Beingbrave

Hi Friends,

My very first The Mighty story was published yesterday -- I am feeling so thankful, and also v nervous. This is the first time I have shared about my eating disorder so publicly and I am a little anxious about negative ramifications, especially with the huge stigma around eating disorders. As healthcare providers, we are often conditioned not to share things about our own health journeys, especially mental health journeys.

That said, one of our directors emailed the story out to the entire department! So now everyone I work with knows. While I really hope it can help foster much needed change for patients (and get more people to advocate against the new AAP obesity guidelines) it is also so so nerve-wracking.

What are your thoughts on this. Would you trust your physician less if you knew they had their own health struggles? Or does it make them more human?

Here is the story if you want to read it :)

A Pediatrician's Take on the New Childhood Obesity Guidelines

<3 danielle="" #Advocacy #EatingDisorderRecovery #Beingbrave #healthcareprovidor #MightyTogether

Today is a day that I can honestly say I’m thankful to be alive. I had an experience today that I can’t say I’ve ever had ,but first I’ll explain what led to this experience.

It’s been 8 years since I attempted #Suicide . Of course I’m here because it failed to work. I am glad now that it failed to work and that one of my friends found me. She took me to the hospital and I was kept for a week. I came out a different person, mentally and emotionally. I have not been the same since. I was diagnosed with severe #Anxiety and #PersistentDepressiveDisorder.

Ever since then I’ve been in therapy and been on different kinds of medications until we’ve mostly figured out the best combination. Not to say I still haven’t had many bouts over the years with #SuicidalThoughts but I can usually work through the darkness to get myself to the light again.....however not the person I’m about to talk about.

Today one of our lady clients came up to me (who is very easy to talk to and very understanding) and I suddenly and randomly felt compelled to tell her my story. You see 2 weeks ago her 28 yr old son committed suicide. So I told her my story through my tears while at work and she was well put together the entire time handing me tissues. At the end I said I wanted to tell you, I understand the darkness and I wanted to let you know your not alone. Your son couldn’t fight the darkness anymore but he tried as long as he could and he loved you very much. I’m here if you ever need to talk! Then she said, thank you for being brave enough to share your story with me and thank you for staying....I’m glad your alive, this world needs you. You matter, your so sweet....then I bawled and she smiled and left. I’m still in disbelief that I actually managed to talk about what happened to me....since I’ve only been able to do so with medical professionals, my family and you guys here at the mighty.

I truly feel blessed that I was able to help someone and in turn she’s helped me! Sorry this was so long....it felt like a journal entry but I feel better getting it out.
#SuicideAttemptSurvivors #Beingbrave #Blessed