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Dismissing Disorders
12 years ago
I recently found myself very annoyed with some people when I read a statement saying
"I tried being anorexic for four hours, but I got hungry"
I'm sure they just don't know how serious anorexia is, that they are not intentionally being dismissive of the disorder, but it still pisses me off.
Anorexia is not a diet. It's not something you could switch on and off at will. It is not the product of vanity. It is a serious disorder, typically brought on by stress (this could be stress about your weight, or it could be about anything else).
Sometimes it doesn't even have anything to do with weight.
My mother struggled with anorexia for a lot of her life. Some of it was because of body image issues, but more of it was because a need for control in her life. To this day she still struggles with her own relationship with food.
It's not extreme dieting, it's fucking hell! It's a voice in the back of your head telling you that you don't deserve to eat, that you're pig for having that soda, and that you will never be good enough.
It's not something you choose. It takes hold of your life and refuses to let you go. It becomes part of your thinking, and ever years later you still feel guilty for having a handful of chips.
It pisses me off when people treat it like a joke.
"I tried being anorexic for four hours, but I got hungry"
I'm sure they just don't know how serious anorexia is, that they are not intentionally being dismissive of the disorder, but it still pisses me off.
Anorexia is not a diet. It's not something you could switch on and off at will. It is not the product of vanity. It is a serious disorder, typically brought on by stress (this could be stress about your weight, or it could be about anything else).
Sometimes it doesn't even have anything to do with weight.
My mother struggled with anorexia for a lot of her life. Some of it was because of body image issues, but more of it was because a need for control in her life. To this day she still struggles with her own relationship with food.
It's not extreme dieting, it's fucking hell! It's a voice in the back of your head telling you that you don't deserve to eat, that you're pig for having that soda, and that you will never be good enough.
It's not something you choose. It takes hold of your life and refuses to let you go. It becomes part of your thinking, and ever years later you still feel guilty for having a handful of chips.
It pisses me off when people treat it like a joke.
Heaven forbid anyone try to bring up that "PC bullshit" about how eating disorders are real... nah we just have to "get over" our problems.
At least now me and the lovely lady they trash talked are now internet buddies.
That's good :)
Struggle brings folks together.
Silver lining.
I don't see why people feel they need to joke about disorders like they are not serious.
I once admitted to someone that I had a eating disorder and he looked at me and said "I do too. I eat dis order."
Like... I understand youre worried but come on.
A doctor could tell them about it and they would still rather stick with the stereotype
We need a better understanding of the causes of these sorts of things and people need to stop being do damn heartless and intolerant. Thankfully we are making progress towards this ideal becoming a reality. Slowly but surely.
That's just shameful.