Each others problems

[uncle_wiggy]

Today I took my daughter & her friend to visit their 17 Yr old school friend in hospital, where they are being treated for anorexia. This beautiful young person is entirely refusing to eat or drink. I was heartbroken to see what they were self inflicting. I was also so very proud to witness the strength of these 3 young people's friendships.

Does this have anything to do with running? Maybe... Maybe not.....

What we gain on this forum from each other is wonderful, we support each other in a way that I've not seen online before.... What I saw today was the same thing multipied....

If we have 2 legs we can run, stop doubting.

If we have a beating heart, make sure we are giving and loving.

If running makes our hearts and minds healthier and stronger, that's brilliant, let's make sure we use that strength to help someone else, someone we know or someone we don't know, specifics aren't important.

I thought I would educate my children, I was wrong, they are my best teacher.

Sorry for diverting from the norm... I couldn't help it... Love light and happy running x

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

How lovely to hear that they are standing together in such a special way. Anorexia is so often triggered by feelings of inadequacy, and looking at these people you wonder how, with all their love and strength, they could ever feel that way. I hope happiness and health will soon be with them all, and with you. Thank you for taking the time to share your story x

[emily-m Graduate]

I'm so glad to hear the young person in hospital has such good friends standing by them. However difficult their situation, that counts for so much. I do love the friendliness and encouragement I've got from this forum, and I hope I can give a bit back sometimes too. Enjoy your runs this week. 🌺

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Anorexia is one nasty condition. It’ll help to have strong friends, I’ve been overweight, that’s easy, eat less and move, but the other end of the weight-scale is so difficult to escape. Hopefully they can get her in the right mindset... it’s a long process.

Congratulations on raising a wonderful daughter, you must have done a few things right. Here’s hoping there will be a happy ending.

Thanks for sharing... some perspective on our little problems is always good.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

Lovely words uncle_wiggy. So heartfelt and so true. The power of friendship is immense.

Here’s to a happy ending and happy running for you. 🤞🏃

[Katnap Graduate]

Friends and support. After that its upto the individual, but showing you care will help a lot.

Maybe get them off the usual social media and get them onto Health Unlocked?

[Katnap Graduate]

Just checked, and there is no Anorexia community. 😸

[ArthurJG Graduate in reply to Katnap]

Paradoxically, that may not be what would help in any case. It might be dominated by pro-anorexia types (there are such!) There is a healthy eating community though and I presume there are others in the general field of mental health that could help?

[Katnap Graduate in reply to ArthurJG]

Thanks ArthurJG. You're right to highlight the pitfalls. I was specifically looking on Health Unlocked.

I strongly suggest uncle_wiggy reviews the posting history on that community.

[Scepticalrunner Graduate]

Beautiful post. I have been doing a lot of my runs along a route that leads to the local hospital and this tends to mean that a lot of ambulances use that road. Every time a speeding ambulance has whizzed past me, with its' siren blasting and lights flashing, I have sent out a silent prayer for the casualty requiring that ambulance and then I've run with a greater sense of purpose and with a deep sense of gratitude, simply because I am lucky and I can.

[Dragonflies Graduate]

Wow, powerful stuff!