Hopefully, this topic page, in turn, has been helpful to you in some way, whether you are an eating disorder sufferer, concerned family member/friend, or a researcher of the subject. Some of the most satisfying emails I've received have been from girls in their early teens struggling with symptoms of anorexia who, after our initial correspondence, decided to "come clean" with their parents and/or seek professional help. It is gratifying to know that their lives have been altered, and that this writer has played a part, however small, in putting them on the right path. To the untreated sufferer, all I can say is be honest with yourself and have the courage to confront your personal problems. Everyone has a "load," but no one should live with the kind of emotional pain that breeds self-starvation and death. You deserve better.
Many writers, yours truly included, have found keeping a diary helpful in working out their problems. Many good books are based on diaries: The Diary of Anne Frank and World War II journalist William L. Shirer's Berlin Diary immediately come to mind. Think of it as your personal literary playground. Here you can rant, rave, fantasize, wax eloquent, and say anything you want. It is yours and yours alone. Just make sure you keep it in a secure place, away from prying eyes.
It has been my experience that most of life's problems, including my own, come from extremes. This idea has been around as long as civilization itself, yet fewer people have heeded it in modern times. The ancient Greeks were big believers in moderation. Long before the first milleniuum, the Chinese were doing tai-chi, a health-based martial art designed to restore balance in one's energy flow ("chi").
My mother died of anorexia nervosa. My father suffers from advanced prostate cancer, and his obesity has contributed to his illness. Whatever you call it, too much or too little is too bad.
Joyful to many, the holiday season can be lonely -- and "triggering"-- for people with eating issues. I do not presume to offer any panaceas for these difficulties, but I would suggest that you get out and mingle with people whose company you genuinely enjoy and with whom you feel comfortable. Nothing is worse than being somewhere you don't want to be. I, for one, would rather have a quiet dinner with a good friend or two than be in a room with hundreds that I don't know. And good friends are supportive: they make allowances for each other. After all, nobody's perfect.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Mark Stuart Ellison's Anorexia topic, please visit the Discussions page.