This has been a long time coming.

I currently sit in my campus cafe area, and have been studying since 1:15pm - partly to avoid going back home to my boyfriend after a nasty argument from last night, partly because I feel motivated today... I chose to focus on the latter. I finally feel motivation to get out of bed everyday. Despite other, current shortcomings happening in my life, I still feel able to get out of bed and take on the day! How is this possible?

Let me explain.
I am a 22 years old and in my last semester of college. I am about to graduate with my bachelor's in biology, and have never felt more in tune with my body than I have been lately.

I am on week 3 of the Potatoes Not Prozac program, after my therapist told me twice that I needed to "get with it."

I could go on forever about the trials and tribulations of my life, from my scarring childhood to my pent up anger towards the world as a result of chronic depression and generalized anxiety. But that's not what this post is about. Actually, I am simply here to express my profound gratitude for the insight that this program has offered me. To say that I feel such relief is an understatement. I struggled with alcohol abuse for many years, which started at the young age of 12. I was a hard drinker well up until my first year of college. After suffering an incredibly traumatic experience involving a facial injury which resulted from the negligence of an intoxicated individual, I realized that my life needed some changing... my attraction towards alcohol has since subsided to appreciation for an occasional glass of wine or 1-2 drinks when I am with friends. My self-reflection over the past couple months made me realize something - I had turned to sweets and carbs more than ever before... I think in part because for so many years I turned to alcohol, and in part because of all the stress I have been under lately. I have always had such a sweet tooth... but I quickly realized that my unhinged binges and subsequent self disgust and emotional instability needed some serious attention. After trying to change other negative aspects of my life, this unhealthy relationship with food continued to manifest. Since beginning Potatoes, Not Prozac, I feel reborn again. My body is thanking me for the changes; specifically, my heart and soul. This doesn't go without saying that I haven't relapsed a few times over these past few weeks, nor did thanksgiving help the situation whatsoever. But I have never felt FREER than now, and I have control again. After procrastinating on the food journal, it is the current step that I am on. I've been sticking with it for 2 days, and as was predicted - I am enjoying it. I plan to read the next step soon, but my personal goal is to continue to savor and go slow.

Anyways, I am rambling.... I just needed to get my thoughts out and I have pondered a few times as to whether this forum is the place to do it. It feels good to share my story with people who understand what I am going through and how this liberation feels. I look forward to checking out this forum more, and I want to again express my profound gratitude for the control that this program has restored in my life.

-Ru