This!...is Where Love Grows
My Triumph Over Anorexia
by
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The Friday before Thanksgiving weekend started off as most other Friday nights in residence - pre-partying before the scheduled residence event and then attending the organised dance social. This night would end up being one of the turning points in my life; the moment that changed the course of my illness, my future with JT, and my university experience. I was partying with my friends and having a great time dancing to the music when my body suddenly gave out. I collapsed, momentarily unconscious, and had to be brought back to my room. A very worried JT called my Mom and expressed his grave concern over my declining health. I thought I had convinced him that I was okay and life would continue as it had. However, my Mom called me the next day and told me that she was flying out the next weekend to bring me home for treatment. The determined tone in her voice broke through my fog, and I knew that if I didn’t go home and accept help I would not live long. The next week was so emotionally challenging for me, not only did I have to withdraw from university and resign from my highly acclaimed position as President, > NOBODY WANTS YOU HERE ANYWAY…THEY HATE YOU…PIGGY < but="" even="" harder="" was="" saying="" good-bye="" to="" all="" my="" friends="" in="" what="" i="" viewed="" as="" a="" state="" of="" disgrace.="" i="" didn’t="" realize="" at="" the="" time="" that="" the="" good-byes="" i="" was="" wished="" were="" not="" motivated="" by="" disgust,="" but="" by="" love="" and="" concern.="" the="" vision="" of="" over="" fifty="" of="" my="" friends="" all="" standing="" outside="" the="" doors="" of="" the="" residence="" waving="" good-bye="" and="" blowing="" kisses="" as="" mom="" and="" i="" drove="" away="" broke="" me,="" and="" sobs="" of="" sorrow="" racked="" my="" body.="" my="" mom="" had="" to="" take="" over="" driving="" as="" i="" was="" overcome="" with="" shame="" and="" failure.="" the="" sixteen="" hours="" spent="" driving="" across="" the="" barren="" prairies="" were="" spent="" mostly="" in="" silence.="" both="" of="" our="" brains="" were="" busy="" chirping="" their="" own="" stories,=""> THEY HATE YOU…NOBODY CARES…JUST DIE ALREADY < but the words were frozen in our hearts without hope of release. back home, and back in my game, sort of… but="" the="" words="" were="" frozen="" in="" our="" hearts="" without="" hope="" of="" release.="" back="" home,="" and="" back="" in="" my="" game,="" sort="">
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About the Book
A raw and poignant glimpse into the mind, heart and soul of anorexia… Brenda’s story begins with her early childhood angst, journeying through her decline to the brink of death at age twenty-three, and describes her authentic and often painful climb back to self-love and complete healing. “This!...is Where Love Grows” provides an exceptional depiction of the slippery slope of the beginnings of an eating disorder, and the delusions that accompany its operation. But above all, Brenda offers hope that recovery is possible. This is an important message that every person with an eating disorder and their family needs to hear in their times of darkness. Brenda’s story is an invitation to others who can offer a voice of hope to this very difficult process. Well done! Lakshmi Krishnan, MSW, RSW E.D. Therapist, Calgary, Canada
About the Author
Discovering the reason for her suffering and recovery from anorexia, Brenda realized her life purpose was to be a symbol of hope for current sufferers and their families. In addition to her professional work, Brenda volunteers for the CMHA in Calgary sharing her story with junior and senior high students, and is actively involved with EDSNA. Brenda currently lives in Calgary, Alberta with her precious family.