Let’s talk about a topic that is often misunderstood about eating disorders: Vanity. That’s the thing. People think that girls with anorexia are so vain and beauty-obsessed. And although that may be true from the onset, like everything else in ED’s path, that gets bastardized and tainted into darkness. You see, that’s the confusing thing:Continue reading Vanity, Guilt, and Shame
for those in recovery…
After last night’s journey to understand how to reach someone in the throes of anorexia, and how to answer the “Million Dollar Question” of how to help, I’d like to now address those of you in “recovery,” as well as the loved ones of those in “recovery.” First, for those who have been though this battle, IContinue reading for those in recovery…
The Million Dollar Question
So now for the Million Dollar Question: What can I do? How can I help her? How can I reach the girl I used to know, who is being controlled by the eating disorder? It’s a two part answer that I’ll get to in a minute, so stay with me. Allow me to first set the stage.Continue reading The Million Dollar Question
snap her out of it
So what is it that I want to be taken away from this? Why did I share such deeply personal and disturbing things with readers I don’t even know? Why? Because I want to share what I wish someone would have told my parents when I was in the thick of my disease. One ofContinue reading snap her out of it
The Truth about Relapse
Let’s talk about relapse… Statistically speaking, one third of people with eating disorders relapse after they “recover.” This is for a variety of reasons, but my main guess is that, due to insurance reasons, once the weight gets put on, she gets discharged, as insurance covers the only the minimum amount of time possible atContinue reading The Truth about Relapse
The Golden Road to Hell
The days at inpatient were long, regimented, and monitored. You ate three meals a day and two snacks between meals. You would have a therapy session every day, either one-on-one with your shrink, or in your “home” group of 4-6 girls. Free time was spent reading, playing cards, doing art, coloring – yes, adults coloringContinue reading The Golden Road to Hell
Guilty Until Proven Otherwise
I don’t know exactly how long I was in that back room that first day of inpatient, but it seemed like hours. I got weighed. Examined. Blood work done. Vitals taken. During my first 2 weeks, I had to have my vitals taken every 3 hours. And I wasn’t allowed to walk anywhere on theContinue reading Guilty Until Proven Otherwise
Go Big or Go Home
Inpatient was hell on earth. And I say that in the most loving way possible. I will say this: it saved my life, but it did not “cure me” of my eating disorder. I showed up at 78 pounds, barely holding on, and left 87 days later, 25 pounds heavier and physically stable. But that’sContinue reading Go Big or Go Home
The Intervention
My getting to inpatient hospital was strictly against my will. I was 18 years old my senior year and legally an adult. Therefore, my parents could not legally commit me: I had to make the decision to go myself. Like that was going to happen… An intervention was staged with five days left until graduation. First,Continue reading The Intervention
She has to want to get better
I was at inpatient for three months. Well, let’s be honest. I was there for three months minus three days. I was “better” for two months and 27 days. Then for the last three days I internally freaked out that I was nearing my “safe weight,” which to be clear was still significantly less thanContinue reading She has to want to get better
BeautyBeyondBones 