ED Awareness: Everybody knows somebody

If you don't know already, and I'm fairly sure I've mentioned this before, This year's Eating Disorder Awareness week's theme is "Everybody knows somebody".

Some of you might be aware of the 'Six degrees of separation' theory. Even if you think you don't know somebody with an eating disorder, chances are you do. For the longest time, whenever I heard this phrase I thought "That somebody is me. I'm the one everybody knows with an eating disorder."

Then I started asking around. I shared my story, and people I knew started sharing theirs. There was a boy I knew ever since elementary school; he told me one day at the gym that he knew, somewhat, what I was going through. His explanation: He was bulimic during high school, when he was in wrestling.

This was a major shock to me. I was so involved in my own disorder that I didn't even bother to notice anyone else's. When I changed schools, it didn't change. I met new people. One of which was a girl who didn't like 'eating unless standing'. I knew that was a symptom, but let it slide. At that point I wasn't about to lecture about eating disorders for fear of being a hypocrite. She ended up getting worse, getting into drugs and landing in the hospital a few months after I did.

And of course, when I went into the hospital, I met at least two more people with eating disorders. I didn't need six degrees of separation. Chances are, you don't either. Pay attention this week to your friends. To the hard workers, to the withdrawn, to the ones who refuse dinner dates even when their romantic lives depend on it.

Pay attention to the boys and girls in your life who blend in, who seem completely normal. Start a discussion. You might be surprised about who you know who has or had an eating disorder.

If you find a friend who is struggling, help them out. Get them help, and be a friend. There will be a post later on on how to do that.


related reading:

Six Degrees: The science of a connected age; By Duncan J. Watts

Linked: How Everything Is Connected to Everything Else and What It Means for Business, Science, and Everyday Life

 

By Albert-Laszlo Barabasi

ED awareness: The facts

The week is about halfway over now, and it's time to show how serious eating disorders are. Not only as a disease, but as a disease that is underfunded and ignored. As an activist for NEDA's Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I'm going to share some statistics from their website. If you go all the way to the bottom, there, are the references (So you know I'm not making this up, in spite of my passion)

•  In the United States, eating disorders are more common than Alzheimer’s disease (as many as 10 million people have eating disorders compared to 4 million with Alzheimer’s disease).
•  Despite its prevalence, there is inadequate research funding for eating disorders. Funding for eating disorders research is approximately 75% less than that for Alzheimer’s. In the year 2005, the National Institute of Health (NIH) funded the following disorders accordingly:
  Illness Prevalence Research Funds
  Eating disorders: 10 million $12,000,000*
  Alzheimer’s disease: 4.5 million $647,000,000
  Schizophrenia: 2.2 million $350,000,000
  * The reported research funds are for anorexia nervosa only. No estimated funding is reported for bulimia nervosa or eating disorders not otherwise specified.
•  Anorexia nervosa is more expensive to treat than schizophrenia, yet insurance coverage for treatment is exceedingly insufficient. The average direct medical costs for treating anorexia nervosa is $6054 a year compared to $4824 a year for schizophrenia.
•  Research dollars spent on eating disorders averaged $1.20 per affected individual, compared to $159 per affected individual for schizophrenia.
• The average direct medical costs for treating eating disorder patients in the United States is currently between $5-6 billion per year, whereas the global cost of anti-psychotic medication is $7 billion per year.
• Anorexia nervosa has the highest premature mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. The majority of deaths are due to physiological complications.
• Although recovery from anorexia nervosa is often protracted nearly a decade, the outcome of treatment is better than for obesity or breast cancer.

References:
Crow, S.J., Peterson, C.B. The Economic and Social Burden of Eating Disorders. Evidence and Experience in Psychiatry. World Psychiatric
Association (in press).
Lacey, J.V., Devesa, S.S., & Brinton, L.A. (2001). Recent Trends in Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality. Environ Mol Mutagen, (39),
82-88.
McDowell, I. (2001). Alzheimer’s Disease: Insights from Epidemiology. Aging: Milano, (13), 143-162.
Powers, P.S., & Bannon, Y. (2002). The Burdens of Eating Disorders are Rarely Recognized. Evidence and Experience in Psychiatry. World
Psychiatric Association (in press).
Striegel-Moore, R.H., Leslie, D., Petrill, S.A., et al. (2000). One-year Use and Cost of Inpatient and Outpatient Services Among Female and
Male Patients with an Eating Disorder: Evidence from a National Database of Health Insurance Claims. International Journal of Eating
Disorders, (27), 381-389.
Strober, M., Freeman, R., Morrell, W. (1997). The Long-term Course of Severe Anorexia Nervosa in Adolescents: Survival Analysis of
Recovery, Relapse, and Outcome Predictors Over 10-15 years in a Prospective Study. International Journal of Eating Disorders, (22),
339-360.
Tamminga, C.A., Lieberman, J.A. (1999). Schizophrenia Research Series: From Molecule to Public Policy. Biological Psychiatry, (46), 3.

Jenni Schaefer's "Life without ED"

A unique new approach to treating eating disorders
Eight million women in the United States suffer from anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia. For these women, the road to recovery is a rocky one. Many succumb to their eating disorders. "Life Without Ed "offers hope to all those who suffer from these often deadly disorders. For years, author Jennifer Schaefer lived with both anorexia and bulimia. She credits her successful recovery to the technique she learned from her psychologist, Thom Rutledge.
This groundbreaking book illustrates Rutledge's technique. As in the author's case, readers are encouraged to think of an eating disorder as if it were a distinct being with a personality of its own. Further, they are encouraged to treat the disorder as a relationship rather than as a condition. Schaefer named her eating disorder Ed; her recovery involved "breaking up" with Ed Shares the points of view of both patient and therapist in this approach to treatment Helps people see the disease as a relationship from which they can distance themselves Techniques to defeat negative thoughts that plague eating disorder patients
Prescriptive, supportive, and inspirational, "Life Without Ed "shows readers how they too can overcome their eating disorders.

Jenni Schaefer is an internationally known author and speaker whose work has helped change the face of recovery from eating disorders.

Her breakthrough best-seller, Life Without Ed: How One Woman Declared Independence from Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too (McGraw-Hill), popularized an approach that enables men and women to personify their illness (Jenni called hers "Ed," short for "Eating Disorder") and "divorce" themselves from it. Her latest book, Goodbye Ed, Hello Me: Recover from Your Eating Disorder and Fall in Love with Life (released in September 2009 by McGraw-Hill), takes the journey a step farther, from recovery to liberation.

Jenni is a regular guest on national radio and television shows including "Dr. Phil" and "Entertainment Tonight," a contributor to mainstream magazines and collections like the Chicken Soup series, and a popular speaker at schools, conferences, and other venues. She is also a consultant with Center For Change in Orem, Utah, and a member of the Ambassador Council of the National Eating Disorders Association. Her work has been recognized in publications including The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post and Woman's World.

A singer/songwriter living in Austin, Texas, Jenni uses both music and humor in her outreach efforts to help those touched by eating disorders. She is, she says, "single in the city," enjoying a life she considers a gift to be treasured.

She was also currently named as one of NEDA's newest ambassadors.

My Review:


Jenni's take on inspiring those with eating disorders to recover is a new one. It's different from books such as Marya Hornbacher's 'Wasted' in that it tells the story but doesn't include triggering information such as numbers, weight, etc.

It's also different from clinical books such as 'Gaining: the truth about recovering from an eating disorder' in that, again, there are no triggering stories.

Jenni tells the truth. She doesn't say "these are the symptoms and how to get rid of them." Instead, she says: This is my life with Ed, and how I overcame him.

I have since talked to my support group of recovered anorectics and bulimics, and we can all agree: It seems like Jenni read our minds, but our thoughts on paper, and gave us the hope we needed to recover.

Claire Mysko - 5 ways to help girls resist the pressure to be perfect

5 Ways to Help Girls Resist the Pressure to be Perfect




These tips are adapted from You’re Amazing! A No-Pressure Guide to Being Your Best Self by Claire Mysko (Adams Media)



Girls today are told they can do anything. Unfortunately, the message they’re often getting is that they have to do everything--and please everyone while they’re at it. All this pressure is adding up to big time stress. According to The Supergirl Dilemma, a study conducted by Girls Incorporated, more than half of girls in middle school reported that they often feel stressed. By the time girls get into high school, that number jumps to 74%. One third of all girls in grades 3-12 said they often feel sad and unhappy.


When girls get caught up in the quest to be supergirls, they are less likely to feel confident in themselves and more likely to struggle with low self-esteem and poor body image. Here are five tips to help the girls in your life tackle The Supergirl Dilemma.

 1. Does the pressure to do it all sound familiar? Supergirls and Superwomen hear the same voice, and it says “you’re not good enough.” Remember to give yourself a break and take time for healthy stress relief. If we want to break this damaging “super” cycle and set positive examples, we have to start with ourselves.

2. Teach girls to be savvy and critical media consumers. Resist the urge to simply lecture about what you think is inappropriate. Instead, ask them what they like about the movies and TV shows they watch and the magazines they read. What do they dislike? Talk about the difference between fantasy and reality by showing girls real examples of retouching. Point out how often retouching is used to make models and actors look artificially flawless.

3. Encourage girls to exercise their bragging rights. Girls are often hesitant to talk about what makes them amazing because they don’t want to be seen as conceited or they feel like they’re not perfect enough to be proud of themselves. Turn that thinking around by challenging girls to take pride in all of their amazing qualities, not just their achievements. Ask a girl what makes her amazing. If you get a sheepish shrug or an “I don’t know,” press on. You can spark the conversation by sharing a few of her qualities that you think are amazing, but don’t let her off the hook until she can say this sentence out loud: “I’m amazing because…”

4. Discuss the value of making mistakes and taking healthy risks. Many girls are so focused on being perfect and doing things “right” that they miss out on valuable opportunities because they are so afraid of failure. Share a mistake you made or a risk you took in life that helped you get where you are today.

5. When girls talk about the pressures they feel, the best thing you can do is listen. Don’t judge, interrupt, or get upset. Remember that what girls need most of all in their lives are supportive adults who take the time to hear what they’re saying.

           Amazing Girl

•  Asks questions
• Makes mistakes and learns from them
• Talks about her feelings, fears, hopes, and dreams
• Tries new things
• Supports other girls
• Is proud of her accomplishments, no matter how big or small
• Knows three trusted adults she could turn to if she had a problem
• Knows how to set boundaries and say no
• Takes care of her body, mind, and spirit

        Supergirl

• Is afraid of not knowing the “right” answer
• Makes mistakes and agonizes over them
• Keeps it to herself when she’s stressed or sad
• Doesn’t take on new challenges
• Is jealous of other girls’ successes
• Feels like no accomplishment is good enough or big enough
• Wants adults to think she is happy, even if she doesn’t always feel happy
• Sometimes does things she doesn’t want to do if she thinks people might like her more for doing them
• Wishes she could be smarter, prettier, more popular, more athletic--the list goes on

Everybody Knows Somebody. Get involved in NEDAwareness Week 2012, February 26- March 3! Visit the NEDAwareness Week homepage under Programs & Events at www.NationalEatingDisorders.org to register today and learn more about how you can do just one thing to help raise awareness about eating disorders and become part of the solution.
National Eating Disorders Helpline: 800 931-2237

You've heard it all before: "Get good grades. Keep your room clean. Wear the right clothes. Try new extracurricular activities. And why don't you have a boyfriend?" All these demands can be mind-boggling What's a girl to do?"Girls Inc. Presents: You're Amazing " is a guide to help you deal with the amount of pressure you endure to be "perfect."

In this fun and enthusiastic, not-your-mother's book, you'll get advice on not-so-easy topics, including how to: Deal with stereotypes and cliquesFigure out the best way to balance school and a social lifeNavigate the crushes and dating worldFind a place in your familyPacked with guidance from older teens, female role models, and activities from Girls Inc., this fun to read book is truly a guide to being your very best-and happiest-self.

Girls Inc. ("www.girlsinc.org") is a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Through Girls Inc., girls can get together to be themselves and reach their dreams.



Claire Mysko is a writer, media consultant, and the co-founder of Inside Beauty (www.insidebeauty.org), a Web site and outreach program designed to give girls a healthy fashion and beauty reality check. She has served as the assistant director of communications at Girls Inc., the executive editor of SmartGirl, and the director of the American Anorexia Bulimia Association. Claire holds a master's degree in gender studies from The New School for Social Research. For more about the author, please visit www.clairemysko.com. She lives in New York City

Happy(?) Eating Disorder awareness week!

     Something I may not have mentioned before is I am a firm Eating Disorder Recovery Advocate. This week, February 26 to March 3, is Eating Disorder Awareness week. This week is more or less sponsored by NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association) and they are great people.
      During the course of this week, I will still be a Book Blog. Only there will be a theme. Can you guess it yet?

 Eating disorders!


  ......No. Not just that, but Recovery. Self-love, confidence, esteem, and authors who tell us how awesome we are, because sometimes we just forget.


 Check back tomorrow for the week's kickoff post.

Feature and follow Friday!

Welcome, again, to Feature and Follow Friday! This week my internet's been wigging out on me so I may be slow in following you all back. But I'll get there, promise! ^_^


This week's question:

Activity: Share a picture or describe where you love to read the most.

Answer: Starbucks. I know, I know. But I don't even get coffee half the time, just chill out in those big comfy chairs they have and read before going to work across the street. The truth is, if the book is on my iPod via kindle or small enough to fit in my jacket pocket, I'll read just about anywhere. If the book is good, the place doesn't matter.


Today's featured blog (via Alison Can Read) is.....

Ezine of a Random Girl!

Yay! Check out the linky below for the hosts and other bloggers participating today!

Kristina's (tired) writing time: Loving against the law

Be warned that this is less of a pep talk and more of a plot bunny. Also be warned that I hadn't slept for QUITE a while before writing this.



 So. Your character has fallen in love with another. How sweet. But what's this? It's against the law to fall in love! Or, they're in a world where love simply doesn't (or shouldn't) exist!

Well, this brings up questions.

First, how is it possible that they are in love? Was there an error in the genetic coding? Did someone not take their anti-love pills? Are they just a rebel? Everyone loves a good rebel. This is a fundamental question to answer before you start your story. Otherwise, the whole thing won't make sense.

Why is it against the law in the first place? Or, why do people not fall in love in this world? Is the dictator just a jerk? Or...um...I can't think of any other scenarios for this right now. This is also a fundamental question, but you could still get away with answering "Just...because I SAID SO, okay?"

Who are they in love with? Maybe with the dictator who says love does not exist. Maybe with that cute transformer/policeman/alien dude. Maybe with everyone! This is a vital part of your plot. The person they fall in love could make, break, or not affect the novel. Depending on how well you write the love interest. Think 1984, or that other one...um...Not Anthem, but the other one. Maybe Anthem. I can't remember. God, I'm tired.

Does the love interest return the feeling? Why or why not? YOU MUST ANSWER THIS QUESTION. There is simply no getting around it. This is the crossroads of your novel. One path goes East, towards the town of "People have done that before but maybe you got a good spin on it" And the other goes up, towards the cloud called "How the heck do you write something like that? You must be a genius."

What are the consequences for falling in love? Are they bad, or good? Is it death? Something worse than death? Maybe they get banished. Maybe they kill the love interest. Who knows?

Does anyone find out? If so, how? Is this a bad thing, or can this person keep a secret? Maybe the government can read minds. Then there's no hope--someone is GOING to find out. Question answered.

Is there a happy ending, or do they suffer the dire consequences? Or, maybe the consequences aren't so bad. Maybe falling in love introduces or reintroduces the concept to this deprived land and the main character is hailed as a hero.

What makes this character special, that they are able to fall in love? Well, this kind of just follows the first question. I don't know why I thought this question was original.

When does this happen? In the future? Again, this is tied with another question. See the one below for details.

Is it on earth or in a fantasy world? An alternate universe? Ah! The question tie in! I know a lot of you love fantasy and science fiction, so maybe this is a no brainer for you. But it does affect the novel GREATLY. Choose wisely, young Jedi.

And lastly, where do they go from here? Dun Dun Dun! Sequel, anyone?