Are you Ready to Undertake the Journey to Happiness?

“When you feel a peaceful joy, that’s when you are near truth.” – Rumi

Dear Readers!

It’s important to let go of your eating disorder before it becomes destructive. Treatment can help you with giving up your eating disorder. When you free yourself from the demon of eating disorder, you can focus on your relationships, faith, work, health, and other things that are important to you. The only reason I ever considered giving up my eating disorder was because Eating Disorders are contrary to Allah’s way and as a courtesy of a anorexic lifestyle, my life had become out of balance. In order to re-establish some balance in my life, I had to give up my eating disorder.  Islam is all about a balanced way of living and there is nothing balanced about eating  disorders. In fact I see Eating Disorders as extremism.  Islam dislikes excesses and extremism and has always emphasized in the Holy Qur’an on adopting a middle way and belonging to a moderate community. All kinds of Eating Disorders are extremism and belong to destructive excesses communities. How can Islam allow anyone to belong to such a destructive community or to chose such extreme living as a lifestyle choice? You will find it very difficult to find a doctor or a health care worker who will support Eating Disorders as a lifestyle choice.

Some reasons why One should consider giving up their Eating Disorder. You may agree with some of them and want to add them to your recovery list. Why not take some time out and find your own reasons, write them down, and try to read them once every week.

Practical Gains

• I won’t be tired and ill all the time
• My oral health and personal hygiene will improve
• I will look healthier, vibrant and I will be full of energy
• I will become stronger in mind, body and spirit.
• I will be able to go out and socialise
• I will be able to go out to work
• I will be able to get some very nice good sleep Zzzzzz
• I will be able to have nice dreams about nice things, enchanting castles, rainbows, beautiful life.
• My mind will be at rest and peace, no more racing thoughts about food, calories, grams, fats.
• Lying and manipulation will stop. Yes, I can eat with you sir and of course I don’t have an excuse.
• I will be able to participate in physical activities, hey I may become daring and try my hands at scuba diving and maybe I will see Nemo, while I am scuba diving.
• My body will begun to repair the damage I have caused.
• My body will become my temple and will thank me for all the love, kindness and nurturing I’m giving it.
• Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Allah will be happy, as I am taking care of myself.
• I will be fulfilling one of the rights of Islam and I will be giving my body its rights through good care and love and respect.

Practical Gains for Others

• I will be less angry, less irritable and snappy.
• I will be able to spend more time with my family and loved ones.
• My family and friends will no longer get on my nerves, I will be able to appreciate them for who they are and no longer hate them because my demon of eating disorder wants me to.
• I will be able to eat out with others and enjoy the blessings of shared meal.
• I will be able to engage in worship with an open heart and mind. My mind will no longer be focused on food.
• I will become aware of the power of human mind- We are strong, and nothing in life is impossible.
• I will be able to concentrate and do a good job at work.

Self- Approval

• I won’t have to lie 24/7 about food and how much I eat.  The demon of Eating Disorder no longer will make me lie.
• I won’t have to deceive people about purging, taking laxatives, water pills and diet pills.
• I won’t be wasting time jumping around, running around like a road runner to burn some calories; instead I will be able to devote that time to a good cause.
• I will be able to become a more active and positive member of our society.
• I will know in myself that I have achieved something positive and that it’s me whose in control of my mind and body and not the demon of Eating Disorder.

Social Approval

• My parents will stop worrying about my health and my well-being and will become very happy.
• The atmosphere at home will improve and my siblings won’t have to see me destroying my life.
• At work and outside I will appear healthy and competent.
• I will be own Master, Demon of Eating Disorder will no longer control me, yell at me and make me feel horrible about myself.
• I will be free from the slavery and free from the confines of the eating disorder prison. Freedom is a bliss.
• Inshallah, I will be able to join in many social activities without excuses.