Warning: This post contains an image that some recovery warriors may find triggering.
Eating disorders have been in the news more in the last week, than, probably since Mary Kate Olsen appeared on SNL back in the early 2000s.
And, interestingly enough, I’m not talking about the fact that it’s the beginning of National Eating Disorders Awareness week today. And in case you’re new here…let me just tell you — I’m not a fan of #NEDAwareness Week, and how it’s become this gross competition of before and after photos on Social Media of “who was sicker.” It frankly makes my skin crawl.
But I digress.
I was doing an interview on Friday about BBB, and the woman asked me if I had heard of a specific YouTuber. (I am choosing to not outright name this young woman, out of respect, and just — having been there.) But the interviewer asked if I believed this YouTuber was suffering from anorexia. And, feeling really old, and not hip/current, I admitted that I had never heard this YouTuber’s name before. So I did some research.
This YouTuber has been absolutely flooding pop culture news in the last week, with swirling speculations that she has anorexia. And, even though she has millions – yes, millions – of subscribers, she’s in the headlines right now, because she didn’t post for a week, and people thought she died. From anorexia.
And, allow me to pause here. Back a couple years ago, one of my readers passed away from anorexia. She was a precious, sweet girl that I had gotten to know, through this blog, and – as does happen with anorexia – the heart cannot maintain the stress of being so malnourished and depleted, and as a muscle – it shuts down. Which is why anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. But as tragic and heartbreaking as that is – it actually happens.
But going home that day, and researching this YouTuber — I was just completely aghast.
My heart shattered in a million pieces, seeing her. I saw her, and I saw myself. Seeing her frightfully skeletal body, I knew how extremely sick she was, and at death’s door – just as I was at 78 pounds.
I could only stomach about 45 seconds of one of her videos, but it was absolutely evident to me – crystal clear as the nose on my face – that she was using these YouTube videos as her way of “body checking.” Or, for anyone not familiar with ED-recovery lingo, that means scrutinizing your body for any weight gain/loss through either visual pictures or specific clothing or other physical measurements. But she was taking videos of clothing try on-hauls, or posing in front of the mirror, or talking to the camera, or you name it – getting millions of views.
And the YouTube community has grown incredibly vocal in their concern for this girl. People are calling the cops on her, as a danger to herself.
People are questioning where are her parents, allowing her to continue on like this. People are scared that, in her absence, she has died.
I just pray that she gets help. She’s over eighteen, so her parents cannot force her to go to inpatient. Which, if you know my story, is the same situation I was in. My family staged an intervention, which -praise God- got through to me, but they were poised and ready to take drastic measures, had that not worked.
My question is this: Where is YouTube on this?
I am shocked – disgusted – enraged! – that YouTube has not pulled her channel down. The fact that they’ve allowed this girl to document her wasting away — she’s documenting her death, let’s call it what it is — is disgusting. Not only is she making tens of thousands of dollars per video — that her mother helps film, by the way — but her emaciated state is SO HARMFUL to influential girls.
YouTube is so, utterly, negligent letting this go on. Her behavior is a detriment not only to herself, but to the millions of people watching her channel.
And this, happening at the onset of #NEDAwareness Week – it is so illuminating at NEDA’s inept concept of this week, trying to highlight eating disorders.
You tell me: Their motto: “Come As You Are” – with six, smiling, healthy – full figured – 50/50 boy-to-girl ratio, positively beaming from ear-to-ear …. does that accurately depict awareness about an eating disorder?
NO!
Because those people don’t have eating disorders.
And look – I get it. There are a lot of eating disorders that you can’t see from the outside. Unlike anorexia, where the girl or boy is literally a walking skeleton, binge eating disorder is not something you can always see. (And yet is just as deserving of recovery.)
But this YouTuber? That is an eating disorder. That is anorexia.
And people seeing that — seeing what an eating disorder truly is — there is uproar. There is shock and people are up in arms asking, WHY IS NO ONE STEPPING IN TO SAVE THIS DYING GIRL’S LIFE!
And that’s where NEDA has completely missed the mark with “Come As You Are.”
Look, I get it — “inclusivity” is the buzziest of the buzz words right now with Oscar season, and people’s hyper awareness about the 72 genders we all apparently can choose from. But when it comes to eating disorders – the body doesn’t see gender. Or religion. Or ethnicity. Or number of YouTube subscribers.
It sees food.
And you know what? The people who are the most sick – who need the most help, because they are trapped and enslaved so deeply to their eating disorder like me — who was adamantly unwilling to get help, and my parents had to threaten turning me over to be a ward of the state to get me to go to treatment as a harm to myself. Or like this YouTuber who is literally dying on YouTube for millions to see — THAT DEGREE OF SICKNESS — they cannot and will not “come as they are.” And in fact, if left to “come when they are ready” — you can start digging their grave, because that is what an eating disorder is.
Sorry — I’m really passionate about this.
Come as you are — no. Sometimes, you need someone to force you there.
It’s called tough love. It’s called saving you from yourself.
Thank God my family did. At the time, was I the most livid I ever was/will be? You bet you a$$. I was so fiercely furious I couldn’t see straight. But that’s what needed to be done.
Because I couldn’t “come as I was.”
And neither can our YouTube star.
And her subscribers know it. They know that she cannot “come as she is.” And they’re calling for someone – anyone — her parents, the police, YouTube itself — to step in and save her from herself.
So let’s just take a minute here to pray for this dear, sweet, girl, that she is getting the help that she so desperately needs. And that she is surrounded by love and support, and that she knows that she is worth recovery. She is worth a life that is free from the fear and enslavement that she knows right now in her disease.
And that she has a literal family of millions who are behind her, and want her to get well. That they are there — and I am there — to support her and cheer her on, as she reclaims her life.
YouTube: – it’s time to take her channel down. For the love of all things good – you are hurting so so SO many young, impressionable girls by having those severely disturbing images/videos up on your platform. T
And not only that, (Please God) when she does recover, it will be the absolute last thing she needs than to have those images of her at her most sick circulating the internet for the world to gawk and gasp at.
YouTube: you have a responsibility here.
And NEDA: just…do better. It’s almost as if you’re run by a bunch of people who have never had an eating disorder before. Oh wait…
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Here was yesterday’s video! https://youtu.be/8pmp4ZI968A
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154 responses to “Watching Anorexia on YouTube”
“Sometimes, you need someone to force you there. It’s called tough love. It’s called saving you from yourself.”
I’m glad God does this for me (Hebrews 12). I underwent a pretty strong discipline this last week and it grew me up in a hurry. I like who I am a little better now.
But our generation seems far more ready to celebrate our brokenness than to actually leave it. I don’t know the Youtuber you’re speaking about, so I can’t judge her heart, but IN GENERAL we’ve got this culture around us that almost idolizes being messed up rather than realizing you don’t have to be. I just wish things were different.
Thanks Brandon. Yeah God is particularly good at this. I agree – I wish things were different. Sending up big prayers for this girl. And thank you for sharing what you went through last week. Praying for you too, my friend 🙂 hang in there. Hugs and love xox
God bless you for this.
Can I share this on my website/blog?
Yes absolutely. Thanks Kerry for asking. It would be an honor. Hugs and love xox
Thanks. I will do it when I figure out how to lol. I am new at thanks and thanks for following!
🙂 no prob
I have so much respect for you. Thank you for writing this.
God has blessed you,
Scott
Thank you Scott, I really appreciate your support. I was pretty nervous to publish this, so I am very grateful for the feedback. Hugs to you xox
praying….
I will join you in that important prayer. Thank you for taking the time to read. hugs xo
Thanks for enlightening me. The site should be taken down until she begins to show a road to recovery. -Jeff
Thanks Jeff. Yeah, it is a heart breaking situation for sure. i pray she gets help and absolutely that it be taken down. hugs xox
Praying for your friend, and all who are in true need of help.
God loves ALL of His children! <3 He loves you too, Caralyn!
Thank you Gail, yes – big prayers are needed right now for sure! Amen to that – His love is what has the power to heal 🙂 Glad you stopped by. you’re a great friend. hugs xo
And you’re a brought blessing to me! <3
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 xox
That was suppose to read you’re a BRIGHT blessing to me! <3 Your mercy is so appreciated!
🙂 🙂 <3
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When I first saw this person, she actually made me think of your ministry… She’s definitely causing a stir; and I frankly am not surprised people are wondering about her. I would argue against taking down her channel, as unpleasant as it may be to watch. As long as she’s posting content, her fans can “keep tabs” on her (for what it’s worth).
Thank you Matt, yeah it is a heart breaking situation for sure. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on it. I guess I’m just seeing it through the lens of someone who battled anorexia before, so perhaps the images are more upsetting to me. So glad you stopped by 🙂 hugs x
No doubt; you’re far closer to the situation?.. problem? than I am. Definitely far more understanding of what she’s going through.
yeah, it’s really tragic. makes me sad to think about what she much be going through
I can imagine how triggering and horrific it would be for someone like you (a recovered anorexic) to see such awful videos, and I feel your pain! I hate it when our society glorifies and glamorizes the things that need to be fixed, not used for cheap sensationalism. But perhaps “Come as you are” means that it’s okay to not be stick-thin? I don’t think it means you should carry on with an eating disorder. I see what you mean, though. And I have similarly bad trigger issues, so I hope you’re okay tonight! It’ll be okay!!
Thank you Meg, yeah they were incredibly upsetting. This young woman needs prayers for sure. I agree – I can absolutely see their well-meant message with come as you are – in fact, when I first heard it, I thought — wait, didn’t Jesus say that?? I actually wrote an entire other blog post about their slogan, but trumped it with tonight’s post because the topic was more pressing in my heart. Anywho – rambling now. thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your heart. hugs xo
OMG!! Seeing that imagine of that poor girl just broke my already fragile heart 🙁 I am sending prayers her way. I agree with you 100% YouTube needs to take down her page. Why would anyone want to watch someone waste away like that? That is heartbreaking. That is not entertaining at all! We live in a very sad world. I am so happy that your family stepped in and were able to get to you! Thank God for that. Family is Everything! Thank you as always for sharing and shining light on these issues. You are a GEM!!
I’m sorry the photo upset you, Lane. Yeah it was absolutely heart breaking, and I just couldn’t stay silent on it. I think YouTube is being completely negligent in this situation. And big big big prayers for this young woman who needs support. Big hugs to you xox
It is very heartbreaking and I am glad you are speaking about it! Have a wonderful night my friend. 🙂
xoxoxoxo 🙂
I caught just a glimpse of her picture and had to shoot past it! Apparently YouTube deals only in death. It shuts down your anti-abortion article while making money hand-over-fist over this girl’s slide to death.
A girl was recently convicted of manslaughter over texting a guy to go ahead and kill himself when he was contemplating suicide. Why wouldn’t YouTube have similar liability if this girl dies? Fine them billions and then go after whoever made the editor’s decision to leave her channel up. put him or her in jail.
I never feel for you so much as when you throw yourself into the battle for someone like this. I know how hard it is. All of the crap that comes your way over any of your stances can’t be as bad as watching someone going the way you were going. I pray for you both tonight.
Do you have suggestions in addition to prayer? Do you know of a link you can point us to so we can lobby for her channel to be removed? Can we flood NEDA with emails for their action? If there’s a time for them to step up, it’s now!
Maybe you can have an emergency post tomorrow evening with links/email addresses that we can all share on our own sites and hopefully shame NEDA and YouTube into action. I’m sharing your post tonight.
Thank you so much Jeff, yeah i cannot believe that YouTube is allowing this content to be on their platform. It is beyond negligent. Instagram has made great steps forward in this area by banning self-harm posts, and clearly YouTube has a lot to learn. Thank you for your prayers. Yes, I will definitely join you in that important prayer for this young woman. I was really scared to publish this, so thank you for your support. If you go to her channel, I believe there’s a way to “flag” it – I don’t know if it has to be individual videos or the channel as a whole, but I know that is an action you can take. Along with social media posts, tagging YouTube on it. Other than that, it’s just the big red machine. That’s a great idea – I will do some research on that. Thanks so much Jeff – hope your week is off to a great start. hugs xox
This sort of thing just scares the crap out of me!! I am so upset for her as well as realizing just how bad off you were; I hate thinking of my friend in that situation. I shared your post tonight. I’ll try to flag her video at YouTube if I can find it. Quick side note – did you get my email re. my heart? All is well. Wanted you to know.
Oh my gosh PRAISE GOD!!!!! I have not had a chance to sort through my inbox since the weekend yet. That’s on my plate tomorrow, but oh my gosh THAT IS SUCH GREAT NEWS!!! Oh i wish I could give you and Julie a big big hug of thanksgiving right now. GOD IS GOOD!!!!!
AMEN!
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[…] via Watching Anorexia on YouTube — BeautyBeyondBones […]
and thank you for the link up. hugs xo
Sorry, I can’t watch the video, I lost a dear friend to Anorexia around 25 years ago. Sadly she was a Christian, spent hours of her last days crying out how sorry she was to the Lord but in the end lost the battle through a collapsed lung. She drew much comfort from her faith but I will say with all honesty preferred to lose the battle then to give Him the victory.
Oh gosh, I am so sorry to hear that, friend. Gosh, that is so heart breaking. Anorexia is a devastating disease, and when you know it, you see it. Oh my gosh, that is just so tragic. Saying a prayer right now for her, you and her family. sending big hugs xo
We spent hours in prayer with her. I talked her out of suicide, but I know in all truth Jesus never left her side, and gave her a promise before she died that a baby boy would be born to her sister who would indeed become a missionary as she had wished to be that baby was born 3 years after she died and was called Matthew just as the Lord promised. He is now married and beginng a family of his own. We are all of us loved beyond our understanding. May many find courage to make the right choices through what you say and write.
oh my gosh this just shatters my heart. You’re right about that – Jesus is close to those who are hurting. Wow – that’s powerful to hear about Matthew. Praise be to God. I appreciate your kind words. hugs xo
Caralyn, I will be praying hard for this precious girl. Thank you for standing up for her! (NEDA needs to ask you to head up their efforts!) 🙂
Thank you Hannah, I will definitely join you in that important prayer. Aw, that’s kind of you to say. big hugs to you xox
Wow! Well done! Hard truth, but somebody’s gotta tell it! Keep doing it!
Thank you Andy. Yeah hard truth indeed. I am so disappointed in YouTube!! Prayers for this young woman. Hugs and love xox
Awareness is key I think to get YT’s attention, and I hope this post helps bring awareness to issues. I’m grateful this young girl has a community that does care about her. I hope through prayers and people caring she is able to get the help she needs because this is scary! Thank you for having the courage to check out this girl’s channel briefly, to bring awareness to the situation.
And it is so sad that something meant to bring awareness also becomes a competition. But like you said, it’s a mental battle, and this only proves it.
I think you’re right about that. Thank you TR. Yes I will join you in that important prayer for her. She is so worth recovery and a life of freedom – as we all are! So glad you stopped by! Hugs and love xox
I actually looked this YouTuber up after reading your article. Some commenters claim she’s getting some help, it’s not clear if she actually is or not but I do hope she is getting the help she needs.
It’s a shame whether it’s an eating obsession or starving that it seems that only is taken seriously when it’s at its worst. I’ve watched a few documentaries on these morbidly obese folks who can barely get out of bed and it’s like they’re with someone who doesn’t seem to have any clue on how to help them.
I see homeless people holding a sign up on highway off temps and busy intersections while driving and while I feel an impulse to give them some money I know in the back of my mind I’m just fueling their homeless addiction or their drug use and I end up just staring at the stoplight or focus on passing traffic. I don’t know these people but any sort of addiction or eating disorder can quickly destroy your life and the people who care for them.
All you can really do is pray and hope these people get the help they need, but we also need to pray and help those who may start showing signs of having a problem before it gets to this point where you need serious treatment.
You recovered from this terrible disease and have the experience of going through this to help others who are afflicted by this. Other people who have suffered by anorexia and have survived also have this ability to help others in the sense that what you know now may help others who are suffering. Definitely not saying you need to make a carreer out of it or whatever but then you do have this blog which is also a great tool.
Anyway some of our mistakes we make in life, even if we can’t control it is life lessons trying to get us to teach others how to get through this crazy life who may be going through the same problems.
I pray that she is. Gosh, I really hope so. She deserves freedom. And you’re right- the earlier you can confront the issue or warning signs the better. And thank you for saying that. I really appreciate your encouraging words. Thank you for taking the time to read and respond. It means a lot. Hugs and love xox
Thanks for being the rational voice of experience
Thank you Bruce. Yeah this whole thing is so upsetting and YouTube needs to step up and disable the harmful content. Big prayers for this young woman. I pray she has supportive people around her that encourage her to get help. Hugs and love xox
Her mother is enabling her and probably profiting so the support looks like a nonstarter
I pray she has people in her life that are supportive
Thank you for your ministry! May the Lord prosper the work of your hands.
Thank you Gerry, I appreciate your encouraging words. Hugs and love xox
That is very sad. I will remember her in prayer.
Thank you Dawn. Yes – I will join you in that important prayer. Hugs and love xox
I know exactly who you’re talking about. I agree with another poster here… as awful as it is to see, it’s also good for people to be able to keep some kind of tabs on her.
To be honest, I am surprised she has lasted this long. I think when I stumbled across her channel, it was months ago… And I couldn’t bear to look at it even then
I wish she had someone like you in her life… Maybe in a way she does ❤️
Thank you friend, yeah it is so incredibly sad. I pray she does too, and that she has a supportive community. Big prayers for her. Glad you stopped by. Hugs and love xox
This absolutely breaks my heart. Praying God will intervene in the life of this girl.
Thank you Kristina. Yes I will join you in that important prayer. Breaks my heart. Hugs and love xox
My heart is breaking for this YouTuber. I am praying she gets the tough love she needs to begin the long road of recovery. Her life is worth it.
Thank you Sami, yeah my heart is breaking too. Amen – she is so worth it and I will join you in that important prayer. Hugs and love xox
A very sad story, my dear friend 🙂
May this girl awake from her own prision, may God help her.
Hugs and love (and hugs and love for this girl too)
Didi
I’m actually thinking what kind of advertising does Youtube post on her videos. Imagine if it is for some kind of eating disorder medication or health services.
The good news is that according to a recent tweet she is safe and sound and she is working on it privately with her doctor.
I hope that she gets all the help she needs.
Have you reached out to her directly Caralyn? Being someone who is knows exactly what she is going through right now, you’re probably the very person that she needs to be talking to right now.
Frankly Youtube has become a large steaming pot of jambalaya. And mostly not in a good way. Granted, there is some amazing content being created. Your channel for instance is great and uplifting. But a few months ago, I came across a video where a woman was stating that all those who eat meat should die. That was a shocker. LOL
I’m actually wondering why would Youtube allow such hateful videos to be posted and yet will easily take down a video of something really positive.
I learned that its all about click baits and what video brings in more traffic. Apparently our human nature is attracted to negativity, thus negative videos get more views.
there’s a lot of truth there, thanks friend.
Please forgive my differing opinion regarding this.
Yes, we should pray for her and Yes, she needs help; However…. There is freedom on social media to be whoever or whatever you want to be. If YouTube starts pulling personalized type videos like that, you are getting to close to thevBig Brother type of censorship, which we should avoid. If the mother is doing the filming, the fault lies with her.
Thank you so much for sharing this interesting take on the situation! Definitely some powerful food for thought!! hugs xox
Praying for the both of you. I can’t even imagine how hard it must be for you (and others) to see this girl and know first-hand what she is going through. God Bless!
Thank you friend, Yes i will definitely join you in that important prayer for her. it breaks my heart for sure. hugs xo
This is heartbreaking. I’ve never experienced an eating disorder, or knowingly walked with someone who has. I will pray for this lady, for the others, for you. You’re doing a great work.
thank you friend, yeah heartbreaking indeed. I will absolutely join you in that important prayer for her. thank you for your compassion. hugs xo
I immediately prayed for this young woman. Thank you, Caralyn, for using your voice. It is powerful!
My church is in the beginning stage of a program called Next Level Innovations (NLI). We were chosen as one of the top United Methodist churches in our district, and are working with the district in the state capital to get our church to the next level, quite literally. Since our name is New Creation, the focus Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new is come!” Our challenge is to pray our “breakthrough prayer” at 5:17 in the morning, or 5:17 in the evening. I’m using parts of the prayer below.
So, God, I ask that you make this young woman a new creation. Help her get the help she so desperately needs! Breakthrough in her life. Make her a new creation. Transform her by the power and presence of your Holy Spirit. Show her how to make a difference in her community and the world. Give her boldness to follow where you lead. Amen.
Hi Laura Beth, yes, I will join you in that important prayer. Amen – may she be transformed through the Holy Spirit!! And wow – what a powerful program your church is taking on. How exciting. i will keep that in my prayers as well. hugs xo
Thank you!
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I can tell this was written with lots of love and passion. I’m so grateful there are people fighting for this girl! I’ll be praying.
Thank you friend, yes – lots of prayers for her. I pray that she be surrounded by support and that she is getting the help she needs!!! hugs xo
Awesome post. Blessings! xxx Mary
Thank you so much Mary. I appreciate your support and for taking the time to read. big hugs xo
Your very welcome, Caralyn. I love your blog. Is it OK to reblog? Do I need permission for specific posts. Big hugs to you, too!
absolutely – i would be honored if you shared it with your readers! hugs x
Thank you so much! Hugsx
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Caralyn, Thank you so much for allowing me to reblog your posts. I’m pro life to the core, along with being a Christian.So,when I read your latest post and how anorexia destroys the body, including the heart (I had open heart surgery), it touched me very deeply. I also lost my daughter to Spina Bifida twenty years ago at age 22. Anything that help save someone spiritually and physically needs to be shared. Thank you also for having the courage to address these issues. Especially from your heart. As that really touches hearts. Hugs and love from a white haired momma, Mary 😊❤
Oh my gosh, Mary, I am so sorry for your loss. Gosh that just breaks my heart to hear. Amen – we need to be there for one another and share our stories because you never know who it can help. Sending you the biggest hug through the computer. Thanks for sharing your heart 💛
Thank you so much, Caralyn. My daughter’s name was, Robin, and she would have been 42 on March 1st. She was also a very committed Christian and shared her faith freely. She went to her Heavenly home on February 13, 1999. We were both very passionate about pro life issues. As are her brothers. Ironically, we lived with neighbors who were in the Hemlock Society for the last seven years of her life, and it was very interesting! Robin just kept sharing her faith with everyone she encountered. When she passed, her story was shared online by some Christian ladies that I knew. I also did a radio interview with my late friend, Lorraine, who had her own program. That program went around the world by radio, and shortwave to missionaries. I now share my life, spiritually and medically, along with my weaving, etc. to encourage other seniors and people with chronic illness to choose life. God can use us and any circumstances to His glory, and to help others. Blessings to you and your family! Mary❤
Thank you so much for sharing Robin’s life. What a beautiful soul. I love that you are using your life and ministry to continue her legacy and spread hope. Amen – instruments for His glory!! big hugs to you, Mary.
Thank you so much, Caralyn. I was posting in the hospital and wasn’t sure if the comment went through. She was definitely a beautiful soul. She had an idea for a book to help. people to know that there is a person inside every body. Including disabled people. I’m trying to convey this through my life and blog. I’m also thinking about writing the book that she wanted to write. I’m in prayer in this area. I’m also home again. So, much to be grateful for. Thank you for your encouragement. Big hugs to you, too! Mary ❤
Wow I definitely think you should write it! I’ll be praying for you as you discern what to do 🙂 love you friend xox
Thank you. I really appreciate your prayers. Ironically, I was an English major, but preferred art and music. (no punctuation) This is really on my heart. I have been seeing God move in the most providential ways this past year. To the tiniest details, placing me with the right doctors and staff. Along with opportunities to minister to others, despite my circumstances. Including other patients and staff that He put on my path.
I trained to be a missionary with a diploma from a Bible college. I was headed to Australia, to minister to a group of ladies of Aborigine origin. Then I started to sick and had to abandon my plans. And now I see, so clearly, how I am fulfilling His plan. With all of the medical conditions, limited mobility and a damaged body. Only He could work this to His glory. The admitting doctor was a Christian, and we talked about this. Just let Him use us, to His glory. I love you, too, my friend. I’m so blessed that God placed you on my path. Hugs and love. 😊❤❤❤ Mary
Yes! You are fulfilling His plan!! Amen – I am grateful for you!
Thank you so much. We’re all here for one another. Which is such a blessing! ❤
Thank you so much, Caralyn. My daughter’s name was, Robin, and she would have been 42 on March 1st. She was also a very committed Christian and shared her faith freely. She went to her Heavenly home on February 13, 1999. We were both very passionate about pro life issues. As are her brot?hers. Ironically, we lived with neighbors who were in the Hemlock Society for the last seven years of her life, and it was very interesting! Robin just kept sharing her faith with everyone she encountered. When she passed, her story was shared online by some Christian ladies that I knew. I also did a radio interview with my late friend, Lorraine, who had her own program. That program went around the world by radio, and shortwave to missionaries. I now share my life, spiritually and medically, along with my weaving, etc. to encourage other seniors and people with chronic illness to choose life. God can use us and any circumstances to His glory, and to help others. Blessings to you and your family! Mary❤
Thank you so much!
😊❤
I would be concerned if Youtube pulled down this girl’s videos. Freedom of speech is important, even if you are saying or doing disagreeable things.
The other problem with adults (over 18, as this girl is) we can’t make them change. I’ve implored a loved family member to seek psychiatric help because they have suicidal thoughts and compulsive behaviors that are destructive. They don’t listen, I get verbally abused by them and nothing changes.
Freedom is scary, sometimes people destroy themselves. God help us.
I’m so sorry to hear that you and your family are going through that. Keep reaching out. it’s like filling up a gallon jug one drop at a time. You never know which time will make it overflow. I know it sucks to get hurt, but keep trying. Hugs and love xox
Wow. That is so true, it might be more like filling a swimming pool with an eye-dropper. Hopefully, by God’s grace change occurs.
I will pray for that!!
Awesome! I’ll take all the petitions I can get. Thank you.
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Thank goodness for family and community
Thanks Caralyn, in my prayer
I agree – family and community are such blessings.
This is heartbreaking. Thank you for being a voice on such critically important matters. I’m saying a prayer right now for this precious young woman 🙏🏼
Thank you Jennifer, yeah it is just tragic. I will join you in that important prayer. hugs xo
A big hug back to you, my sister, filled with Jesus’ comfort and peace!
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Your compassion and concern always shines through, and this post is no less the case. People should not turn a blind eye to this. As someone in ministry, I do not see enough awareness of people who struggle with this in the church. I’m thankful for Christian warriors like you who are addressing this.
Thank you Matthew, that’s kind of you to say. Yeah we need more openness and honesty for sure! Prayers for this young woman, big time. Hugs and love xox
Oh that poor girl … this is not good this should not be on YouTube ..
I know it is just so heart breaking. Praying for her!! Hugs and love xox
❤️
xxooxox
Aww thank you❤️
Hugsss💕
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Hugs💕
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Thank you for posting this, I been an active person in trying to get her pulled temporary. Not for her health (though it is horrible to see her do this to herself) but for the health of others. I just hope she is getting the help that she needs.
Thanks so much friend. I agree – it is detrimental to those young impressionable girls watching her. Thank you. Hugs and love xox
This is disturbing on many levels. I pray for her and her followers. Congratulations to you as you continue on your recovery journey!
Thank you friend, yes, i will join you in that important prayer for her! hugs ox
Hugs, ox
xxooxox 🙂
Caralyn,
This is a very sad story, what really make sit more sad and disgusting, perhaps shocking thing is that her mom was filming her. I know that I don’t know the whole story, and I’m not trying to be judgmental, but I just don’t understand why her mom was enabling her instead of helping her. Why was You Tube allowing this on their site. My grand-kids go on You Tube. Sorry for venting.
Thank you again for your fearlessness.
xoxo
Thank you so much for sharing your heart on this. I am right there with you. It is heart breaking that no one was stepping in. YouTube really needs to do something about this incredibly harmful content. I know – to see some of the comments from girls like “i want your body” or “give me diet tips” it simultaneously breaks my heart and makes my blood boil at their negligence.
Yeah my granddaughter’s friend told me today that girls were saying that she had the perfect body
Heartbreaking 🙁
It is ☹️
Then I find out this morning about this Momo challenge and kids are dying. This Momo thing is also on YouTube.
I’m unaware of the momo challenge.
Very creepy evil.
There are so many harmful challenges on you tube.
Gosh just googled it. Wow. I am speechless. Just awful
Fantastic post sometimes you need someone / thing to push you into recovery because your own mind is too entrapped in the disorder for you to get help yourself. I would love to share this to my blog if that is okay.
Amen to that! and recovery is so so so worth it! i would be honored if you shared it! ((Also – sorry for the rapid fire responses right now! For some super strange reason, all of your comments had been mistakenly filtered into my spam folder, so I’m literally just now seeing them!! So sorry about that! You are certainly not spam!!!! hahahaha big hugs to you, and thanks for reading my blog!! 🙂 xox
No problem at all – some of my comments do that too. Thank you very much for letting me share it. I’ll get it up once I get decent wifi (I’m on vacation and it’s quite bad! 😁). Hope you’re well 🙂
Enjoy your vacation!!!💛💛✨
My thesis and dissertation research was on body dysmorphic disorder, anorexia and steroid use.
How interesting!
The concepts of female beauty and male masculinity driven in at very early age.
You’re so absolutely right about that!
Barbie dolls and GI Joes
Totally
A MUST read:
https://www.amazon.com/My-Name-Hope-depression-melancholy/dp/0615565654/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=241905384700&hvdev=t&hvlocphy=9014986&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16552333969518727697&hvtargid=kwd-22233154578&keywords=my+name+is+hope&qid=1552006044&s=gateway&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-20
thanks !
It was big for me as I was coaching college swimming at the time.
wow – yeah, there were several young women who were at inpatient with me who were collegiate swimmers. glad you found it helpful
Interested in your thoughts.
Obesity can also cause death–perhaps not as quickly as anorexia, but it is connected to higher incidents of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc. So perhaps the people in the campaign photo are struggling with eating disorders that are killing them slowly–or robbing them of full lives in other mentally unhealthy ways.
You’re so right about that. We need to respect our bodies! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
Good post. I learned more about eating disorders from this. Thank you.
Thanks so much! I’m so glad it was informative for you! Hugs and love xox