On October 25th, The Center for Eating Disorders will host nationally recognized author Jenni Schaefer.  Jenni will present the keynote presentation for our 2009 community awareness event, during which she will discuss her newest book, a follow-up to her first, and extremely popular book, “Life Without Ed”.  

Jenni’s new book, “Goodbye Ed, Hello Me” was released in August and has already made quite an impact with its hopeful messages about her own recovery from an eating disorder.  In anticipation of her arrival in Baltimore in two , we had a few questions for Jenni and asked her to share some insight into the important topics she discusses in her book.  This is what she had to say…

What were the factors that played a role in you seeking treatment for your eating disorder?

My life was spinning out of control. All I could think about was food and weight. Joy in life was gone-I had hit rock bottom. I knew I needed help.

Looking back on your experience, what is the best advice you could give to those who may be considering treatment or are just beginning treatment for an eating disorder?

I highly encourage people to get professional help in order to fully recover from an eating disorder. I never could have recovered from anorexia and bulimia without a team of treatment professionals supporting me. I also needed love and support from family and friends. Most importantly, I would tell people who are struggling with an eating disorder to never give up. It does get better.

Why was it important for you to eventually refer to yourself as recovered from your eating disorder instead of being in recovery?

As long as I kept saying that I was “in recovery,” I was giving Ed (aka “eating disorder”) a place in my life. As long as I believed Ed would haunt me, he did. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy.

After doing well in recovery for many years and going through difficult times without turning to eating disordered behaviors, I began to claim fully recovered for myself. Today, I am completely free from Ed and have joy and peace in my life.

In the same way you differentiate between being “in recovery” and being “recovered”, you also make an important distinction in terms of the type of support that was helpful to receive from your family.  Can you explain why your family was better able to support you when they stopped trying to understand the eating disorder?  What could other families learn from this?

In my first book, Life Without Ed, I talk about the fact that my family never had to understand my eating disorder. (I think it is impossible for someone who has never had an eating disorder to fully understand it.) The good news is that my family never had to understand my eating disorder, but they just had to love and support me. They also needed to believe me. When I said I felt fat, they didn’t understand how I could possibly feel that way. But they believed me. It made all of the difference.

I’d encourage other families to really listen to their loved ones in regard to the eating disorder. Believe their experience. And love them.

The title of your new book is Goodbye Ed, Hello Me – how has saying goodbye to Ed opened the door to a new you?

Saying goodbye to Ed has opened the door to endless possibilities for me. I recovered from my eating disorder and recovered myself in the process. Now that I am recovered, I can do anything at all!

You will be coming to Baltimore to speak about your new book on October 25^th at The Center for Eating Disorders’ annual fall outreach event – who do you think can benefit from attending this talk and what is the message you hope people will walk away with?

In our society, almost everyone knows someone who has been touched by an eating disorder, so I believe many people will benefit from the event. Also, in my presentation, I will talk some about the voice of Societal Ed (our culture’s eating disorder), which we all hear in this diet-crazed world. I want people to walk away with the hope and belief that full freedom from food and weight struggles is possible.

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Jenni Schaefer’s presentation is a FREE event sponsored by The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt.  It is open to the community and light refreshments will be provided.  If you are planning to attend on October 25th, visit our Events page for more details and remember to RSVP to reserve your seat – they are filling up quickly!  And don’t forget to bring your books!  Jenni Schaefer will be available for a book signing immediately following her talk.  Her books will also be available for purchase at the event.