Showing posts with label body image. Show all posts
Showing posts with label body image. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Friday, August 31, 2012
Going To a Doctor for Disordered Eating
I recently made a new friend I’ll call JH who said she was ready to see her doctor but she kept chickening out. She asked me for my advice on what to say to the doctor; here’s what I had to say.
First stop – psychologist, not a medical doctor.
Now don’t freak out over this thought and start worrying about what everyone will think about you visiting a shrink (who really gives a rip about this at this point since your life is in total shambles, plus screw ‘em, if they want to judge you so be it) The basis of your eating disorder is the way you think and the sooner you own up to this the better (and just an FYI in case you don’t know a Psychologist can not prescribe medicine, he/she would have you see a Psychiatrist for those needs).
Update 10/7/10 Reminder: mamaV is not a professional, nor do I claim to be.
I am not stating an ED sufferer should not go to a medical doctor. It is my opinion that a psychologist is an appropriate first step, with the next step being a medical doctor. The truth is that many of us end up in the ER or in a medical doctor’s office due to our physical condition, so in many cases the sufferer does not have a choice. However, when faced with a choice, I believe many medical doctors do more harm than good if they are not trained in eating disorders, leaving sufferers with questions about their illness & diagnosis. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard from individuals who are told to simply go home and start eating. Wow. Now that is great professional advice.
Would I go so far to say that eating disorders are 100% mental illness?
Absolutely. Medical issues are the side effect of our mental condition, and yes, at some point they should be evaluated by a medical doctor, but I would not recommend it as your first stop (unless of course you pass out in school from dehydration, keel over with a heart attack when exercising, or succumb to any other of the lovely ways girls tend to go down with this beastly condition).
Oh, that’s right. That will never happen to YOU right?
Heard it tons of times girls, don’t kid yourself for a minute that your body is somehow strong enough to take your punishment. I thought this too when I was a teen and 20 something, and now I realize what an incredible, stupid risk I was taking with myself. I thank God nothing happened to me, and that I didn’t do any permanent damage to my body that I am aware of, except for a herniated disc in my back from over exercise. But I remember when I was ready to have kids, I was scared to death I wouldn’t be able to since I didn’t get my period for such a long time. I know TMI.
So get your butt into the shrink and figure out what the heck is going on with you, I’ve got an entire section of the site that provides resources.
Oh…you don’t want to have a mental illness? You worry about the stigma of medication? Tell me about it.
To this day, I get a twinge in my stomach picking up my prescriptions at the pharmacy since I just know the guy is sweet as pie while he is silently eyeing me and the kids up in our mini-van thinking “another doped up housewife popping pills” (I am no housewife, nor am I doped up, but yes – I have to pop quite a few pills to get through the day).
Do I wish it was different?
Do I sometimes wish I could hack it without the drugs?
Truth be told, not really.
Because I’ll tell ya what. Life before drugs SUCKED. And I mean sucked big time. I am never, ever going back there, back to that spinning head, I am a lifer, period.
Back to you and the point of the post, I do think there is a point in here somewhere, oh yeah, here it is in a nutshell;
IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE AN EATING DISORDER, YOU HAVE ONE.
There’s no criteria to meet, there is no weight you need to get to, that’s all just a ball of crap. It’s about what is going on your head, you and I both know that, and a good psychologist is going to get that and he/she will help you get your life back.
Love,
mV
XOXO
First stop – psychologist, not a medical doctor.
Now don’t freak out over this thought and start worrying about what everyone will think about you visiting a shrink (who really gives a rip about this at this point since your life is in total shambles, plus screw ‘em, if they want to judge you so be it) The basis of your eating disorder is the way you think and the sooner you own up to this the better (and just an FYI in case you don’t know a Psychologist can not prescribe medicine, he/she would have you see a Psychiatrist for those needs).
Update 10/7/10 Reminder: mamaV is not a professional, nor do I claim to be.
I am not stating an ED sufferer should not go to a medical doctor. It is my opinion that a psychologist is an appropriate first step, with the next step being a medical doctor. The truth is that many of us end up in the ER or in a medical doctor’s office due to our physical condition, so in many cases the sufferer does not have a choice. However, when faced with a choice, I believe many medical doctors do more harm than good if they are not trained in eating disorders, leaving sufferers with questions about their illness & diagnosis. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard from individuals who are told to simply go home and start eating. Wow. Now that is great professional advice.
Would I go so far to say that eating disorders are 100% mental illness?
Absolutely. Medical issues are the side effect of our mental condition, and yes, at some point they should be evaluated by a medical doctor, but I would not recommend it as your first stop (unless of course you pass out in school from dehydration, keel over with a heart attack when exercising, or succumb to any other of the lovely ways girls tend to go down with this beastly condition).
Oh, that’s right. That will never happen to YOU right?
Heard it tons of times girls, don’t kid yourself for a minute that your body is somehow strong enough to take your punishment. I thought this too when I was a teen and 20 something, and now I realize what an incredible, stupid risk I was taking with myself. I thank God nothing happened to me, and that I didn’t do any permanent damage to my body that I am aware of, except for a herniated disc in my back from over exercise. But I remember when I was ready to have kids, I was scared to death I wouldn’t be able to since I didn’t get my period for such a long time. I know TMI.
So get your butt into the shrink and figure out what the heck is going on with you, I’ve got an entire section of the site that provides resources.
Oh…you don’t want to have a mental illness? You worry about the stigma of medication? Tell me about it.
To this day, I get a twinge in my stomach picking up my prescriptions at the pharmacy since I just know the guy is sweet as pie while he is silently eyeing me and the kids up in our mini-van thinking “another doped up housewife popping pills” (I am no housewife, nor am I doped up, but yes – I have to pop quite a few pills to get through the day).
Do I wish it was different?
Do I sometimes wish I could hack it without the drugs?
Truth be told, not really.
Because I’ll tell ya what. Life before drugs SUCKED. And I mean sucked big time. I am never, ever going back there, back to that spinning head, I am a lifer, period.
Back to you and the point of the post, I do think there is a point in here somewhere, oh yeah, here it is in a nutshell;
IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE AN EATING DISORDER, YOU HAVE ONE.
There’s no criteria to meet, there is no weight you need to get to, that’s all just a ball of crap. It’s about what is going on your head, you and I both know that, and a good psychologist is going to get that and he/she will help you get your life back.
Love,
mV
XOXO
Thursday, August 30, 2012
It's Time to Get Off Barbie's Back - Eating Disorder Authors -
I don't know about you but personally I am tired of reading how our beloved 'Barbie' is responsible for the development of eating disorders. Barbie - the root of all evil! Come on give the doll a break!
Most of us grew up with Barbie - however we only had 1 doll and could purchase various outfits for her. Today it rather confuses me - outfits don't exist. For years now you just purchase another doll with a different look (some of which are fairly scarey). Talk about a difference in generations. Somehow it brings a visual to the idea of the 'disposable generation'.
CONFUSION
I'm not really clear on how children play with all the Barbie's they accumulate. I've been at birthday parties where little girls received more than 10 dolls. Really, what do they do with 10 dolls? I'm fairly sure all those dolls wouldn't fit in the 'Barbie Dream House'! Besides with that many girl dolls in one house think of the drama that could rapidly ensue....(perhaps where reality TV developed from).
NOSTALGIA
We used to have a carrying case that held all the outfits, shoes, hats, accessories and of course our 1 Barbie Doll. We used to spend hours dressing up our doll - not always in the best of taste mind you! I for one feel Barbie had more influence in our abilities to develop our own style of dressing.
REALITY
Back to my original point. Blaming Barbie for the development of eating disorders and body image distortions appears far-fetched, simplistic and a bit of playing to media sensationalism. People who actually buy into declarations like this are contributing to the minimization of these serious life-threatening illnesses. It's old news and statistically has no bearing on the development of eating disorders or body image problems.
Never in 31 years of working with Eating Disorder Clients,have I heard a single client seeking help complain of playing with Barbie as a child. Trust me I feel I've heard just about everything...but not that!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Eating Disorders Illnesses of the Soul
We know what eating disorders are really about! Shame is indeed a very crippling emotion often causing very destructive coping mechanisms that include eating disorders of all kinds BUT also shame causes DISHONESTY. In an effort to keep hidden the self-esteem crushing effects of shame the individual is forced into a life of secret lies and behavior further adding to the shame. This creates the devastating cycle of shame - rage - guilt....
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