Congratulations to Kirsty O'Grady on being Empowered RX member of the month.
Kirsty is one of the most brave girls we know. She faces obstacles and has shown up week after week with an open mind, ready to take on new ways of thinking.
Kirsty came to us after struggling with Anorexia for a few years. She had an amazing treatment team but was struggling with body image and confidence. After enrolling in our Girl Power Empowerment Program we noticed a shift in mindset just 1 week in. In just a short time we have noticed that Kirsty has become more self-assured and confident. This was made evident by an exercise we do every now and then where we ask the girls to talk about what they love about themselves. On our first meeting Kirsty paused for a long time and couldn't think of much. After some hesitation she mentioned she liked her hair and ears but nothing else.
A month later, we did the same exercise and the results were much different! Kirsty was quick to respond with a smile on her face stating that she loved:
How brave, kind and family-oriented she was. She loved that she was a good friend and she also loved her work ethic and a bunch of other things. Self-love is not always easy, but doing the work to find it is always worth it!
Kirsty WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!
Here is a letter from Kirsty to all of those struggling right now!
Kirsty- We are so honored to be a part of your journey. Thank YOU for trusting us. We can't wait to see what the future holds for you because it sure looks bright.
Hi Everyone!
My Name is Kirsty O’Grady. I am 17 years old and I struggled with Anorexia from when I was 12 to when I was 15.
Although I am now nourishing my body, I definitely still deal with body dysmorphia and negative self talk. Since I am a dancer, it is almost impossible to avoid seeing my body up close, which has continued to hinder my recovery due to the fact that I am constantly in front of a mirror. My family and I decided that we wanted to take the next step in helping me learn to love myself and that is when I found Leah at EmpoweredRX.
In the past month I have started meeting with Leah weekly to work on my body image and my negative self talk. In just this month, I have seen such an improvement in myself, through using the strategies and techniques that Leah has given me.
Habits that I have dealt with for years are slowly starting to go away and I am beginning to be able to enjoy my life more. I am so thankful that I found such a great way to improve myself and I am excited to see what the future has in store.
This month, I have been given the honor to be the Empowered Member of the month. I am so thankful to have been given this opportunity and I hope I am able to help other people that are struggling with an eating disorder by sharing my story.
For me personally, my eating disorder came out of nowhere. I went to the beach one day with my friends and after seeing a picture that I didn’t like of myself, paired with some false nutritional information I was given, I began to give in to my thoughts and was eventually diagnosed with Anorexia.
At the time, I felt really lost because I was so young and I thought that I was the only one dealing with such a hard disorder at such a young age. Personally, I did not tell anyone I was close to that I was struggling because I was ashamed, but I have learned through my work at Empowered that there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.
Looking back on these hard times, I wish I did tell the people that were close to me what I was going through, so they could come to me if they were ever feeling the same way. I was lucky enough to find a great support system that helped me in my recovery and I wish that everyone who is dealing with an eating disorder had the same opportunity.
Here is Kirsty's advice to those struggling with Anorexia or any other Eating Disorder:
1. If I were to give any advice to someone who is dealing with Anorexia, or any eating disorder, I would say verbalize how you are feeling (even if it makes you uncomfortable)
2. Know that having an eating disorder is nothing to be ashamed of.
3. Know that things are going to get better if you keep trying.
4. Listen to the professionals in your life because they are only trying to help you get better.
I am so grateful to have been given a platform to share my experience with Anorexia that I have kept so private for the past 5 years.
I am glad to be learning to accept myself and I am so thankful to have Leah and Empowered here to help me along the way as I take the next steps in my journey of learning to love myself again.
I hope that by sharing my story, I am helping someone who is going through a rough time. And if you are that person, know that you can get better if you keep trying, even the smallest steps forward are helping you in your recovery, and most importantly YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I 100% recommend that anyone struggling checks out EmpoweredRX to experience a welcoming and positive environment and be surrounded by people who understand what you have been through. -Kirsty
If you or someone you know is struggling with body image and self-confidence in any part of their life, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US! We are here to help you discover your inner beauty and strength. You don't have to live in a state of fear or distress because healing is possible.
Empowered RX gives girls and women the tools to build their most healthy and EMPOWERED life!
To book a call today and meet with one of our mentors just head here and book an appointment. IT'S TOTALLY FREE! BOOK HERE
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