Back to School: While a Fresh Start, College Also Can Trigger Harmful Lifestyle Choices

CHICAGO (August 5, 2010) – College is supposed to be an exciting time in a young woman’s life; a chance for a fresh start, the opportunity to make decisions that will impact the rest of her life. But according to Jena Morrow, author of Hollow: An Unpolished Tale, college life also can bring negative and harmful lifestyle choices into the forefront.
“I found college to be the most opportune time to really elope in harmful behavior, a sickness that almost killed me – anorexia,” said Jena. Hollow: An Unpolished Tale chronicles Jena’s 20-year struggle with anorexia nervosa, exposing her college life for what it really was: that of living with her sickness, anorexia. In college, Jena hid her disease because she was no longer under the watchful eye of her parents, high school teachers or long-time friends. She was able to lie and deceive those who did not know any better.
“At the beginning of college, my parents bought a meal card for me, but there was one catch: I had to sign a paper upon arrival to college to activate it. I just never signed the paper; my parents never knew, and I played it off as a dumb mistake to my new friends,” said Jena. “It was easy to hide my disease from people at college because they didn’t know I ever had a problem. I would avoid social situations where I knew food would be present, and in a way, isolated myself.”
However, someone did take notice. Jena’s Resident Advisor watched as Jena’s body withered and decided to approach her about the obvious problem. Jena would later realize during her recovery what an impact this intervention had on her life. Shortly thereafter, she was forced out of school to receive treatment – a rock bottom for her. With help, she’s had the strength to recover, and one of her messages in the book is a powerful one: the stresses, freedom and autonomy of college combine to create the perfect opportunity to practice life skills, but it’s also an ideal time for negative influences to have an impact and cause unknown internal triggers to show up for the first time.
Jena did relapse later in life, but after becoming a mother she realized she had more to live for – and is now happily in recovery. Currently working as a behavioral health specialist at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, a leading eating disorder center, Jena wrote her book to give hope to others struggling with an eating disorder, as well as create awareness and open people’s eyes to the impact and prevalence of these diseases.

About Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center
Timberline Knolls is one of the leading private residential treatment centers for eating disorders, substance abuse, trauma, and severe depression, with or without a co-occurring disorder or addiction. Expert treatment staff offers a nurturing environment of recovery for women and girls (ages 12 and older) on a 43-acre campus in suburban Chicago. Women and families seeking Christian treatment have the option of working with a dedicated Christian therapist. For more information on Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, call us at 877.257.9611.

About Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center
Timberline Knolls is one of the leading private residential treatment centers for eating disorders, substance abuse, trauma, and severe depression, with or without a co-occurring disorder or addiction. Expert treatment staff offers a nurturing environment of recovery for women and girls (ages 12 and older) on a 43-acre campus in suburban Chicago. Women and families seeking Christian treatment have the option of working with a dedicated Christian therapist. For more information on Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, call us at 877.257.9611.

Media Contacts: Danielle Bickelmann/Susie Lomelino
Michael Burns & Associates
333 Lee Parkway #450
Dallas, TX 75219
214-521-8596
dbickelmann@mbapr.com
slomelino@mbapr.com

This release was published on openPR.