eating
Dispel judgement, debunk the myths and correct the misconceptions you hold about eating disorders.
The Reality of Anorexia
Recently, I realised how many people are oblivious to the harsh reality of an eating disorder. People only see what sufferers put online and more often than not, what we see on social media isn’t an accurate depiction of the truth. So many people without an eating disorder don’t know how to act around people with anorexia and don’t understand our reasoning behind things so this post is my attempt to share my reality of living with anorexia, in the hopes of clearing up some common misconceptions.
By saskia hdlt7 years ago in Psyche
Eating Disorder Awareness
Eating disorders affect millions of people all over the world today. There are many different types but the main ones include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and also binge eating disorders. All of these disorders happen to many different people for all different reasons. It has been recorded that approximately eight million people in the US have anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and related eating disorders. That number is way too high, and this is why I am talking to you today. So I can spread more awareness to the world about eating disorders.
By Natalie C..7 years ago in Psyche
Travelling with Anorexia
The title of this article may seem intriguing, may seem taboo, may even seem fake, and I hate all of those assumptions. The title "traveling with anorexia" should be just as out of the ordinary as "traveling with only one pair of shoes"—still somewhat intriguing, but not so much that you would take time out of your day to learn how the author travels with only one pair of shoes. And yet, it feels wrong for me to talk about this. Even in this broad and simple context, I feel like I am pushing a boundary; not one of my own, but that of someone else. I love talking about my mental illnesses and bringing awareness to them, but I'm always scared of offending someone else with my willingness to express myself through my stories of struggle. It's another article all in itself talking about how it feels "forbidden" to talk about a mental illness where it should be as simple as talking about shoes, but we'll get to that eventually.
By Bekah Boudreau7 years ago in Psyche
My History with Food
From Childhood to Childbirth I have always had a tenuous relationship with food. Honestly, as long as I can remember food was one of my biggest sources of anxiety. Many adults have dependent and abusive relationships with food, but mine started way back when I was a kid. I remember going to school as a 5th grader with beautiful packed lunches containing leftovers from my favorite dinners and healthy snacks and delicious treats. And while these were all things that I loved in the safety of my own home, it only took one kid pointing at my tortellini salad, with avocados whose color had changed ever so slightly brownish in the fridge overnight and saying, "What is THAT?! It smells like poo," for me to start "forgetting" my lunches at home. For me to start coveting the lunches all the other kids brought with wonder-bread sandwiches of bologna and American cheese (you know-how kind that comes plastic wrapped in separate slices) and their fruit gushers and Oreos. I even yearned at tines to be "normal" enough to get to eat the cardboard pizza and canned fruit from the cafeteria. Because when you are nine all that you really want is to be the same as the kids around you. Now, as an adult I am so thankful for leftovers from dinner for lunch and healthy snacks to get me through the day and I'm so thankful that some of my mom's message was able to make it through the cloud of little kid nastiness. But my nine year old daughter, she wants to take sandwiches to school in her lunch everyday. She wants chips and fruit roll ups and the piece of fruit that I make her take always come back home with her. And while I would rather she take the leftover tamales (one of her favorite foods) or a thermos of soup that she loved last night, I never want her to come home starving and cranky because she refused to eat her food in front of her friends because someone teased her about her weird looking food.
By Allie Shawe7 years ago in Psyche
Words Will Never Hurt Me?
Remember that little saying growing up, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?" We all use to say it as a way to comfort ourselves from bullies. It was a way of saying "Haha! Do you really think that hurt my feelings?" Somewhere, deep down, I think it truly did help some of us.
By Alyssa Holley8 years ago in Psyche
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders – What can be done? Eating disorders are, for the sufferer, painful and isolating. They can make an individual feel miserable in their own skin, lower their self-confidence, and make them believe that there is something wrong with them. According to BeatEatingDisorders.com, eating disorders effect around 1.25 million people in the UK alone, and the numbers are rising. Can anything be done? The best way to begin to solve a serious problem, is to understand it and how it effects victims individually, who is at risk, and finally how to support and help the people suffering.
By Renee Quailey8 years ago in Psyche
The Power of Words
Growing up, I was a team player, a go-getter, a competitive little kid, with dreams and ambitions. I didn’t care about my weight, nor did I grasp the concept of “fat” or “skinny.” I just simply lived every day and ate what was fed to me. After I hit puberty, I began to eat what I wanted, when I wanted without caring about anything. In grade ten I realized that I was “thicker.” I would get attention for my “huge assets, ” and it made me feel super uncomfortable. I remember getting called by nicknames. I wouldn’t consider it bullying, to them, it was for a good laugh, and trust me… to anyone else, it would be a good laugh too. I used to laugh it off. I used to pretend that I thought it was hilarious. But to me, it was much worse than a nickname or a joke. Those comments haunt me everywhere I go, and especially every time I try and eat something. A few years ago someone told me I looked “so thick” in jeans. I didn’t wear jeans for two years after that, and to this day it takes me a tremendous amount of courage to wear them. Those names and words would pop up in my head, and it left me hating my body, and everything about it. It led me down an unhealthy path, and one I am still struggling with today. I used to see how long I could go without eating, I'd even vomit up the artificial expectations people had for me. I believe everything happens for a reason and you face things because you’re able to get through it.
By Brittany Rose8 years ago in Psyche
10 Symptoms Nobody Told You About Eating Disorders
With eating disorders, there are a few symptoms and actions that are talked about quite frequently, such as weight loss, purging, and food restriction. However, there are many more habits and symptoms that aren’t so commonly discussed which may lead to sufferers feeling alone and that they are dealing with something no one else is.
By Mina LeAnn8 years ago in Psyche
