becoming my dream

having an eating disorder is much more than being on a diet. an eating disorder is an illness that permiates all aspects of each sufferer's life, is caused by a variety of emotional factors and influences, and has profound effects on the people suffering and their loved ones

dieting is about losing a little bit of weight in a healthy way.

eating disorders are about trying to make your whole life better through food and eating (or lack of).

dieting is about doing something healthy for yourself.

eating disorders are about how life won't be good until a bit (or a lot) of weight is lost, and there's no concern for what kind of damage you do to yourself to get there.

dieting is about losing some weight in a healthy way so how you feel on the outside will match how good you already feel on the inside.

eating disorders are about being convinced that your whole self-esteem is hinged on what you weigh and how you look.

Dieting is about attempting to control your weight a bit better.

eating disorders are about attempting to control your life and emotions through food/lack of food -- and are a huge neon sign saying "look how out of control I really feel"

Dieting is about losing some weight.

Eating Disorders are about everything going on in life -- stress, coping, pain, anger, acceptance, validation, confusion, fear -- cleverly (or not so cleverly) hidden behind phrases like "I'm just on a diet".

eating disorder not otherwise specified. this is not so much an actual ed as it is an official diagnosis.  it is used for people who show signs of dissordered eating but do not fit all of the criteria for a particular disorder

anorexia nervosa is characterized by a significant weight loss resulting from excessive dieting. most women and an increasing number of men are motivated by the strong desire to be thin and a fear of becoming obese. anorexics consider themselves to be fat, no matter what their actual weight is. often anorexics do not recognize they are underweight and may still "feel fat" at 80 lbs. anorexics close to death will show you on their bodies where they feel they need to lose weight. in their attempts to become even thinner, the anorexic will avoid food and taking in calories at all costs, which can result in death.
anorexics usually strive for perfection. they set very high standards for themselves and feel they always have to prove their competence. they usually always put the needs of others ahead of their own needs. a person with anorexia may also feel the only control they have in their lives is in the area of food and weight. if they can't control what is happening around them, they can control their weight. each morning the number on the scale will determine whether or not they have succeeded or failed in their goal for thinness. they feel powerful and in control when they can make themselves lose weight. sometimes focusing on calories and losing weight is their way of blocking out feelings and emotions. for them, it's easier to diet then it is to deal with their problems directly.

binge eating disorder is characterized by consuming large quantities of food in a very short period of time until the individual is uncomfortably full.  binge eating disorder is much like bulimia except the individuals do not use any form of purging (i.e. vomiting, laxatives, fasting, etc.) following a binge.  individuals usually feel out of control during a binge episode, followed by feelings of guilt and shame.  many individuals who suffer with binge eating disorder use food as a way to cope with or block out feelings and emotions they do not want to feel.  individuals can also use food as a way to numb themselves, to cope with daily life stressors, to provide comfort to themselves or fill a void they feel within. 

bulimia is characterized by a cycle of binge eating followed by purging to try and rid the body of unwanted calories. a binge is different for all individuals. for one person a binge may range from 1000 to 10000 calories, for another, one cookie may be considered a binge. purging methods usually involve vomiting and laxative abuse. other forms of purging can involve excessive exercise, fasting, use of diuretics, diet pills and enemas.

bulimics are usually people that do not feel secure about their own self worth. they usually strive for the approval of others. they tend to do whatever they can to please others, while hiding their own feelings. food becomes their only source of comfort. bulimia also serves as a function for blocking or letting out feelings. unlike anorexics, bulimics do realize they have a problem and are more likely to seek help.

if you are ready to get help here is a link to a site that might be useful:
http://www.something-fishy.org/




















not ready for recovery?