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MentorConnect CONTACT Page
NOTE TO PARTICIPANTS: Make sure to bookmark this page and return to it often to connect with others who are seeking to mentor and be mentored!
PLEASE NOTE: We are currently receiving FAR more emails from those requesting a mentor than from those willing to serve as a mentor. Please be patient with us as we grow!
In the meantime, you may also be interested in our FREE online support community, , where you can support one another in your mutual desire to recover. All you need to do to join is to set up a free myspace profile, and then send us an add request.
Available MENTORS*:
Cayce: Hi, my name is Cayce and I live in South Carolina. I'm married and currently trying to get pregnant. I had 3 miscarriages due to my Eating Disorder. I have been married for 3 years. My ED started about 10 years ago, but about a year and a half ago it hit its peak. I was on the verge of heart and organ failure and my digestive system had stopped working. I am in full recovery now and I am loving life! I would love to help anyone going through this. My ED is anorexia. My passion is to help! I lost so much due to my horrible ED, but I have learned that my life is worth so much more than a number on a scale or a number in a pair of pants. That's not happiness. Going to the doctor and hearing that my health is good and that I'm no longer in danger of dropping dead at any given moment is the most wonderful thing. God saved me from my ED, and I would love to share my journey with others. If I can help save one person, my struggle was worth it.
Sincerely, Cayce Smith ()
Liz: Hi - I would love to become a mentor. My name is Liz. I am a mother of two and a wife. I am 22 years old (FEMALE) and I will always be a recovering anorexic (since i was 9 to 18) and bulimic (9 to 18 ) along with self harm (9 to 20). I had tried to recover many times before. I did it but when I started to date my now husband everything changed so from 18. My current Support is my husband, 2 of my friends and my work that used to be my support as a young child (now I am the adult helping the children in our youth club). Hopefully I can join I would love to help out someone else as so many people have helped me. Liz ()
Interested MENTEES**:
Alyssa: Hi my name is Alyssa. I am a 20 year old female. I am looking for a mentor who can offer advice on overcoming bulimia. I have had anorexia/bulimia for about 9 years. Thank you! Alyssa ()
Megan: My name is Megan. I stumbled across your site on the internet and was hoping to find a mentor. I'm 22 years old and have had an eating disorder for eight years now. I started seeking help for my eating disorder four years ago through a therapist, nutritionist, and doctors and went in patient for more intensive treatment a year and a half ago. For the most part, I mainly struggle with bulimia (although in the past i have had issues with some restricting- although that hasn't been an issue for about 3.5 years). Currently I am finishing up my seventh semester at Brown University and am majoring in Biology (with a focus on human health and disease). Now, one of my biggest struggles in recovery is getting support I know I need. I started seeing a new therapist 3 months ago who I do like a lot but besides her, I feel I don't have anyone to help me in that way. I have a loving and supporting boyfriend of over two years, but as i continue to struggle with this, I feel he gets more and more frustrated and upset (as do I). My parents are financially supportive of me (which I am very grateful for as I could not afford therapy without them) and yet are oblivious to the situation (they had no idea I had any disorderd behaviors for 5 years while I was in middle/high school despite the fact that I was purging almost every night. I feel my parents think "i'm cured" after the intensive ip treatment and don't understand the fact that I am struggling a lot more recently (in the past 4 or 5 months). My friends too know that I had/have an eating disorder and theoretically support me but don't really know how and it makes them uncomfortable when I am blatantly honest (no one knows how bad it's got recently besides my therapist). I know I want recovery: I know that I can not pursue the things I want to (such as med school) and succeed and be happy without recovery. Intellectually I understand where I am coming from (I have a good idea why I initially turned to ed, why it's so addicting). I have come a long way in dealing with body issues ( i love the fact that I am strong and powerful, something ed took away from me 4 years ago and I had to regain back)- yet have been struggling more recently with acceptance of my body. I feel I know so many of the things I need to do- I just need help and support to implement them. For the most part, I do not suffer from ed thoughts throughout the day- or I do but the sane part of my brain is able to overpower him. It's at night where I feel I always give in and end up binging and/or purging. If you can set me up with a mentor, that would be great. I know you have a lot of requests, but if you can keep in touch, I would be so grateful. All the best, Megan () Lisa: My name is Lisa and I am 42. Of course, by my name, you may have guessed I am female. I am currently fighting Anorexia and Exercise Bulimia. I have had this disorder since about the age of 18. I have had periods of recovery and periods of relapse. About he last 10 years or so, it has been more of a relapse than recovery. I have been pursuing recovery since the age of 22 and have been to treatment several times. I have been exposed to CBT skills, DBT skills and plenty of nutrition classes. I am working on grief issues and attend a therapy group that is located about 60 miles from my house. Since the gas prices has been escalating, I can attend only about once a month. I live in an area that resources for eating disorders are few and far between. I only have access to Overeaters Anonymous and limited meetings with that. There are no eating disorder therapists in my area that take my issurance and I can't afford out of pocket expenses. I have learned a lot in pursuing recovery but still have yet to learn how to live "life on life's terms" symptom free.I would appreciate any guidance that someone has the time to give. Please let me know. Thank you very much, Lisa ()
Sarah Jo: I'm interested in becoming a Mentee. Here's a bit about me: I'm 30-ish, female. Type of eating disorder: ana; ana + bulumia in the past; Any other recovery-related issues you are working on: saying no, guilt; Length of illness: about 15 years; Length of time pursuing recovery: about 3 years, did best during last half of pregnancy (almost 9 months ago), not doing so great again; Current support team: husband, long-distance friend, family members (indirectly); Recovery goals: Be more comfortable with eating foods I haven’t prepared/eating out. Gain at least 5-10 pounds. Feel comfortable about my body and that 5 pounds. Be happier as a result of not dealing with an ED.; Key learnings from your recovery journey thus far: used to meal plan and did better about meeting all my daily caloric needs that way. Don’t meal plan currently, but there are days when the food I’m eating isn’t as familiar, therefore I tend to restrict. Sarah Jo ()
Ashley: My name is Ashley I am 26 and have been dealing with Bulimia for 13 years. I am had 7 months free and clear but relapsed in January and have been having a time getting back into the flow of living. I am looking for someone who can be on my side , someone who has been where I was and knows how to comfort me when my brain tells me stupid things, like I am going to be fat blah blah. Someone who can back up my spirit and remind me of the faith that presides in my heart. Someone who is 30-40 possibly a female. I am really ready to be out of this. I would love someone who is into yoga and the healing arts understands diets that withold sugar wheat and flour.. Oh i live in San Francisco! Thank you! Ashley ()
Kristen: Hello. My name is Kristen and I'm looking for a mentor to help me along in my recovery from bulimia. I'm 21 years old and have struggled with my eating disorder for about 3 years. I also struggle with depression and anxiety, which I believe is why my eating disorder developed. My support team currently consists of my parents, a therapist, a psychiatrist, and a medical doctor. I am doing well so far and have made it 41 days without bingeing or purging. Now I'm trying to take the necessary steps to stay in recovery and prevent relapse. Having a mentor would be a huge help so I can talk to someone that can relate to what I'm going through, and hopefully learn from their experiences. Thanks and I hope to hear from someone soon! Kristen ()
Cait: Hi, my name is Cait and I'm 20 years old. I have been bulimic for four years. It started in high school when I played tennis. I became addicted to working out. I got hurt and had to have knee surgery, so I had to sit out for a season. That's when I started restricting, and eventually it led to bulimia. I have finally accepted that I need help. I haven't told anyone in four years, and I now know that I can't recover alone, that's why I'm looking for a mentor, someone who might have gone through the same thing and someone that I can talk to. I want so bad for bulimia not to be a part of my life anymore. I'm taking my life back, and with a little help, I know I can do it. Thanks :) Cait ()
Janet: I am looking for a mentor to assist me in my recovery from eating disorder. I am a female in my 50’s who has been bulimic for 43 years. I am doing well in my recovery but sometimes binge once or twice a month. thanks Janet ()
Jade: Age: 30; Gender: F; Type of ED: EDNOS/Anexoria and Exercise Bulimia; Recovery-related issues: Just taking one day at a time; Length of illness: about 2 years; Length of time pursuring recovery: about 7 months; Current support team: Boyfriend and family, some friends; Recovery goals: Stop seeing the numbers and start loving myself. I am looking to be a mentee. Right now I cannot afford the treatment needed, but honestly think that I am doing okay. (Family and boyfriend also agree, even though we would all love to see me in some sort of treatment) I have been able to get myself to increase my calories. I am not really exercising right now, but would like to start again, just worried about the exercise bulimia causing issues again. Jade ( )
Sara: I'm looking for a mentor. I'm 21. I've been struggling with both anorexia and bulimia for 7 years--currently bulimia. I work with 2 therapists and a dietitian, and I'm about to go to residential treatment. I've been in recovery for almost 6 months, but I've been getting worse instead of better--just went from an anorexic period into a bulimic period. I guess my biggest goal in recovery is to build a life worth recovering TO, rather than just trying to recover FROM this stuff. Thanks, Sara ()
Zahra: I'm writing because I read Jenni Shaefer's blog post about finding a mentor. So here is the basic information about me: Age: 20; Disorder: Anorexic/Bulimic from 16-present; Recovery: Second year of recovery, seeing a therapist and am on medication (prozac) to battle depression; Eating patterns: Usually quite normal although I tend to binge/purge 2-3 times a week; Looking for: a mentee. Thanks! Zahra ()
Lindsey: Hi, my name is Lindsey and I'm looking for a Mentor. I'm 20, female and bulimic. I have been bulimic for about five years now, and I'm ready to gain my life back. I've realized it's taking over who I am, and I don't want that any more. I've never really done a recovery thing before, i'm struggling to do this on my own. I have a friend who is anorexic lives in Australia ,but is now unable to talk very much. I think i'm loosing my grip without someone there to talk to, and would love someone who shares the same things and understands. I've never been the self harm person, but I have done it a few times. I don't really have the desire to ever do it again, but the thought still lingers.. if that makes sense. Lindsey ()
Patrick: Dear Key To Life, I was recently on your website and I would like to join the program. I am a 25 year old former men's college lacrosse player and I have just returned from recovery in Florida. My recovery changed my life, yet I know my recovery has just started. My goal now is to help others. I would love to be apart of the mentor, mentee program. For there are times that I feel alone being a guy and fighting this disorder. I haven't been in recovery for more than a year, so I would need to be a mentee. I look forward to hearing back from you. I am attaching my life story I wrote while in recovery, and a poem. This will help you better understand me and my recovery. Keep up the great work and I am truly excited about this. Patrick ()
Kathy: Hello, I'm looking for a mentor. I got information about your website from Jenni Schaefer. My name is Karen. I am a 39-year-old female recovering from anorexia. I have struggled for about eleven years. I have been hospitalized over 50 times in the past 5-6 years and I have been through three residential treatment programs. I graduated from Magnolia Creek Residential Program for Eating Disorders in Alabama seven months ago. I have a wonderful medical doctor/clinical nutritionist who has been treating me for the past 6 years, I have a pyshiatrist, a therapist and I attend a Magnolia Creek Aftercare Program once per week. My recovery goals are to stay in recovery and become a mentor. But for now, I'm looking for a mentor for myself. I was one of the first to graduate from Magnolia Creek so there are not any mentors around me. Everybody I graduated with is still struggling. I have learned that my recovery is not going to be perfect. I have relapsed since being at Magnolia Creek and I felt like a total failure. I realize tomorrow is a new day and I can start over.
Thanks, Karen ()
Jayde: Hi there, my name is Jayde and I am 17 years old female and I have suffered with anorexia and bulimia for nearly 3/4years now….. I have been trying so hard to recover from it but it’s just so hard that I am finding it impossibly hard to do! I have been in and out of hospital many of times. I have just recently moved from Australia to the UK and it’s just getting hard for me. I guess I am looking for someone or something to help me and talk to me….. or even help me through this illness I just wish it would end. I am looking for someone to support me .. Many thanks, Jayde ()
Angela: My name is Angela. I am 24 years old, and I have struggled with eating disorder behaviors since around age 6, and it has been full blown since middle school. I entered treatment for the first time in 2001-about 2 weeks after coming to college (I was forced in by the school). Its been an up and down process ever since. I stopped my treatment in 2006 and I was doing 'ok' for the most part (on the outside that is), but I have slipped back again. Its funny because I always found myself to be the one helping others, and now I am the one who needs it. My diagnosis is anorexia. My main issues are with restricting and over-exercising. I have never binged. I have engaged in purging behaviors before, such as vomiting and diuretics. I still purge by vomiting sometimes, but that is nowhere near what it used to be when I was in high school (6x a day then, now maybe a few times a week). The restriction is totally out of control now. I basically eat nothing. I am starting back treatment by seeing my eating disorder specialist again, and I have my first appointment coming up soon. I have a great husband who has been my strength, and my relationship with God has brought me to where I am today. I know it is because of Him that I am alive today. My husband is a youth minister and we both will be in full-time ministry eventually, but first I've got to get my life back. My main focus right now is to work on the 'whys' of the eating disorder. Its been such a long road for me, and it seems as though I always find myself back in this place again. I don't quite know why I need it so and why I can't break free, but that's the point of starting treatment again I suppose...to help me gain answers about myself. I have an extensive knowledge of eating disorders and I've been in an intensive program twice, in addition to the outpatient counseling with an eating disorder specialist. I guess I am looking for someone who understands, because while I know a lot of great people, most just don't get it because either they have never struggled with anything like this, or even if they have had an eating disorder it hasn't been to the severe degree that mine is, and they just expect me to snap out of it or something. Thanks so much for the opportunity. I hope that all of this is clear. Blessings! Angela Marie Scoggins ()
NOTE: Remember, to join MentorConnect is free. Just send us an and let us know who you are, where you are in your recovery, and what you are looking for (to be a mentor or a mentee).
Details you might want to include: your email address, your first name (or alias for confidentiality), age, gender, type of eating disorder, any other recovery-related issues you are working on, length of illness, length of time pursuing recovery, current support team, recovery goals, key learnings from your recovery journey thus far, anything else you wish to share.
We will post the emails here on this page and you can connect with one another! Any questions - us and we will do our best to answer them for you!
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