Additional information
by Michelle Sparkes (Author)
Illuminating Anorexia sheds light on the path into and out of an eating disorder for those who struggle with disordered eating and for those who care for them. It tells the story of Michelle's journey through anorexia, EDNOS and binge-eating as a teen and young adult in search of a 'self worth living for.' Told from the unique perspective of one who is both insider and long-term recovered health professional, Michelle illuminates the predisposing and maintaining factors in her eating disorder, the conflict at the heart of her struggle with food and weight, the voices at war within her, the impact on self and family, and the factors that both hindered and propelled her along the difficult road to recovery. Told with compassion and insight, Illuminating Anorexia ... "...breaks the mould of anorexia stories and helps dispel the myth that every teenage girl who develops an eating disorder does so because she is driven to be thin." Kirsty "...sheds light on the things you often can't explain or articulate when you are going through the disorder." Vanessa "...led me to get the help that I truly need." Rochelle "...has given me a more compassionate view and insight into the constant struggle [individuals with these issues] face on a daily basis." Lindsay "...is full of perceptive and moving insights into a disease which is notoriously difficult to overcome." Shelley "...is a great combination of accessible story along with sound advice." Julie "...shone light deep into areas I have only been able to scrape the surface of." Kaila "...was a true enlightenment to me and [gave me] a much better understanding of the challenges which the condition imposes on people, as well as the hurdles of treatment regimes." Rob "...should be essential reading for parents and partners of someone with an eating disorder and for anyone studying or treating these illnesses." Kirsty "...made me feel a lot less guilty and ashamed of my own [struggle with ED]." Jen "...helped me understand what goes through the mind of a person with anorexia and relate to the [experience] of the mother, being a mother myself of a daughter with anxiety and addictions." Dominique "...really tells the odyssey of a long and complicated eating disorder like it is." Janice "...offers a pathway for others to tread that will take them to a place where hope and healing are discovered." Bernadette
Author Biography
Michelle Sparkes is a physiotherapist and professional counsellor specialising in eating disorder recovery and whole person health promotion. A long-term recovered survivor of anorexia, EDNOS and binge-eating in her teen and early adult years Michelle is passionate about helping individuals recover from these health and life consuming problems. Director of Essential Health Concepts (1996), Founder of Women Worth their Weight (1998), Author of Illuminating Anorexia (2012), Host of Illuminating Anorexia, Eating, Self & Body Issues (iTunes) Podcast and Creator of the 4x4 Freedom Express (2017), Michelle believes... "To get free from anorexia and other eating disorder concerns we need to first illuminate and understand the nature of the problem. That's the purpose of my book, blog, podcast, and coaching - to help you SEE why you struggle, to locate where you're at, and to identify what you can do now to move forward. I want to illuminate the landscape, provide a map for the journey, and some tools to help you get to your desired destination - the land of freedom and wholeness. You can be at peace within yourSELF and confident in your skin... You can recover your LIFE! It would be my privilege to walk with you on that journey, to shed light on your path, and to provide the knowledge, skills and support you need to get to your own personal freedom 'land'. Let's beat back the darkness together."
