"I am an eating disorder and body image advocate. I also advocate for awareness of co-morbidities in eating disorders, substance abuse and self harm. I am in recovery from numerous eating disorders, substance abuse struggles, as well as self harming. I started Voice in Recovery (ViR)™ because I felt there weren’t enough voices speaking about recovery. ViR’s mission is to share voices in recovery and to create a community where those can find and use their voice in their own recovery. ViR is about sharing, learning, and finding support. What does recovery look like? What does recovery feel like? What are the struggles? What are the achievements? Often I am asked how long I have been in recovery, what struggles have I faced, is this normal, is this relapse, etc. My hope is to be A voice but not THE voice. I am one of many. I strive to help people, but I also want us to be a community, a team, people seeking understanding, support, without judgment in the individual process. ViR’s mission and focus is on PAIR™ (Prevention, Awareness, Intervention, and Recovery). I strive to bring awareness about body image concerns, health, media literacy, body diversity, and self acceptance. I support Health at Every Size (HAES), and diversity in fashion. I strive to help others learn to love and accept who they are. Recovery IS possible!
I want to help people. Whatever path I am taking on in this journey of life, I will find a way to help people who struggle with eating disorders. I am a full time Advocate for Eating Disorder and Body Image Awareness. I have been through a lot with my addictions, and being in recovery is the greatest blessing I have been given in life. It is through recovery, relapse, and recovery again that I have discovered my life path. Advocacy, blogging, tweeting, volunteering, is all a “side” passion to me. I think of it as round the clock work – but ultimately the most rewarding thing in my life."