Breaking the Chains Foundation
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BREAKING THE CHAINS FOUNDATION

Changing the conversation and face of eating disorders

MERCH!

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OUR MISSION : Actress/BTCF Celebrity Spokesperson, Jillian Rose Reed

“We can live without alcohol. We can live without drugs (we should), but we can’t live without food and that’s why this is possibly one of the most difficult things to overcome”

Emmy Winning Actress/NY Times Best Selling Author/Celebrity Ambassador – Carolyn Hennesy


“Breaking the Chains Foundation’s goal is to continue to work with artists and art based communities to encourage them and bring forth awareness about eating disorders. We stand as an artistic motivator to ignite a fire in a whole new light. In order to change the face and conversation of eating disorders, we will inspire an entire new matrix.”

Founder, Debra Hopkins

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IMPACT AND COMMUNITY

We believe that positive body image, health and self-love are all possible. We believe in full recovery.

RESOURCES/FAQs

BTCF produces all forms of art, campaigns, outreach and events that supports changing the face of eating disorders.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Meet the amazing celebrities who support BTCF and how they encourage and inspire others to bring forth healing, self-love & recovery.

CELEBRITIES

Meet our featured artist and how their artform aides to the healing of an eating disorder, inspiring others to express themselves.

FEATURED ART

Welcome to our BTCF Community and join our mailing list and stay connected with us!

CONNECT

“Art speaks to our need to reveal, heal, and transform”

JOIN US

Finding Alice

Change the Conversation

7 Chairs

Community and Support

A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

 
BTCF is very focused on rolling up our sleeves and being of service to celebrate hope, healing, and recovery as well as building friendships and enriching communities through a variety of creative genres and programming. We are so grateful to be able to partner with these like-minded organizations! 

INSTAGRAM INSPIRATION

breakingthechainsfdn
#repost • @thecourtneyhope 💕 #repost • @thecourtneyhope 💕
✨NEW #BTCF FEATURED BLOG✨”Shattering the Nar ✨NEW #BTCF FEATURED BLOG✨”Shattering the Narrative: 3 Actions To Support BIPOC with Eating Disorders” by Mia Harris, M.Ed. Link in bio! Mia is a change-agent, public speaker and passionate about bringing awareness to the behavioral and mental healthcare struggles of underserved communities. She helps inform others through her Op-Ed pieces, nationwide presentations and social media content. Mia has a Master’s in Special Education with an emphasis in Autism Intervention and has clinical experience as a speech and behavioral therapist in a variety of settings. Mia brings her passion for serving others to work by holding the role of Regional Director of Outreach at Alsana. She also serves as the Anti-Racism committee lead for the Social Justice Task Force advocating for marginalized communities, and prompting difficult conversations about race in professional settings. Thank you Mia for taking the time to chat with #btcf & writing such an informative and resourceful piece! @mia_harris_m.ed
#BTCF FEATURED ARTIST @julia._katharina ✨Link in #BTCF FEATURED ARTIST @julia._katharina ✨Link in bio for entire interview.💜 BTCF: You have shared in the past you have struggled from an eating disorder. How are you doing now and what are some positive steps you’ve taken in your own recovery? JULIA: To be very honest, the past year has been challenging for me as well. I have learned how important it is to know your triggers and take preventative actions. For the last year I focused on my mental and physical well being. I am really happy and proud of the work I have done last year. After the first lockdown I started struggling with old behaviors more than at any point in the past 8 years. The difference nowadays is, that I can see when I need to take action in favor of my health. It is important to build yourself a stable support system. Mine has been my closest friends and a Therapist. I went back to Therapy after many years and it is a wonderful thing. I worked with myself and focused on building my self love. I devoted all of my free time in respecting myself, working through my shadows and reflecting on my thought patterns. I write a lot. I write down my false beliefs and negative thoughts and flip them around, phrase them in a positive way. I listen to positive Affirmations before I go to sleep. I have a gratitude journal. For me a wonderful art of therapy is Spirituality. Spiritual Practice brought me to where I am now. At this point, I am grateful for the lessons I was able to learn over the past year and feel stronger then ever before. #aerialist #hoop #contortionist #dancer #ballet #tap #jazz #hiphop #teacher #choreographer #create #art #artist #eatingdisorder #recovery #healing #hope #body #love #relationships #cirquedusoleil @cirquedusoleil
#Repost #BTCF Celebrity Ambassador/Board Member @1 #Repost #BTCF Celebrity Ambassador/Board Member @12minuteathlete 💜 • Worldwide, over 70 million people are estimated to be affected by an eating disorder, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and otherwise specified feeding eating disorders.⁣  ⁣ Eating disorders have the SECOND HIGHEST MORTALITY RATE of any psychiatric illness.⁣ ⁣ Eating Disorders affect people of all genders, sexual orientations, ages, socioeconomic class, abilities, races, and ethnic backgrounds. It is time to take action.⁣ ⁣ Here are nine truths about eating disorders, produced by the Academy for Eating Disorders in collaboration with Dr. Cynthia Bulik, PhD, FAED:⁣ ⁣ Truth 1: Many people with eating disorders look healthy yet may be extremely ill.⁣ ⁣ Truth 2: Families are not to blame and can be the patients’ and providers’ best allies in treatment.⁣ ⁣ Truth 3: An eating disorder diagnosis is a health crisis that disrupts personal and family functioning.⁣ ⁣ Truth 4: Eating disorders are not choices, but serious biologically influenced illnesses.⁣ ⁣ Truth 5: Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities, body shapes and weights, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses.⁣ ⁣ Truth 6: Eating disorders carry an increased risk for both suicide and medical complications.⁣ ⁣ Truth 7: Genes and environment play important roles in the development of eating disorders.⁣ ⁣ Truth 8: Genes alone do not predict who will develop eating disorders.⁣ ⁣ Truth 9: Full recovery from an eating disorder is possible. Early detection and intervention are important.⁣ ⁣ I’m a board member of @breakingthechainsfdn – our goal is to work with artists and art based communities to bring awareness about eating disorders.⁣ ⁣ World Eating Disorders Action Day is a grassroots movement designed for and by people affected by an eating disorder, their families, and the medical and health professionals who support them. Uniting activists across the globe, the aim is to expand global awareness of eating disorders as genetically linked, treatable illnesses that can affect anyone.⁣ ❤️❤️❤️ ⁣ #EQUITY4EATINGDISORDERS
#BTCF FEATURED ARTIST 💛 @julia._katharina ~ “ #BTCF FEATURED ARTIST 💛 @julia._katharina ~ “I am love. I am light. I handle every situation with grace and gratitude. Life happens for me, not to me. I am open to receive miracles today.” LINK IN BIO✨ Julia Katharina was born and raised in Austria, Europe and started her dancing career at the age of five. Being trained in a variety of dance styles including contemporary dance, ballet, jazz, commercial/heels and hip hop/street styles has provided her with many opportunities to compete and perform in Austria, Europe as well as in the United States. She is a multi-award winning dancer. At the age of 18, she started her work a s a teacher, choreographer, and creative director. Throughout her years a s a professional dancer, she discovered her passion for the Circus Arts. Julia has been working as a Dancer, Aerialist and Contortionist for many years and traveled the world performing. She has worked for Cirque du Soleil, Vienna State Opera, Karlsruhe Winterzirkus, Vienna Fashion Week, Life Ball, Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig, Red Bull, Audi, Nissan, Mercedes, VW, Amazon, Schwarzkopf, UEFA Champions league, Universal Music and Virgin Records, among many others. Julia has also been a wonderful BTCF contributor and recently shared an amazing Aerialist piece for our 4th Annual Elements of Expression Artist Series. We look forward to seeing more from Julia – she is incredibly passionate, compassionate, kind, giving, a treasured soul, and an amazing talent! #aerialist #hoop #contortionist #dancer #ballet #tap #jazz #hiphop #teacher #choreographer #create #art #artist #eatingdisorder #recovery #healing #hope #body #love #relationships #cirquedusoleil @cirquedusoleil
#BTCF chatting ideas #lunch #mentalhealth break! 🌸🌼...Oh and congratulations @carolynhennesy on your #Emmy nomination!!! 💖
We are thrilled to welcome Brian Cook, PhD to our We are thrilled to welcome Brian Cook, PhD to our Clinical Advisory Board! #staytuned Dr. Cook is the Vice President of Movement, Research, and Outcomes at Alsana. He has developed an original line of research examining the etiological role, management, and therapeutic potential of exercise in eating disorders. His education at the Universities of Rhode Island and Florida and a NIMH post-doctoral fellowship at the Neuropsychiatric Research Institute in Fargo, ND allowed him to train under experts in the eating disorder field. This has resulted in presenting research at international conferences (e.g., Eating Disorders Research Society, the Academy for Eating Disorders), chairing conference paper sessions, publications in leading journals (e.g., International Journal of Eating Disorders) and book chapters, and a keynote address at the IAEPD 2017 Symposium.
“I am enough” ~ Actress @ggtownson chats self- “I am enough” ~ Actress @ggtownson chats self-care🌼 GG was a recent #BTCF featured artist & if you haven’t already, please check out her complete interview! She discusses body image, stigma when it comes to eating disorders and mental illness within the black community, her role as the iconic hip hop artist, “Salt” in the Lifetime biopic, Salt-N-Pepa & much more! https://breakingthechainsfoundation.org/an-interview-with-gg-townson/ Thank you GG!💜🙏🏼 #actress #singer #dancer #creator #mentor #artist #creativity #entertainment #adventurer #hiphop #saltnpepa #salt #mentalhealthawareness #wellness #health #selfcare #bodyimage #relationships #eatingdisorder #healing #recovery #CW #AllAmerican #LilJewel #faith #ministry #iamenough
SUNDAY 5/16/21 ~ Link in bio💜#repost @thecourtn SUNDAY 5/16/21 ~ Link in bio💜#repost @thecourtneyhope Mental Health awareness and focus is of utmost importance to me. I was honored to be able to talk about it on @mbstateofmind with @mauricebenard ✨... Speaking on my relationship with anxiety, panic attacks, eating disorders and my personal opinion on therapy! Check it out starting on 5/16/21 on the link in my bio! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0WiAnx5k4vc&feature=youtu.be #stateofmind #mauricebernard #courtneyhope #mentalhealth #wellness #eatingdisorder #recovery #healing #hope #btcf #boardmember #celebrity #ambassador #breakingthechains #onelinkatatime
Hello Monday🌼💜 So grateful to experience thi Hello Monday🌼💜 So grateful to experience this view while on a stroll~decided to stop and smell the flowers😉 #flowers #nature #breathein #breatheout #gratitude #monday #mentalhealth #wellness
NOLA CHEF GASON’S CANVAS OF CULINARY ARTS MAY RE NOLA CHEF GASON’S CANVAS OF CULINARY ARTS MAY RECIPE🥣 Garlic and Honey Glazed Chicken Breast @chef_gason shares a beautiful Mother’s Day memory from cooking this dish ~ “At her request I cooked this for a friend’s mother last mother’s day and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The reasons she enjoyed it so much were because Garlic Honey Glazed Chicken Breast over rice pilaf is her favorite dish and she had been ill for a while and couldn’t eat solid foods. This was her first time eating solid food for months and she was extremely grateful that she could enjoy the taste after watching me prepare it for her. Overall the experience was amazing for both of us. I was thrilled to be able to prepare her favorite dish and she was overjoyed to be able to actually eat it.” #relationships #food #special #memories #chefgason #travelnoire #nolachef #blackchefs #cheflife #louisianachef #fullofflavor #feedyoursoul #southerncooking #cajunchef #creolechef
#BTCF Celebrity Spokesperson/Board Member @jillian #BTCF Celebrity Spokesperson/Board Member @jillianrosereed chats our new partnership with @eatingrecovery 💛 We look forward to working with you! #staytuned ✨ #eatingdisorders #bodyimage #relationships #hope #healing #recovery #art #artistry #creativity #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #wellness #balance #celebrate #dailyliving #socialmedia #positivevibes #htlys
What are your favorite books or podcasts? Thank yo What are your favorite books or podcasts? Thank you #BTCF Board Member/Celebrity Ambassador @thecourtneyhope for sharing 💛• #repost • @thecourtneyhope In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, here are a few of my favorite books that have allowed me to take back control of my mind, my heart, and my present moment. They’ve helped me prioritize my well being and brought me back to my awareness of who and what I deeply am NOW, so I can truly be joyous and intentional in life. Last month, in my @breakingthechainsfdn panel, I shared a few of these books with some of you, and I figured I’d share a few more for everyone. Mental Health Ups and downs (anxiety, panic, worry, depression, OCD, perfectionism) greatly ruled the earlier part of my life, and sometimes still rear their ugly head- but normalizing the conversation around mental health and wellness and diving into higher insights has greatly helped me heal and bring a fulfilling sense of purpose back into my life. NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT I DONT PRIORITIZE MYSELF, and that is how it should be. Fill your own cup of love first, so that you have love you can share with others. Here are a few of my favorite books in no particular order! (I also listen to them on audio books too every morning🥰) @donmiguelruiz - The Four Agreements and The Mastery of Love Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves- Emotional Intelligence 2.0 @emotional_intelligence2.0 @eckharttolle - The Power of Now @davidjimeditation - Secrets of Meditation and Sacred Powers @michael_a.singer - The Untethered Soul @jayshetty - Think Like A Monk @loveabrahamhicks - Ask and It Is Given 📚 ENJOY GROWING ✨❤️ What books to do YOU love? I am always looking for good ones!!
We are so grateful to have Krista Stryker on our B We are so grateful to have Krista Stryker on our Board of Directors. Not only is she a wonderful person, an expert in her field, giving, supportive, passionate, intelligent, and self-motivated, but she is true to herself and personal story which is an inspiration to so many others. She remains very open about her mental health struggles, whether it be depression or anxiety, she has learned to find ways that aid her to obtain balance in her daily life, peace, and enjoyment. Here are some of the helpful ways she recently shared in our virtual collab w/ @rockrecovery ~ Eating Disorders & Body Image: Inside the World of Dancers & Athletes. @12minuteathlete #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #selfcompassion #journey #health #wellness #wellnessjourney #awareness #self #balance
We are thrilled to welcome the one and only NOLA C We are thrilled to welcome the one and only NOLA Chef Gason to our #BTCF Board! @chef_gason We have been friends and fans of Chef since 2016! He & his cooking shined at our very first event. Since then his support & the work we do together has grown. Chef, we look forward to working with you as a board member!🙏🏼 NOLA Chef Gason Nelson is a Global Cooking Instructor for ‘The Chef & The Dish’, a Private/Personal Chef/Owner/CEO of “Full of Flavor” in New Orleans, and a National Featured Chef in many publications and television programs, including Food Network’s ‘Chopped’, Readers Digest, Sports Illustrated, and New Orleans’s morning shows to name a few. He is a two-time James Beard Scholar and appeared in many noted festivals. Additionally, Chef Gason was also named Louisiana top 25 Best Chefs of 2017 and 2020. His clients include celebrities such as Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Matthew McConaughey, Sinbad, the Kardashians, and NBA and NFL Players like Aaron Brooks, DeMarcus Cousins, Reggie Bush, Chris Paul, and Ben Watson. Be sure to check out NOLA CHEF GASON’S CANVAS OF CULINARY ARTS Monthly Recipes on our website! #chefgason #travelnoire #nolachef #blackchefs #cheflife #louisianachef #tooeasy #fullofflavor #feedyoursoul #southerncooking #southernfood #cajunchef #creolechef #board #member #tennis #health #wellness
#BTCF FEATURED ARTIST @avamorseofficial 💛 LINK #BTCF FEATURED ARTIST @avamorseofficial 💛 LINK IN BIO Ava Morse is a 15 year old accomplished singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and dancer. In February 2019 Ava released her first EP of original songs titled “Close My Eyes’. Ava’s voice will be heard in two upcoming animated feature films currently in production and planned for release in 2021 & 2022. Growing up, Ava navigated between two worlds. One being a typical youth attending school in the suburbs of Chicago; and the other one acting including a long list of stage productions, and thereafter on screen. Her passion for the arts continued including local singing competitions such as Naperville’s Singing at the Fling, where she set a record as the time winner under the age of 12. She’s gone on to write and release her own originals and covers awarding her with over 70K streams on multiple platforms. Ava also plays A LOT of instruments! Her bubbly personality and energy are contagious and Ava uses her voice through her music when it comes to her own generation, social media, and pop culture! BTCF has been thrilled to have Ava perform for the past two years in our Elements of Expression Artist Series. We are looking forward to more from Ava!!
We are so excited to welcome Courtney Hope to our We are so excited to welcome Courtney Hope to our #BTCF Board! @thecourtneyhope 💜 Courtney is an actress, model, certified nutritionist, fitness enthusiast, and philanthropist. She believes in the power of human connection and empathetic healing through honesty, broadening perspective and artistry. As a passionate supporter & #BTCF celebrity ambassador for 3 years , she has shared her personal story, expertise, and creativity within our programming, lives, virtuals, videos, and various outreach! #staytuned for more! We looking forward to working with you as a board member! #board #member #actress #dancer #nutrionist #educator #health #wellness #mental #wellness #healing #recovery #selfcare #youngandtherestless #sallyspectra
IN 6 DAYS!! Join Creator/Author @12minuteathlete K IN 6 DAYS!! Join Creator/Author @12minuteathlete Krista Stryker (#BTCF Board) as she shares a special message about our panel retreat with @rockrecovery on April 24th! FREE!! "Eating Disorders & Body Image: Inside the World of Dancers and Athletes" LINK IN BIO 💜to register & for more info. Krista joins WNBA Center @imanitrishawn , Former MLB Player @mike.marjama , and Dance Educator/Choreographer @alex_little (#BTCF Board) as they share their stories of how they have navigated their personal battles with a variety of struggles including eating disorders, body image, depression, anxiety and more. They also share tips and takeaways to offer support to others. Hope to see you there! #athlete #author #creator #book educator #dancer #eatingdisoder #recovery #journey #wellness #inspiration #athlete #support #mental #emotional #physical #health
In 8 days! Join us & @rockrecovery APRIL 24th 11a In 8 days! Join us & @rockrecovery APRIL 24th 11am PST/ 1pm EST💜 FREE! Eating Disorders & Body Image: Inside the World of Dancers & Athletes ✨REGISTER: LINK IN BIO✨ For many athletes and dancers, the pressure to maintain a certain physical image or to perform at peak athletic perfection can be the start of a dangerous battle with your body and mental health. In this 90-minute online retreat, we invite you to join three incredible athletes and one dancer as they share their stories of how they have navigated their personal battles with a variety of struggles including eating disorders, body image, depression, anxiety and more. @imanitrishawn #WNBA #center #BTCF #featured #artist #contributor @mike.marjama #mlb #baseball #player #rockrecovery #contributor @12minuteathlete - #athlete #author #BTCF Board Member @alex_little - #dance #educator #choreographer #BTCF Board Member Q & A #clinical support Special thanks to our promo partner @eatingrecovery Special thanks to our raffle sponsors @allaspectsinc @planetbreeze @recoveryboxed @illuminatedanceandartscenter #Inspirational #stories #healing #recovery #tools #support #journey #balance #connection #body #mind #spirit #mentalhealth #community
Here we go! Join us & @rockrecovery 💜 APRIL 24t Here we go! Join us & @rockrecovery 💜 APRIL 24th 11am PST/ 1pm EST - FREE! Eating Disorders & Body Image: Inside the World of Dancers & Athletes ✨REGISTER: LINK IN BIO✨ For many athletes and dancers, the pressure to maintain a certain physical image or to perform at peak athletic perfection can be the start of a dangerous battle with your body and mental health. In this 90-minute online retreat, we invite you to join three incredible athletes and one dancer as they share their stories of how they have navigated their personal battles with a variety of struggles including eating disorders, body image, depression, anxiety and more. @12minuteathlete - #athlete #author #BTCF Board Member @alex_little - #dance #educator #choreographer #BTCF Board Member @imanitrishawn #WNBA #center #BTCF #featured #artist #contributor @mike.marjama #mlb #baseball #player #rockrecovery #contributor Q & A #clinical support Special thanks to our promo partner @eatingrecovery Special thanks to our raffle sponsors @allaspectsinc @planetbreeze @recoveryboxed @illuminatedanceandartscenter #Inspirational #stories #healing #recovery #tools #support #journey #balance #connection #body #mind #spirit #mentalhealth #community
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©2019 Breaking The Chains Foundation. All rights reserved Breaking the Chains Foundation ID: C3705606 / Tax ID - 31954, 501 © (3), Nonprofit
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