Those battling bulimia eat because of their shame and throw up because of their guilt. Many, like Brenda, find healing.
Brenda J. Wood has authored more than fifty books. She is a seasoned motivational speaker, who declares the Word of God with wisdom, humour, and common sense. We are both members of Inscribe Writers. This content is used with her permission.
Abused
Brenda was abused at age eleven. Over time this developed into a serious eating disorder… bulimia. Brenda ate up to 50,000 calories at a sitting. (She adds, a very short sitting!) And then she made herself sick to get rid of the food. She notes that it does not help with weight loss.
1 in 3 women have been abused and 1 in 5 men.
Brenda says, “We eat because of our shame and we throw up because of our guilt.”
Trapped
For sixteen years, she was trapped in this addictive cycle. Finally, someone told her about Jesus, the Son of God, how he died on the cross for her, crucified for her sins.
“All I had to do was ask forgiveness for my sins and ask him to come into my life.”
“My life changed in so many ways but the Bulimia didn’t! I became an author, public speaker, and TV personality. God never once brought up my eating disorder. Then about four years later, it suddenly occurred to me that bulimia might be a sin.
Brenda’s Story
I was on my way to do a segment with Jayne Pritchard at CKVR, in Barrie, Ontario. I said to her, “I thought we might talk about Bulimia today… and I know of which I speak. Because I am one.” Jayne was speechless. I thought I would have to finish the show by myself.
That’s why writing has been so important to me. I needed structure, control, deadlines, and encouragement and I found it in pen and paper. My yearly word is always ‘persevering’ because that is what I have learned to do.
I started to jour
nal because I heard that writing helped you get over abuse. So, 61 journals later, I still write…everything, everywhere. I take notes in meetings, in church, and in Weight Watcher classes. I write everywhere I am because writing saved my l
ife.
This writing has resulted in more than 50 published books, including a couple of award winners. One is my Bulimia story, Meeting Myself and the other is The Pregnant Pause of Grief, written in the first 3 months after my husband died.
Truth comes out in writing.
I say to you write, write your thoughts, write healing, write anything. If you are interested in more, look up Morning Pages and start writing them.
I write and I persevere, because I know it works.”
Do you know someone suffering from the effects of abuse or from bulimia? Please share this post and join the conversation below by post a comment. Thank you.
You can follow Brenda on Medium.
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