I  almost died..twice..because I would not eat..because food was the enemy..because food would make me big, make me feel huge, make me be present and beautiful in the world and make me face the abuse of my past..eating felt like stabbing knives to my stomach and attaching fat to my already tiny frame. I wanted to die. I wanted out. I wanted to feel nothing. I was a victim of abuse and my freedom became my control in my starvation, and the only kind of power I had in my life. No one was ever going to tell me I had to eat again..ever. I was going to remain emaciated..or die. I came to realize I was killing myself by causing my body to eat itself for nourishment..and I came to question..is this the price to pay for a false sense of beauty and to feel superior and hide from the abuse in my life..because really, I was silently screaming for honest, compassionate, true..and unconditional..Love.

I changed this poison into medicine and received treatment..but not without obstacles from insurance companies to cover treatment for eating disorders and of course many other mental health diseases..I now focus on making Global changes so people can get the help they so deserve for mental health disease. I go to Capitol Hill and Lobby Senators and Congressmen, participate in Congressional Briefings, give speeches and hold meetings in order facilitate awareness on the importance of passing Bills to implement insurance and treatment rights for those with mental illness. As a direct result, The Mental Health Parity Bill was passed and now is in effect. This Bill helps to make certain that any person afflicted with a mental health disease will be entitled to the same length of treatment as anyone with a physical disease.

I work with The Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC), whose mission is to advance the federal recognition of mental health as a public health priority, www.EatingDisordersCoalition.org. We  continue to Lobby The Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders Act-The FREED Act (Bill H.R. 1193) which will offer federal action for research, treatment, and prevention and education to organizations, schools, treatment facilities, along with insurance companies, so they will have the proper knowledge when questioning all approvals for mental health coverage. It will also provide support for the kind of focused and coordinated research efforts for psychiatric illness' that have previously been underfunded compared to every other disease.