Eating Disorders: This week has been designated Eating Disorders Awareness Week by Bodywhys Eating Disorders Association.
A national awareness campaign will highlight the continuum of disordered eating which ranges from occasional comfort eating to acute eating disorders.
Disordered eating is not about a desire to be thin but about behaviours which are symptoms of underlying emotional distress. A new support group for people with eating disorders will be launched in Carlow town while a support group for family and friends will hold its first meeting on February 20th at 8pm in National University of Ireland in Galway city. E-mail support is also available at alex@bodywhys.ie. See also www.bodywhys.ie.
SERIOUS FUN: Barretstown in Co Kildare is organising a fundraising Serious Fun Day on February 15th to coincide with International Childhood Cancer Day. Renowned for its holiday camps for children with cancer and their families, Barretstown is encouraging businesses, families, clubs and schools to organise events such as sponsored silences, 24-hour fasts, coffee mornings, non-uniform days, etc on the day. Fundraising packs with sponsor forms, posters, fundraising ideas and tips are available on www.barretstown.org, tel: 045 864115 or e-mail fundraising@barretstown.org
REDUCE YOUR STRESS: A stress-reduction course, of eight evenings and one weekend, based on the practice of mindfulness begins on February 13th in the Oscailt Complementary Centre, 8 Pembroke Road, Dublin. The course will be run by Mary O'Callaghan, a psychotherapist who has also trained in eastern philosophy and meditation practices. Tel: 086 6001935 for more details.
(Lifelines is compiled by Sylvia Thompson)