easy for anyone who doesn't feel comfortable or safe talking on the phone to use it.

You can text 741741 in the US or UK (686868 in Canada), or message Crisis Text Line on Facebook for help. You'll be matched with a volunteer counselor, who is supervised by a licensed, trained mental health professional.

Crisis hotlines for kids and teens

These two services are aimed at different audiences. YouthLine is available for kids and young adults who want to talk to someone about what's happening in their lives, while ChildHelp tackles issues of child abuse.

YouthLine -- Text teen2teen to 839863, or call 1-877-968-8491

YouthLine provides a safe space for children and adults ages 11 to 21, to talk through any issues they may be facing, including eating disorders, relationship or family concerns, bullying, sexual identity, depression, self-harm, anxiety and thoughts of suicide.

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline -- 1-800-422-4453

For issues related to child abuse, Childhelp connects you with a professional counselors to help in a crisis, and provide information on how to get help. They offer phone support in 170 languages.

Domestic and sexual violence hotlines

For anyone who is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault (or know someone who is), these hotlines offer counseling and advice.

National Domestic Violence Hotline -- 1-800-799-7233

Anyone who is experiencing domestic violence and/or abuse, plus anyone concerned about a friend, family member or loved one can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

They offer support in more than 200 languages, and offer a confidential, secure online chat.

RAINN

National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline -- 1-855-812-1001

The National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline is a spinoff from the NDVH specifically for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. 

You can get help over email, or talk via video call to a trained counselor. 

RAINN -- 1-800-656-4673

RAINN's (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) hotline is for anyone who's experienced sexual abuse or assault. 

When you call their main hotline, you'll be connected with someone at a local organization in your area who can provide live support and direct you to additional resources.

Hotlines for the LGBTQIA+ community

Whether you're struggling with your gender identity or sexuality, or are experiencing a crisis and want to talk to someone who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community, you can lean on these hotlines. 

The Trevor Project -- 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678

LGBTQIA+ kids and teens can reach out to The Trevor Project for support during a crisis, if they are feeling suicidal or need a safe space to talk about any issue. You can also chat via their website or by texting START to 678678.

Trans Lifeline -- 1-877-565-8860

The Trans Lifeline provides support specifically for transgender and questioning callers, run trans people. They provide support during a crisis and can also offer guidance to anyone who is questioning their gender and needs support. 

The hotline is available between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. PST (9 a.m. to 3 a.m. CST or 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. EST). But, operators are often available during off-hours, so no matter when you need to call, you should.

A few other LGBTQIA helplines that offer support, but not necessarily crisis intervention:

• LGBT National Hotline -- 1-888-843-4564

• LGBT National Youth Talkline -- 1-800-246-7743

• LGBT Senior Hotline -- 1-888-234-7243

Drug or alcohol abuse

If you are experiencing any kind of emergency situation related to drug or alcohol use, you should call 911 or your local emergency line.

SAMHSA National Helpline – 1-800-662-4357

If you are struggling with addiction or are concerned about a loved one's alcohol or drug abuse, you can contact the hotline for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This US government agency offers support and information about treatment and recovery.

If It Matters To You - It Matters

Don’t Be Afraid to Care

The fear of wanting is real. So often we are afraid to own our desires. We fear others will judge, that we will fail, that what we desire is beyond us, that we are not deserving and so many more fears. Dare to want with all your heart. Want hope. Want recovery. Want a full life. Want a new job. Want love. Want happiness. Want exciting and new things. Our wants can either empower us or they can paralyze us with the reality of our own deep desires. The wishes of our soul are not to be easily disregarded. They are to be embraced. Dare to hope. Dare to want. dare to desire. You have nothing to lose. The world is full of possibility. Feast on it.

Respect For Who You Are As You Are

Embrace you

Recovery requires the most intimate of inventories. To find gratitude for who we are as we are without compromising our deepest truest self. Speak your truth in ways that calls others to embrace you in your most honest form. You deserve a tribe that embodies you as you are not one that asks you to be something you were never born to be. You are more than enough as you are. Hold you head up high and walk away from anyone who doesn’t honor this sacred truth.

Its Okay To Rest

You cannot pour from an empty vessel. Take care of you.

Sacred Recovery

To turn a battleground into holy ground. That is recovery.

From Battleground to Holy Ground : My Body in Recovery - Sacred Recovery

Addiction is like war. It is, by definition, pure destruction. Self destruction. With its fair share of collateral damage. A daily battle between life and death, with the addict fighting for both sides at once. For the lucky ones-for whom life is the victor-there is the relief, the dressing of wounds, and the celebration and ...

Life Is A Celebration

Today we celebrate our Primary Dietitian, Kendall Owens, RD. Kendall, we cannot imagine doing this work without you. Your tender heart, tenacious spirit, heart filled laugh and love of all things donuts (not to mention your adorable one dance move) make our lives better every day. We are blessed to witness your love and care for each soul honored to work with you, Thank you for reminding us that grace and compassion are such an incredible foundation for the work we share and the life we live. You are truly a magical soul living with fierce grace!

Happy Birthday Kendall! We hope it is filled with as much light and love as you give the world.

You Are Not A Monster

The truth is, recovery is just a place where we can tell what the costume is and what it isn’t.

You’re Not a Monster 

Halloween is one of my favorite Holidays of the year, especially with an almost three year old. We build haunted gingerbread houses, we (I) carve pumpkins, and we go trick-or-treating like a million times. When I was a kid, we got ready all day Halloween afternoon- anticipating the moment it was FINALLY dark enough to be a little witch, or Cinderella, or a pumpkin. Gone are those days. Now, kids get to go trick-or-treat like every weekend for the whole month.

With that said, we typically get H’s costume at the end of September. It came in a week and a half ago: a blue monster onesie- complete with teeth, and horns, and claws. He was walking around, “ROAR! I’m a monster!!!!” At one point, he sat in his tee-pee (bedecked in furry blue) and I couldn’t keep from laughing to myself. “Okay bud, let’s get that monster outfit off!” I thought he might be getting hot or uncomfortable, but he kept admiring his blue feet and claws… “No, I wanna keep it on!”

I ended up chasing him around the house, pulling off paws and claws and horns until, voila, my sweet baby boy was standing in front of me again. The monster in my hands.

One of the most difficult realities of an eating disorder is that it becomes this never ending day of Halloween- A little naggy monster costume that one wakes up in one day, and never takes off. The claws and sharp teeth and horns become safe and comfortable. A suit of armor against everything out there, and a mask that covers everything in here.

Recovery says, “Okay bud, let’s get that monster outfit off,” and the typical response is “No! I wanna keep it on!” While also really, really, really, REALLY wanting to get rid of it. Because doing life in costume can start to get really hard. More so, life in costume can start to feel like the real thing.

“This isn’t pretend. I’m an awful person. I deserve this. I’m really this ugly, horrible person and without the costume, everyone will see what a monster I really am. I’m not wearing a costume, this is who I really am.”

I can’t tell you how many talented, intelligent, gifted women I’ve worked with whose eating disorder convinced them that they were stupid, lazy, ugly, clumsy people who needed to wear a mask in order to get by. I also know that seeing yourself as you are is no easy task when you’ve really been seeing a blue monster with horns and sharp teeth in the mirror. The monster is real, BUT it isn’t you. It’s your eating disorder, and it’s really important to have someone say that to you.

“Hey, yeah you’ve got a little monster hanging out with you. Spoiler alert, it’s your eating disorder, and you’re eating disorder isn’t you.”

Out of fear, or uncertainty, or being lost, or something you had no control over, you found this little monster suit, and tried it on, and it made you feel safe, invincible, powerful, seen (or invisible), loved or hated, in control. It made you feel strong, so you kept it on because without it, you were just…blah.

So what to do?

The truth is, recovery is just a place where we can tell you what the costume is and what it isn’t. “Yeah, the horns aren’t yours, the contagious laugh is. The sharp teeth aren’t yours, the fear of not being enough is. The blue fur, yeah, not you.”

It’s a safe place for you to look at the monster without judgement or hatred. It’s a place for you to sort out your thoughts and the eating disorder’s voice. It’s this place of discovery, connecting dots, and learning how to do life without the mask. But the magical part is, it’s always in your control and your choice when and how you take the costume off. Believe me, we’ll chase after you, and just like I removed my son’s costume, I want to take those fangs and claws from you, but in recovery, that’s what you do. My job is to help you see the monster that you and your food are not, but it’s your job to learn yourself again, and to take off that “monster” you believe you are when you’re ready.

Every bite of food you take. Every negative thing you say about yourself that you reframe. Every gentle word of grace you offer yourself. Every time you act in a way that is in opposition to the “monster” is a healthy act of rebellion against the lies of the eating disorder, and an alignment with your authentic self. Every time you question the eating disorder is a moment you may be finding yourself again.

You won’t believe us in the beginning when we tell you, “You aren’t a monster,” but one day, piece by piece, you’ll start to take that little monster outfit off, mask and all- you’ll hold that sucker in your hand, and you’ll see yourself in the mirror, and you’ll think, “Wow! That’s me!”

You may have hard days where wearing the eating disorder feels safer or more comfortable, but you’ll have hard days where being true to yourself is possible. And, one day, you won’t need or want your eating disorder anymore. If you want to take it off, you’ll take it off- no matter how long it takes you, and we’ll be there every single step of the way. We’ve got a closet full of paws, and claws, and horns that other women have left behind to prove it.

You’re not a monster, you’re just a woman who hasn’t seen herself in a while, but you will.

 Martha Lee Anne RD, ACED Primary Dietitian

Let Them Eat Candy

“Halloween should not be about replacing caramels with stickers.”

Perspective | Forget switching Halloween treats for a toy. This dietitian says: Let them eat candy.

I absolutely loved Halloween when I was a kid. I grew up in a community where every house had a pumpkin glowing in the window, and kids from tot to teenager donned ghost and witch costumes to collect chocolate bars, chips and candy. It was a night filled with pure joy.

Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy

Your Recovery - Your Pace

3 Reasons Why Comparing Your Mental Illness to Others is Damaging - #1 Mental Health Blog - Talkspace

Clinical Psychologist It is human nature to compare yourself to others, whether favorably or unfavorably. Favorable comparisons enhance self-esteem and make people feel better about their life circumstances, while continually comparing yourself negatively to others can have the opposite effect. People compare themselves to others in all arenas of life.

Your Story Matters

Each life story is an amazing masterpiece

In The Business of Change

Change Is Hard

Working with souls learning to live differently I find myself confronted with my own response to their changes. What are my expectations? How does their change, no matter how desired, affect my relationship to them? Do I ask them to risk changing and then not allow them the room to become different? And it's not just in work. It happens in all relationships.

It's not uncommon to fall into the trap of reacting to “what used to be” rather than responding to the efforts of “the now”. Even as a “professional”, it's easy to make assumptions or have expectations or even forget the necessity of my own response to those around me. Change is hard. And no change is ever small. For those who have lived in old patterns for years, the obstacles surrounding even the most desired changes are immense to say the least.

When someone we care for is in the process of “becoming”, not only is it imperative they have grace and compassion for themselves during what is often a difficult transformation; it's equally important those of us who care about them remember to support their change with compassion, grace, and empathy in response to the changes being born.

When the people we care for are working towards change, it’s hard for everyone. We must become aware of our own responses. Are we responding to their commitment to change or are we reacting to the way they used to be, even though they have shown tremendous progress? When they slip up, do we get frustrated and angry for them not changing fast enough?

Do we use a slip or the emergence of an old pattern to call into question all the progress they've made? It's important to remember as people change in our life, we have to change with them and understand that the process is never linear. The emergence of old patterns never eliminates a person's growth and progress. It’s a natural part of the process.

Take a breath, stand back and with compassionate curiosity, check in with them. Check in with yourself. Let the moment be just that. When confronting someone in a moment of change, be mindful of your intentions. Are you reacting or are you responding? Is the moment being highlighted different in some way? Don’t recall every other moment of a person’s struggle/history you may not have even been present for and allow it to taint one experience.

If someone you care for and love is working to make changes, remember that one of the best ways you can support them is to let each moment be its own and acknowledge what changes you need to make in your own life to support their growth. If we commit to help someone along the journey of change, we must commit to give them the room to wrestle with what that means and own our part of the process.

If a soul in the midst of change shows up with old patterns be sure you don’t respond in kind with your old reactions.

A little grace goes a long way - for both of you.

— HR Miller MA, LMFT, CEDS-S

There's a new job title in the UK government

And it’s a job thats long been needed. Minister for Suicide Prevention. 

The UK now has a Minister for Suicide Prevention and it's about time

As of today there's a new job title in the UK government. Minister for Suicide Prevention. And, it's a job title that's long been needed. 4,500 people die by suicide per year in England and suicide is the leading cause of death among men under the age of 45 ( per government figures).

Midweek Musing

Be Mindful of Your Mindset

Born Brave

“Don't you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can't be exactly who you are.” - Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga visited the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence to have a candid discussion about emotional health at the Emotion Revolution Summit, a partnership with her Born This Way Foundation. She spoke frankly about her experiences with celebrity and her struggle with depression:

I invented myself, Lady Gaga—I curated my life to be an expression of my pain. This is how I overcame my depression, is by creating somebody that I felt was stronger than me. But…nothing was able to fix how I was genetically made. I was born this way. No matter how much success you have, no matter how many opportunities, fame, fortune—no matter how many people accept you, to your face, the person that really needs to accept you is you.

"[This is] why we're here today," Gaga continued in her speech. "We're going to talk about why it's important to accept yourself, why it's important to empower yourself and why it's important that emotional intelligence is taken seriously."

It’s Soooo Worth It

You're Going to Want to Give Up and Go Back - Don't

Last week my husband and I were in Denver, Colorado and decided to go hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park.  After researching the different trail options, we finally decided on Bear Lake Trail.  We chose this one because it passes three different scenic lakes along the way, each progressively larger and more beautiful, with Emerald Lake being the main attraction at the end.  The reviews described absolutely amazing scenery but warned that the trail was extremely popular and often crowded.  We knew that a 4-mile hike at an elevation of 10,000 ft would be a challenge, but we decided to take the risk. 

We traveled almost two hours from our hotel to get to the trailhead.  Right as we were arriving, we noticed rainclouds.  By the time we got out of the car and began to hike, it started to sprinkle and, of course, we didn’t have rain jackets.  As we started on the trail, we were surrounded by about a hundred other people with the same goal as us, to make it to Emerald Lake.  However, as it continued to rain, and the winds continued to blow, and the temperature dropped, we noticed more and more people turn around.  Most of them made it to the first lake (about a 0.8 mile hike), took pictures, and then turned around and went home.

We, however, were not satisfied.  We knew there was more.  So with wet hair, cold hands, and rain hitting our face like needles, we continued on.  At that point, there were only two other people on the trail and one of them was hiding under a tree waiting on the rain to pass. We began to get tired, winded, and cold. The hike was almost entirely uphill with long stretches of steps carved in the path. We wondered if we should turn around. 

As we stopped to take a break, a hiker on his way back from Emerald Lake passes us. “How is it?  Is it worth it?” we ask.  “You’ve still got a long way to go, and its mostly uphill, but its soooo worth it,” he said.  We kept going (with several more breaks to catch our breath) and three more people pass us on their way back from Emerald Lake. They all said the same thing.  “it’s not an easy hike, but its soooo worth it.” 

Eventually the rain began to clear and our lungs began to adjust to the altitude.  The hike actually became enjoyable.   We even saw a rainbow in the horizon, beaming out over the mountain like a peace offering rewarding us for our hard work.  A few miles later, we finally arrive at Emerald Lake.  We crash on the rocks, exhausted, beat down, but so full of pride that we had done it.  I wish that I could describe the view as beautifully as I experienced it, but it’s just not possible.  All I can do is tell you that it felt like pure and complete peace. 

When I was lying on the rocks at Emerald Lake, I kept thinking about how our journey that day paralleled the process of recovery.  Lots of people say they want to recover and may even start out on the journey, but when the rain comes, and the wind starts blowing, they are tempted to turn back.  They become satisfied with the first sign of progress.  “At least I stopped this behavior” or “At least I’m not doing that thing anymore,” they say.  They hang out at the first lake and they either stay there for a while or they turn around and go back, not realizing that there’s so much more to the journey and so much more beauty to behold.  Sometimes in the thick of the storm it’s hard to trust someone who says, “keep going, its sooo worth it,” but when you take the risk, you open yourself to the possibility that you will arrive at a more peaceful place.  Who nows,you may even get to be the messenger along the path that gets to encourage the next person that, “the journey is hard, but its sooo worth it.”

— Emily Burke

ACED Nurse Practitioner

Work Hard Play Hard

Laugh Often

We're All Part Of The Story

Your Story Is Just Beginning

We truly understand the importance of “every story matters.” Each of us has a story to tell. Recently, staff members from ACED went together to get the semicolon tattoo out of respect for our own stories and the brave stories belonging to each incredible soul we bear witness to every day. Our commitment to and passion for the work we do runs deep. Your story matters.