Norristown therapist leads eating disorder awareness event
On July 10, residents of Philadelphia and Central New Jersey will be turning out for an event that will allow them to take a swing (quite literally) at eating disorders: scale bashing for eating disorder awareness. What is a scale bashing? Just what it sounds like. People are invited to bring their scales, and in the midst of supportive cheers, destroy it. What better way to declare independence from the tyranny of an eating disorder?
The event’s organizer, Kylene Marie Roth, has struggled with anorexia. She has attended scale bashings in the past, and thinks that the event will be inspiring. “It’s important for women with and without eating disorders to not be so focused on the number on the scale,” she says. “It does not tell you how intelligent you are or how loving or kind you are. It does not define who you are as a person and it should not determine how we go about our lives.”
"Bashing a scale is a graphic way of telling you that number is no more than just a number.”
Kylene received the inspiration for the scale bashing from her therapist, eating disorder specialist Tamie Beeman, M.A., a “recovered professional,” who practices in Norristown, Pa. Tamie has led numerous scale bashing events here and on the West Coast and is always inspired by how much women take away from it. Tamie is facilitating the event on the 10th and will leave room for women who would like to share what their scales have meant to them, how weight has defined them, and how they have begun the process of healing. During past events women have brought bathroom scales, food scales, and in one case a woman brought a pair of pants that she had been using for years to camouflage her body. Tamie has a three-dimensional picture hanging in her office of scale parts from these gatherings. She’s excited about the 10th, for good reason.
This event is particularly meaningful since there are limited resources for eating disorder recovery in the Central New Jersey area.
Both Tamie and Kylene will also speak at the scale bashing, sharing their stories of recovery.
Kylene’s journey is particularly inspiring. “I have been battling anorexia for about 8 years now and was in residential treatment at the Renfrew Center in Philadelphia and inpatient treatment at Sheppard Pratt within the past 6 months. With the help of Tamie and all of my supports I have continued to push through in my recovery, Kyle says. “I have found that there really isn’t such a thing called a ‘perfect’ recovery.”
“My recovery has been far from perfect, but I still have faith that I can do it and that it is so worth it.”
Bring your scales, hammers will be provided.
Scale Bashing for Eating Disorder Awareness
Sunday, July 10 at 3:00pm
Bamber Lake Fire House
2630 Lacey Rd
(Between CR-618 and Humane Way)
Forked River, NJ 08731
Comments