I Am Learning To Love Myself: Mara’s Story, Part Two

“Almost all the girls in my family or in my best friend’s family have struggled with anorexia or bulimia at some point in time.”

I Didn’t Want to Be Broken, I Wanted to Be Whole: By Neriah

“I began to believe that my anorexia was a punishment from God intended to turn me toward him and my parents. It was my ‘pride’ and ‘haughtiness’ and my ‘lack of honor’ that caused me to come into such problems. Thus, if I listened to what God was trying to teach me, the hardships and pain of anorexia would be instrumental in my walk with God— and my depression and guilt and shame would go away.”

Sharing the Burden of the Pedestal: Renee’s Story

“Tour was not a panacea: it did not fix my self-injury problem. Nor did it eradicate my performance anxiety. What tour provided was an outlet for my energies, a chance to do what I loved in a way that mattered, to help people rather than just collect trophies, and a group of close friends who understood and could share the burden of the pedestal together with me.”

Cookie Cutters and The Power of Secrecy: Esperanza

“That is the problem with eating disorders, and self injury in the homeschool world. All of our families are supposed to be picture perfect. Cookie cutter families who never have any problems. So many families I knew growing up acted as if this life were a competition, to see who’s family they could beat in the godliness Olympics. “

I Was Trained to Torture Myself: Grace’s Story, Part Three

“I used to be able to confide in her. I would tell her everything. But as I got older, her thinking what I said was cute, and then telling her friends about it got old, fast. So I’m careful what I talk to her about. I am much more open with people my own age. I think it’s something I learned as a child.”

I Was Trained to Torture Myself: Grace’s Story, Part Two

“I have felt a tangible darkness in my life almost as far back as I can remember. And I think the anxiety started more around my teens. When I was younger depression took the form of guilt, and not measuring up.”