Who does she think she is?

I'm Mary. I have a personal journal at chordchild and a sort of, "safe place journal" at nourish. For awhile, I didn't have any way to deal with my life except through disorders and other painful ways of coping. I went residential, and my experience there was life-saving. I'm pro-recovery because recovery has given me a life far better than what I had even before my sickness (and I'm not even done yet). Also, I lost a dear friend to this illness, and if nothing else will make you despise it, grief will. Watching it kill those you love will. I'm here because I can't talk enough about the time when I didn't have a voice and because I want to give other people that chance.

Note: Quite a bit of this information is now outdated. I no longer keep a journal at diaryland, and I've now lost two very dear friends to this disease. I don't write at nourish nearly as much as I'd like to, but a girl's got to live that life she fought so hard for, hey?

What's the deal here?

My idea for C.A.G.E.D is that it be a place where anyone can talk about their feelings on eating disorders or the pro-ed culture. It's not limited to people who are pro-recovery. It's not limited to people who have or have had eating disorders. And what you say really is (for the most part) up to you. If you want to write a letter to people who are suffering, you can do it here. If you want to tell your story, you can do so. If you want to ask a question or respond to someone else's entry with your own feelings (i.e. feel free to disagree but don't attack anyone) you may do that as well. This is our place for venting, sighing, moaning, rejoicing, dancing, or whatever else. Help people understand what eating disorders are about (if you know- from any perspective...i.e. having had one, having known someone with one). Help people understand your perspective, even that of the outside looking in. It's all about communication, and it is what we make it. I run this site, and I am against eating disorders (but I also have one, so I would never bash someone who does.) That means that while you do not have to be pro-recovery to contribute an entry; no flames or pro-ed material will be posted. (That's why this isn't an open journal.) I am interested in the experience of people who are or have been a part of that culture, and any material which could help those of us outside it to understand what's going on will be accepted. Basically, don't attack the pro-recovery culture and don't use this as a forum to promote eds because it's not about either of those things. But, if you are pro-ed, I'd be grateful for help in understanding, and I will not take away your right to speak solely on those grounds. (I feel, personally, that the lack of communication between "camps" is a huge problem.)

C.A.G.E.D. is also a forum to spread the word about efforts to spread eating disorder awareness, alter legislation, or do other work relative to this issue. Information on petitions, fundraisers, et cetera, is also appreciated, and should be submitted like any other entry.

And if I want to submit?

It's so simple! :) Submit by e-mailing (link on the left). Make sure to put somewhere in your e-mail that this is something you'd like posted, and not simply a response to the journal. Feel free to dictate the fields of your entry. (D*land users will understand this: You can tell me what you want the short description and html page to be; otherwise, I'll do them on my own. If you want an e-mail or site link with your entry, that's fine, though I will use some discretion if the site is pro-ed. You can also post anonymously (i.e. none of your information will be posted with your entry.) The main rule to understand is that I want to keep this site as real and as non-triggering as possible. Therefore: no numbers- like weights, bmi, calories, etc- will be posted. If there's something in your entry that feels borderline to me, I will either discuss it with you (*no changes* will be made - other than blocking numbers - without the consent of the author) or put a warning above the post. If at any point, you feel compelled to change or delete what you've said, I will meet the request. Feel free to submit as often as you like, and please state in your e-mail whether you would like your contribution cross-posted to our livejournal site.

What can I do if I don't feel like submitting but still want to help?

Marvelous! :) You can do any of several things. You can spread the word about C.A.G.E.D to help it grow. You can leave a supportive note or sign the guestbook to help brighten my day (keep me focused on this). You can join the diaryring. You can link us. Basically, you can do whatever you like that supports the site.

And, um, what about those other little things that don't fit anywhere else?

Oh, those! I'm so glad you asked. Just a few notes: If you really, really feel the need to flame me for this journal (i.e. you understand that I'll experience real pain when you do so, but you need to do so anyway) please do it via e-mail and not through the notes or guestbook. Secondly, the design (which I love! thank you so much luckydesigns!) is in no way meant to label this a female struggle. Men's voices are more than welcome; they're essential. So please don't let that throw you. Finally, in an effort to involve more people, another version of C.A.G.E.D. now exists at livejournnal. Feel free to join or spread the word about that site as well.

Sound good? Let's get started!

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