Separating From Ed

     Encouraged by Jenni Schaefer and her therapist, Thom Rutledge, in her book "Life Without Ed" (which my psychologist recommended that I read, along with "Holy Anorexia" by Rudolph M. Bell) to write my own Declaration of Independence from ED. Based off of the real Declaration of Independence, here is my message to ED:      When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for Allie to dissolve the captivating bonds which have connected her with Ed and to assume a separation and departure to which God has entitled her.      We/ I hold these trusts to be self-evident, that all are given and inherit certain rights by their Creator that none can take away, that among these are Life , Freedom , Redemption , and Joy /Happiness.      Whenever Ed becomes destructive of these or other rights, it is the Right of Allie to abolish It and to institute a newness and Recovery, laying foundation on principles and organizing powers in such forms to positively effect and

     I'm separating.      I'm not leaving my husband. No, I'm separating from someone who is destructive. I'm separating from ED.      For those of you who don't know, ED is my eating disorder. Yes, that's right, I said it. Eating Disorder.      It's not "just" disordered eating anymore. ED is an actual diagnosed eating disorder that influences my thoughts and tells me what I can and can't do, have to, should or shouldn't do. ED isn't made up; ED is very real.      ED has controlled my life for too long. In the past three years, ED has made me lose weight, made me lie to other people, increased my levels of self-consciousness, made me doubt myself and my God, made me obsess about food, exercise, weight, and related thoughts, made me grumpy, irritable, agitated, made my relationships with others more strained than they needed to be, and ultimately, has impacted my healthy quite negatively.      ED has harmed both my physical an