Providing hope and support to those who suffer
Give a sense of encouragement for those not ready for recovery, thinking about recovery, are in recovery, who are recovered, and to those who lives have been touched by an eating disorder.
Provide awareness, proper education, and treatment options
I'd like to meet:
Anyone who struggles with or have struggled with an eating disorder or friends and family of sufferers and past sufferers are welcome on this site. Those people who support the awareness of, recovery of and, the proper education of eating disorders may also welcome themselves to this site.
Music:
What is an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior. The practice of an eating disorder can be viewed as a survival mechanism. Just as an alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person with an eating disorder can use eating, purging or restricting to deal with their problems. Some of the underlying issues that are associated with an eating disorder include low self-esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control, feelings of worthlessness, identity concerns, family communication problems and an inability to cope with emotions.
Whether a person restricts food intake, binge eats, binges and purges, abuses laxatives, compulsively overeats, or excessively exercises these behaviors often are symptoms and not the problem. They often develop as a way of coping with emotional pain, conflicts related to separation, low self-esteem, depression, stress or trauma. Eating Disorders are serious and complex emotional and physical addictions. Without treatment eating disorders lead to mood swings, physical problems, and potential death.
Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa: Anorexia nervosa is self-imposed starvation. Anorexia nervosa is a serious, life-threatening disorder, which usually stems from underlying emotional causes. Although people with anorexia nervosa are obsessed with food, they continually deny their hunger. People with anorexia nervosa often also limit or restrict other parts of their lives besides food, including relationships, social activities, or pleasure. Anorexia nervosa can cause severe medical problems and even lead to death. The disorder involves extreme weight loss--at least 15% below the individual's "ideal" weight--and a refusal to maintain body weight that is even minimally normal for their age and height and body frame.
Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that can be fatal if left untreated. People who have bulimia nervosa routinely "binge," consuming large amounts of food in a very short period of time, and immediately "purge," ridding their bodies of the just-eaten food by self-inducing vomiting, taking enemas, or abusing laxatives or other medications. If left untreated, bulimia nervosa can lead to serious and even life-threatening problems, such as depression, anxiety disorders, heart damage, kidney damage, injury to all parts of the digestive system, and severe dental damage. Those with bulimia nervosa are at risk for dangerous impulsive, self-destructive behaviors, such as kleptomania, self-mutilation, alcohol and/or drug abuse, and sexual promiscuity.
Binge Eating: See www.somethingfishy.org
Compulsive Overeating: See www.somethingfishy.org
For diagnostic criteria on the above disorders, please see www.somethingfishy.org
Information provided by The Eating Disorder Foundation
Movies:
What is EDNOS?
Having an "Eating Disorder not Otherwise Specified" can mean a number of things... It can mean the individual suffers from Anorexia but still gets their period; It can mean they may still be an "average healthy weight" but be suffering Anorexia; It can mean the sufferer equally participates in some Anorexic as well as Bulimic behaviors (sometimes referred to as being Bulimirexic).Just as it is important to remember that doctors can make mistakes, it is also important to keep in mind that it has only been until very recently (in the last 10 years) that awareness on the subject Eating Disorders has really begun to surface. People are frequently confused (including doctors) about the real differences between anorexia and bulimia (Anorexia essentially being self-starvation, and Bulimia being defined as going through binge and purge cycles - simply put), and often times know nothing at all about binge-eating disorder.For example, a doctor relies completely on his diagnostic manuals and reads the criteria to diagnose an individual as having Anorexia. He finds that his patient has regularly practiced self-starvation techniques, thinks of herself unrealistically as overweight, and seems to be hard on herself... BUT she still has her monthly period (the diagnostic criteria states that there must be loss of monthly menstrual cycles). He may technically diagnose the patient as having "An Eating Disorder not Otherwise Specified".Another example would be that of a person suffering through binge and purge cycles once a week, who feels that they are overweight and who feels depressed. (The diagnostic criteria states that the sufferer must binge and purge, on average, at least twice a week.)Practically speaking, in the first example the person suffers from anorexia and the second suffers from bulimia. Clinically speaking, according to the "text book" they would suffer from "An Eating Disorder not Otherwise Specified". In either case, both people are suffering with an Eating Disorder, both are in danger of potentially deadly physical complications, and both need to make a choice for recovery.
For diagnostic criteria for EDNOS, please see www.somethingfishy.org
Information provided by www.somethingfishy.org
Television:
Warning Signs
Anorexia: Here are some of the common warning signs that indicate that a person may be suffering from anorexia. The person:
Is thin and keeps getting thinner, losing 15% or more of her ideal body weight
Continues to diet or restrict foods even though she is not overweight
Has a distorted body image—feels fat even when she is thin.
Is preoccupied with food, calories, nutrition, or cooking
Denies that she is hungry
Exercises obsessively
Weighs herself frequently
Complains about feeling bloated or nauseated even when she eats normal—or less than normal—amounts of food
Loses her hair or begins to experience thinning hair
Feels cold even though the temperature is normal or only slightly cool
Stops menstruating
Bulimia: Here are some of the common warning signs that a person may be suffering from bulimia. The person:
Engages in binge eating and cannot voluntarily stop
Uses the bathroom frequently after meals
Reacts to emotional stress by overeating
Has menstrual irregularities
Has swollen facial glands, giving her chipmunk cheeks
Experiences frequent fluctuations in weight
Cannot voluntarily stop eating
Is obsessively concerned about weight
Attempts to adhere to diets, but generally fails
Feels guilty or ashamed about eating
Feels out of control
Has depressive moods
Health Consequences
Eating disorders can kill! Be aware of medical complications. Get professional help. Families and friends of eating disordered patients often do not realize the extent to which eating disorders can create serious physical problems. Some of the more common medical consequences of eating disorders are easily recognizable and with early detection can be managed to prevent serious medical complications requiring hospitalization.
Hypomagnesemia – a magnesium deficiency
Hypolcalcemia – a calcium deficiency
Dehydration
Malnutrition
Metabolic Alkalosis – high levels of bases (negative ions) in the body
Metabolic Acidosis – high levels of acids in the body
Low Blood Pressure
Low Heart Rate
Heart Failure
Esophageal Damage (leading to possible rupture) – this usually happens quickly and is very dangerous
Impacted bowels
Osteoporosis
Heart Arrhythmia
Dental Problems
Death
Books:
Here you will find a long list of beneficial organizations. Along with the name of these helpful organizations, you are provided with a brief description about the organization, a website address, and hotline. So scroll through and hopefully you'll find something that is best for you. The categories are: eating disorders, self-mutilation, suicide, rape/sexual assault, domestic/relationship abuse, post traumatic stress disorder, depression/anxiety, drug/alcohol abuse, and miscellaneous.
Eating Disorders
National Eating Disorders Association
website: www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD)
website: www.anad.org
telephone: 847-831-3438
Anorexia and Related Eating Disorders, Inc.
website: www.anred.com
Academy for Eating Disorders (AED)
An Association of multidisciplinary professionals promoting effective treatment, developing prevention initiatives, advocating for the field, stimulating research, ad sponsoring an annual conference.
www.aedweb.org
Anna Westin Foundation
A nonprofit organization providing education, support, and referral information to the general and professional public.
www.annawestinfoundation.org
Eating Disorders Coalition For Research, Policy & Action
Advocates at the federal level on behalf of people with eating disorders, their families, and professionals working with these populations. Promotes federal support for improved access to care.
www.eatingdisorderscoalition.com
Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center
Provides links to sites which provide additional information on eating disorders and related topics.
www.edreferral.com
Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA)
Provides information about local support group meetings.
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org
Eating Disorders Information Network (EDIN)
Provides educational information and treatment referrals.
www.edin-ga.org
Gurze Books
Provides an eating disorders resource catalogue of self-help books, professional texts, and educational videos.
www.bulimia.com
Rader Programs
Specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and related information.
www.raderprograms.com
Something Fishy
This extensive page provides numerous links and lots of information about eating disorders and body image issues.brwww.something-fishy.org
The Children’s Hospital
Full service center for treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults through age 21 with eating disorders.
www.thechildrenshospital.org
The Eating Disorder Education Organization (EDEO)
EDEO provides Education Sessions for people with Eating Disorders and their families.
www.edeo.org
The Eating Disorder Foundation
The mission of The Foundation is to be an effective resource to the general public and the health care community in the collective effort to prevent and eliminate eating disorders.
http://www.eatingdisorderfoundation.org/
The Renfrew Center
Specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and related information.
www.renfrewcenter.com
Cutting/Self-Mutliation
Self-Abuse Finally Ends (SAFE)
website: www.selfinjury.com
telephone: 800-DONT-CUT (800-366-8288)
Suicide
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
website: www.afsp.org
telephone: 888-333-AFSP (888-333-2377)
National Suicide Hotline
telephone: 800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433)
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
website: www.save.org
telephone: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255)
Rape/Sexual Assault
Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
Search for counseling centers by zip code.
website: www.rainn.org
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Free. Confidential. 24/7
telephone: 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673)
Safe Horizon
website: www.safehorizon.org
telephone: 800-621-HOPE (800-621-4673)
Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Program (SAVI)
*New York only
website: www.mssm.edu
Joyful Heart Foundation
My non-profit dedicated to helping victims of sexual assault through dolphin-human therapy. Founded by actress Mariska Hargitay (Law and Order SVU)
*Please note that this is not a crisis/counseling center, but it is a good source of information.
website: www.joyfulheartfoundation.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
website: www.nsvrc.org
telephone: 877-739-3895
Domestic/Relationship Abuse
National Domestic Violence Hotline
website: www.ndvh.org
telephone: 800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233) / TTY: 800-787-3224
Break The Cycle
Break the Cycle's mission is to engage, educate and empower youth to build lives and communities free from dating and domestic violence.
website: www.breakthecycle.org
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
National Institute of Mental Health
website: www.nimh.nih.gov
Depression/Social Anxiety Disorder
National Mental Health Association (NMHA)
website: www.nmha.org
telephone: 800-969-6642 / TTY: 800-433-5959
American Psychological Association (APA)
website: www.apa.org
telephone: 800-374-2721
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
website: www.nida.nih.gov
The Cool Spot
*For teens
website: www.thecoolspot.gov
Alcoholics Anonymous
website: www.aa.org
National Clearing House for Alcohol & Drug Info
website: www.health.org
telephone: 800-729-6686
The Alcoholism and Addictions Resource Guide
website: www.soberrecovery.com
Other/Misc
Teen Line Hotline Help Center
website: www.teenline.org
telephone: 714-NEW-TEEN (714-639-8336)
Go Ask Alice!
Columbia University's health Q&A internet service which provides readers with credible, accessible information so that they can make better decisions concerning their health and well-being.
website: www.goaskalice.columbia.edu
Girls, Inc.
Inspiring girls to be STRONG, SMART, & BOLD. Read about a Girls' Bill of Rights!
website: www.girlsinc.com
Dove's Campaign For Real Beauty
Dove believes all girls deserve to see how beautiful they really are and is committed to raising self-esteem in girls everywhere.
website: www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/
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