#IHadNoIdea - National Eating Disorder Awareness Week
This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness week (#NEDAwareness Week). This means that for a whole week, people of all races, genders, sexuality and sizes will be supported both online and offline to step out of their comfort zone and make a stance to this struggle. The goal is to put a spotlight on the matter and to educate the public in the hopes of improving early prevention.
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is an American non-profit organization devoted to preventing eating disorders, providing treatment, and increasing the understanding. By increasing awareness, NEDA can encourage early detection and intervention, and raise the chances of full recovery.
Every year, during the last week of February, they launch an awareness campaign to spread the word. This year's social media theme is #IHadNoIdea, and it is focused on the importance of early intervention and recognizing that each person undergoes his or her own personal experience and copes their own way. The social media campaign aims at promoting awareness for those who suffer from or have suffered from an eating disorder. This has created a movement that really stresses the importance of spotting early signs and symptoms, which is essential for preventing what could be a terminal result.
This movement is also so much more
After scrolling through thousands of pictures featuring this year's hashtag, I could see that this movement is to tell the girls who have gone through an eating disorder or who suffer from one that they are not alone. And the importance of this message goes beyond understanding. We are constantly so aware of our looks and body image that it seems that we have allowed for this obsession to be OK. Even though I have not suffered from an eating disorder, I have let myself fall into this whirlwind that society created and allowed my head to both treat and criticize my body in ways that could destroy anyone.
It took me a lot of thinking and understanding to finally see that I need to love myself. Lately I have been feeling happy, healthy, loved, and surrounded by people who just push me in positive directions. If I re-read this last sentence, I cannot come up with a logical reason as to why I should bring myself down.
Make a stance
Being able to reach out on a topic like this to such a strong, positive and supportive community as #FITGIRLCODE, I encourage all the Fit Girls to make a stance and support a cause like this one. By just talking to a friend in need, reaching out to a family member, or sharing your supports online to other people going through this, you could communicate an immense amount of courage to someone, or to thousands.
Through the course of this week, we will be posting articles of personal journeys named #FitGirlConfessions. Keep updated and show your support as these girls open up to something they never thought they would talk about so publicly.
