Simone Moir is a Scottish yoga guru whose clients have included superstar singers Sting and Madonna. But according to a Nov. 8 article by Laura Davidson of the Sunday Mail newspaper, Moirs appreciation for yoga isnt related to fame or wealth  instead, it has to do with the practices ability to rescue her from the depths of an eating disorder:

At age 16, Simone & was at death's door after years of suffering from anorexia. She reckons her discovery of yoga and meditation saved her.

She said: "I really feel I was given a second chance at life. Doctors had given up on me and my family were helpless around me as I wasted away. I hit rock bottom when I was 16. I was so underweight I was losing my eyesight and wasn't strong enough to walk so had to use a wheelchair. Everyone was convinced I was going to die." &

"In hospital one of the therapies was meditation, which is a big part of yoga. It seemed to rekindle some kind of life fire inside me. I didn't want to make my family sad and didn't want to die. It gave me the strength I needed to help my body heal itself."

Labels: yoga, surviving

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In her memoir, Insatiable, author Erica Rivera gives an unflinching account of her battle with anorexia and offers valuable insights into this dangerous, and sometimes deadly, eating disorder.

A review in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune provided the following introduction to Rivera's recollections:

The book& opens slowly, with somewhat stilted scenes that are apparently meant to establish the origins of her compulsion: a possibly anorexic and suicidal mother. A father who comforted with food. A brother who binged. A canoe trip where the pretty camp counselors remember their mascara but forget the food. (Lesson learned, says Rivera, that beauty is more important than eating.)

Once the stage is set, the Star-Tribune reported, Rivera writes passionately and eloquently about her eating disorder; the voices in her head, the obsession with food, and her seemingly uncontrollable need to rid herself of every calorie she consumed. Rivera also tells of how writing, both in school and and a local workshop, helped to save her life.

Labels: anorexia, surviving

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When Debbie was rushed to hospital after a suicide attempt, she weighed just 86 pounds. Her secret goal was 81 pounds. She spent six weeks in the hospital, re-gaining weight and talking with a psychiatrist about her eating disorder and what might be causing it.

"Over a period of weeks, Debbie began to feel physically stronger and more hopeful. After the first week of hospital care she no longer required tube feedings... But as closely as she was watched, at times, if she got a chance, she still was able to vomit. Nonetheless, the urge somehow had seemed to weaken. Sometimes, although she had the opportunity, she didn't even think about it."

When she left the hospital, she weighed 96 pounds and was beginning to think more about her future. She refers to her time in the hospital as a "nightmare" and though she'd rather not think about it, she knows she needs to remember how she ended up there if she wants to ensure that she never ends up there again. Read more at American-Reporter.com.

Eating disorders can be just one of the issues facing a troubled teen. Often teenagers struggling with uncontrollable emotions turn to drugs and alcohol to escape their problems. Learn more about troubled teens and the ways you can help at www.4troubledteens.com.

Labels: treatment, surviving, cures

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Inside Out is the result of Nadia Shivack's attempt to overcome her eating disorder. The memoir was created in graphic novel form, making it equally disturbing and revealing.

"Chronicled on napkins, notebook paper, or whatever scrap was available, Nadia's story unfolds as she endures it. She refers to her eating disorder as 'Ed', draws it as a dragon, and details its hold on her life and sanity starting at age fourteen."

Inside Out will speak to victims of eating disorders, and well as family members and friends. The artwork often describes visually the pain and inner turmoil that can't be described with mere words. Read more at SchoollibraryJournal.com.

Labels: overcoming_an_eating_disorder, surviving, describing_eating_disorders

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