When I was 17 I developed anorexia.
But I would not let myself believe it, I would not even consider it. I was in denial.
Why?
Because anorexia was considered the “Supermodels Disorder” something that silly girls who want to be thin got. I neither wanted to be thin nor did I care for fashion. I was tomboy and I was appalled at the very word anorexia, it was a dirty word to me.
But I knew I was sick, and I went to the Dr to try and get help, only to be asked if my parents had abused me or if I was trying to control my life by not eating. My parents are the most loving people on earth and I was not trying to control anything. In fact my life, before anorexia had been pretty perfect. My life with anorexia was hell, I lost my body, my social life and my laid back personality changed to one of anxious, angry irritation.
The medical system was still operating under pseudo- freudian treatment principles back then and sick as I was I was I did not believe that those who were telling me that I needed talk therapy could help me. I knew that there must be a neurological problem within me unrelated to psychotherapy. Finally, after eight years of having a BMI of under 14, I had to research myself into self- treatment.
I re- fed myself, and it was not easy. This took me over 4 years and was littered with relapse and feelings of hopelessness. Anorexia is a brain based disorder and sufferers should have access to treatment from professionals that understand it as such.
It does not have to be that way, and it should not be that way. There are clinics and individuals out there that offer effective treatment, the problem is that due to prevalent misinformation they are often lost in the noise that surrounds eating disorders. I- along with some other very wonderful individuals- advocate for evidence based treatment, and we work to highlight the resources that fight for true portrayal and understanding of eating disorders. When these resources are utilized there is no reason that a person would have to go it alone like I did.
My favorites are:
MAED Advocacy and Action #maedvocates.
Mothers Against Eating Disorders (MAED) is a group of Mothers (and others) who are passionate about spreading eating disorder awareness and fighting ignorance and prejudice using social media as a tool
IEDAction #IEDAction
International Eating Disorder Action (IEDA) This group was set up to help organize carers, parents, survivors, sufferers and citizens who have interest in advocacy and ACTION around issues relating to Eating Disorders. We collectively undertake specific advocacy efforts with a goal to increase awareness and knowledge of ED, regulation of groups causing damage to people with or a propensity for ED, increase access to services broadly. We will communicate and engage with other groups to join forces on advocacy issues. In future it might serve to bridge the gap internationally for ED action! Our aim is to ‘take the high’ road persistently and consistently.
F.E.A.S.T #FEASTTidbits
The Families Empowered And Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders- F.E.A.S.T website is one of the best sources of relevant treatment related information that I can find on the internet. They focus on evidence based treatment and they also have a twitter handle which is worth following for up to date discussion on eating disorders.