I Got Published! Also, I Can Drink Wine in a Week

Last year, I submitted one of my creative nonfiction pieces to a publication contest for young LGBTQIA+ writers. I did not have high hopes for winning just as I do not have high hopes that the men in my life will text me back. But I heard from one of the editors that they selected my piece – one of seven they chose out of almost 400 – and now it has arrived. As Patrick from SpongeBob would say, look at it (and check it out on Amazon here):

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On Being Alone Together: Resources for Child Abuse, Eating Disorders, Mental Illness, and Trauma

Coming home has always been hard for me. I grew up in an abusive and neglectful environment, hence, all the dramatic, confessional posts from years past. I matured a lot since I started this blog and gained a lot of coping skills; I now see my family as three-dimensional characters instead of just antagonists in my personal story. Still, some factors at home make things stressful, like my family’s often oppressive silence.

About a week and a half ago I found this amazing website, The Invisible Scar.

Personal Update: Thomas, Revisited

About a month and a half into summer vacation, I still have not published much on this blog. I ask myself why: is it a bad case of writer’s block, or have I lost interest? At first I wondered whether I was just waiting until after I got my license to start anything serious, but even after attaining it after endangering the lives of me and my examiner, here I am writing this post.

Anorexia – A Luxury Disease? Heck No.

Image via 101healthsolution.com

Have you ever been so angry that you couldn’t find the words to express your emotions? I haven’t. Honestly, I rarely get upset. Irritated and annoyed, maybe. Angry, no. I’m not a fan of anger. I find it immature. Impractical.

I’m upset.

I was reading an article I found online. I won’t divulge what article, but I will admit I was enjoying it until the author alluded to anorexia. He called it a luxury disease.

He had his reasons. Slavery, starvation, safety against terrorists – I get it. Those are big issues. There are a lot of problems plaguing this world, and it’s impossible to name all of them or attribute them levels of importance. Which is why I was offended when I read something along the lines of “at least they have food! It’s their choice to starve themselves…”

Eating disorders such as anorexia are body-damaging and life-threatening (for more information on anorexia and how to help, click here). Not only do victims of this illness refuse to eat, but they rebuke their body’s natural instinct to survive. That’s one reason why I find this disease disturbing, and it troubles me that people don’t take it seriously.

When you’re hungry, you eat. You usually don’t even think about it, unless you’re dieting (you’re still eating, though). If you’re anorexic, you learn to live with hunger and to let it consume you to the point where being hungry is a sign of strength – of perseverance. Self-starvation in order to secure a skinny body. It’s just not right.

If you’re currently suffering from anorexia or you know someone that is, here’s a helpful website. You can also leave a comment or message me – I have experience with anorexia and I know how good it feels to shed those pounds, but trust me, it’s not worth it in the end.

I apologize if this post is rather unconventional, it was a spur of the moment thing. But I meant every word I wrote.

Image via disorder.org