The Awakening Center Newsletter

Finding Meaning And Fulfillment
Amy Grabowski, MA, LCPC

This article, that you will read in January of 2002, was written only 6 weeks after the terrorists attack on the World Trade Center. At this time, we are still in the midst of the Anthrax crisis and the bombing in Afghanistan. On the night of September 11th, only four women braved going out to attend the weekly ANAD support group. Feeling fear, anxiety and shock, they wanted to pull together, to get comfort in being with others who understood and cared. But that evening we didn't talk about food, eating, or weight at all. We had very deep conversations about trust and relationships. As one woman so aptly put it, "Worrying about the size of my thighs seems so unimportant now."

In the days that followed, people coped in their own unique ways. Some watched the televised news accounts regularly, wanting to be informed at all times. Others avoided television, needing a break from the vivid visuals. Personally I was drawn to reading the many personal stories of the people who died in the tragedies. It was touching to read what people said about the loved ones who were gone. For the most part the friends and family members remembered the person's kindness, generosity, sense of humor; the good times they had spent together talking and sharing activities; their intelligence and what they gave to their workplace and communities. Rarely was the person's appearance even mentioned. Not once did someone mention the size the loved one wore.

For weeks after the tragedy, many of my clients gave blood, brought treats to show appreciation for their local fire fighters, and donated money to the relief effort. If anything positive can come of these tragedies, for a while it was easy to put food, eating, and weight in perspective. What seemed really important was reaching out and connecting with others as a way of finding true meaning and fulfillment in life. I saw a sign in my children's school, which sums this up nicely: "If you want to be happy for an hour, watch TV. If you want to be happy for a day, go to Great America. If you want to be happy for a life, help another."

This New Year, I encourage you to find that meaning and fulfillment for yourself. It can be small things, for example: giving away clothing for those less fortunate, giving food to a food pantry, working one time in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, donating blood or money.

If you are looking for a way to build a bond with others, you may consider volunteering on a regular basis. There are hundreds of children in the Chicago area who need tutors. Organizations such as ANAD could always use clerical, phone or other office help. Answering phone calls from teen runaways or playing bingo with seniors can be very rewarding.

For longer commitments, there are 500 mile bike rides for AIDS or 60 mile walks for Breast Cancer Awareness.

In a city the size of Chicago there are thousands of organizations that would like volunteers. A Google search of "volunteer Chicago" resulted in over 313,000 websites. Here are a few to help you get started.

  • The United Way has a website devoted to matching people with volunteer opportunities in Chicago. You can search any number of categories to find a volunteer placement that suits your needs. www.chicagovolunteer.net
  • The Bottomless Closet: provides professional clothing, job readiness and employment training and coaching services to women on assistance
    www.bottomlesscloset.org     - (312) 527-9664
  • ANAD (National Association for Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders) often needs clerical, phone and office help; support group leaders and cash donations are needed as well.
    www.anad.org     (847) 831-3438
  • The National Runaway Switchboard provides non-judgmental confidential crisis intervention and referrals to youth and their families through a 24-hour hotline.
    www.nrscrisisline.org - (773) 880-9860
  • Tanqueray Heartland 500 mile Aids ride from Twin cities to Chicago, July 22-27; Avon Breast Cancer 3 day walk from Kenosha to Chicago, June 14-16:
    www.bethepeople.com - (800) 825-1000
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the nations oldest youth mentoring organization.
    www.bbbsa.org
  • Ten Thousand Villages, a store in Evanston, sells handicrafts made by unemployed and underemployed artisans around the world, providing them with vital fair income. Volunteers are needed for many daily operations of the store. (847) 869-8262

I want to close with a poem written by Edward Everett Hale

"I am only one,
but still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
but still I can do something,
and because I cannot do
everything,
I will not refuse
to do the something I can do."

I wish you peace in the New Year,
Amy Grabowski

(For more on this topic, please read my article "What Do You Value?"

Fear of Food
Kathleen Check, MS, LCPC

The Fear of Food group is new to the Awakening Center. This unique group offers members a safe and supportive environment to eat a meal and discuss and share their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors surrounding food and eating.

This weekly process-oriented group, which meets from 6:30 - 8:00 pm every Friday, is geared towards those struggling with food restriction, bulimia, and irrational fears about food.

Members bring their own food each week and will be provided an opportunity to discuss and explore new behaviors surrounding eating. This group will also provide members with a place to relate and discuss fears and anxieties about food with peers experiencing similar concerns, as well as having a professional leader that understands and is sensitive to issues related to food, eating, and body image.

For more information feel free to call me at extension 4.

Kathleen Check

Nourishing Concepts
Elisa D'Urso-Fischer, MS, RD, LD

What is "Nourishing Concepts"?
Nourishing Concepts is a weekly nutrition counseling group. While general nutrition issues are also covered, the main focus of the group is helping you to relearn how to nourish your body, resolve emotional overeating, and achieve internally cued "intuitive eating".

But, what is intuitive eating?
Intuitive eating is eating in tune with your body. It is what a one-year-old baby does…….they know when they are hungry and they eat, and they know when they are full and they stop eating.

What do you actually do in the group?
Often we start with a relaxation or breathing exercise. We "check in" by sharing how the past week went. In a safe and supportive environment, we discuss a specific topic. During "check out" we each decide what to work on during the next week.

What kind of topics do you discuss?
Topics include: The problems with dieting; How different foods work in your body; Why we need carbohydrates, protein, and fats; Identifying emotional and physical hunger cues; What helps when you want to eat and it's not from physical hunger; Learning the different levels of "fullness"; Relaxation techniques; Improving self-acceptance and self-esteem; Replacing negative self-talk with more neutral language; Nutritional suggestions to help ease PMS, menopause and cravings; Eating socially, with your family and through a holiday.

Is this a therapy group?
No, this group is to help you change how and why you eat. We may identify emotional issues connected to your eating, which you may want to work on with an individual therapist.

Who is in the group?
The group is for women who are trying to end emotional overeating and bingeing, and learn how to eat in response to their body's needs.

When does the group meet?
Monday evenings, from 7:00 to 8:15 pm. The next 10 week session is scheduled to start in January.

How can I get more information?
Call me at extension 3, and I'd be glad to answer any questions you have. You may also make arrangements to observe the first meeting.

Elisa D'Urso-Fischer

Joys And Losses

There have been many changes at The Awakening Center this year.

In November, Kathleen Check graduated with her Master's degree in counseling and became a Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. She has joined The Awakening Center where she will continue to see clients as well as lead the "Fear of Food" group and the Saturday ANAD support group.

At the time this newsletter is going to press, we are anxiously awaiting news from Andrea Harris-Alpert, who's first baby is due any day now.

Unfortunately not all our news is good. Marianne Evans-Ramsay has moved to the East coast. She wanted people to know, "It has been very rewarding for me to work with many of you for the past seven years. I will miss working with such a fine staff as those here at The Awakening Center. I am thankful that Amy Grabowski brought me on board and supported me over the years. I wish you all well in your pursuit of good health through nutrition." We will miss you, Marianne.