Subject:  Re: an attempt at a response / Nicole |
Author:
Deb
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Date Posted: 19:31:49 09/07/04 Tue
In reply to:
red_candle
's message, "an attempt at a response" on 19:15:07 09/07/04 Tue
>i just came from my abnormal psych class where we
>talked about eating disorders a little bit... and it
>has me thinking. to say there is a "core" problem
>would be too simple. i remember being little and
>seeing movies on TV about anorexia and bulimia and
>thinking how strange it was. i didnt understand how
>girls (and boys) could not eat, or why they would
>choose not to. it was such a foreign concept to me.
>but i think even then there was a part of me that was
>fascinated by thier willpower; intrigued even. i
>wasn't scared of their emaciated bodies (as they
>always make sure that the girls they interview look
>classically 'anorexic') instead i identified with the
>shutting off of all outward emotions, having control
>over yourself, denying access of your problems to
>anyone else. having an eating disorder, to me, is
>like setting up a new self-contained life. you have a
>secret that feels good to have, and maybe more
>importantly an aspect of your life that is determined
>by your willpower. however, that's also where the
>problems begin. no one's willpower is strong all of
>the time, and sometimes physical needs will overpower
>mental determination. the hunger becomes secondary.
>it's a battle, a struggle, and it has a very confusing
>and tangled core. i believe that people with
>disordered eating have some sort of genetic
>predisposition towards it in some regards (it has been
>suggested that our seratonin levels are out of whack,
>though establishing a cause/effect relationship is not
>really possible), but it doesn't stop there. in
>addition to being at risk for developing an ED, there
>also have to be environmental stressors that encourage
>it along. unless we consider the combination of
>environment and genetics, there is no complete answer.
> for instance, my mom suffers from various mental
>disorders, which puts me at a higher risk for
>developing them myself. but i am not "predestined" to
>acquire them. if i were rasied differently, chances
>are that i may not have an ED. but because i had a
>rough childhood, was molested, don't feel that i can
>confide in either of my parents, etc; i now have low
>self esteem, issues with sex, disordered eating
>habits... the list goes on. i'm sure a lot of us on
>this board could write books about our childhoods, our
>teenage years, and on into adulthood that would be
>filled with the traumas we have suffered. but on the
>other hand, we are stronger the more that we know.
>learning about why we act this way gives us courage to
>confront our pasts, and maybe understand our eating
>(and other) disorders a bit better. not that we can
>change overnight. maybe never. but anyway the point
>im trying to make is that looking for a core problem
>is the wrong way to go about it. by understanding
>that 'anorexics' and 'bulimics' are just people--yes,
>maybe a little abnormal, and maybe scary to
>outsiders--but still people, only then can you come at
>the issue from a multidisciplinary standpoint. eating
>disorders are personal, social, genetic,
>environmental--and culturally and racially blind.
>with as many people as they effect, there are bound to
>be just as many triggers, just as many reasons...and
>for some those reasons are still unidentified.
>
>i know i cant speak for everyone here, but this is how
>i feel. (i also know i tend to use a very 'universal'
>tone when writing that may seem to include everyone
>and gloss over things a bit.) i'm really interested
>to know how other people view their EDs. do you guys
>think your eating habits are the result of a specific
>thing? maybe developing an ED could be a
>post-traumatic stress reaction?
>phew, ok. didn't mean to type THIS much! i hope all
>of you are doing well, whatever your goals.
>
>xo
>nicole
Ding, Ding, Ding!!! You hit the nail on the head for me and spoke about parts of my life and others I have met both in and out of treatment have gone through and still do.
My sincere "hats off to you"...your very long response puts into words for me and some of the friends I have who have suffered and still are with EDs. Continue with your studies...you're one heck of an insightful person and whatever your goal is in the end I know you will be a success!!! I mean that ~ with all my heart.
Deb
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