Eating Disorders

It's a bit rude of you to be horrified. You dont know what its like to have an ED and you should be thankful. For some people, controlling what they eat is all they have left.

If you dont like what they say, ignore it. But dont bash people who have a mental illness.

I have an eating disorder and I dont push it upon other people. So are you still "horrified" by me?

I could be wrong, but I don't think that what she meant was that she was horrified by people who have ED, but rather how they are using a site that promotes health, in such an unhealthy way. There are many sites on the internet that are pro-ED (if you can really be pro an eating disorder, probably a better term would be site that provides an unhealthy support system), but I am also a little shocked that MPF would be appealing to people who aren't trying to lose weight in a healthy fashion as this site has many aspects that discourage losing weight in unhealthy ways (ie when you eat less than your daily calories and it gives you a warning about starvation mode, also discouragements against promoting unhealthy weight loss).

I am not horrified by ED, I hope that people who are suffering from them can find support on MPF of people who have dealt with them in the past and who are now using MPF to manage their weight in a healthy fashion.

Using the word cult to describe this type of unhealthy movement will definitely provoke people's feelings. Cult is a word that holds all sorts of judgemental undertones and as someone who studied religious movements in university, particularly new religious movements (what many people refer to as cults) I would definitely not use the word 'cult' to describe anything people with eating disorders are doing.

Perhaps someone who has recovered/ has an ongoing battle with an ED could offer support to others with eating disorders in a forum. If people with ED are drawn to this website, it would be probably better to help those people find healthy supports within our own community as clearly they may not be getting adequate support in the real world.

it IS horrifying. I have several friends with ED who ARE recovering but are friends with people who just do not want to better themselves...

...sometimes they put statuses like "Took too many laxatives....my stomach has been hurting for a week."

And then someone comments a "suggestion" of "oh you should take them like this...or "try it like this!". THAT is horrifying.

I am very happy that I didn't find MFP until after I recovered from my ED because there are toonnnnnns of triggers on this site. In my personal opinion this is not a place for those recovering if they are not strong.

|"I hope they decide to get better soon"

We can't really 'decide' anything.

ED support is just not ok though. It is a serious condition that has truly messed up my life.

This site has done wonders for my ED habits. I've had a somewhat normal intake ever since I came here. I have friends on my list on both sides of disordered eating: those with restriction issues and those with overeating issues. I have friends who are still pro-ed and friends who are also recovering.

Banning the pro-ed sites make the issue worse, people. It helps alienate people who need the help. It causes the people to withdraw deeper, and to want recovery LESS. It's a rebellion thing.

"Oh yeah? No one accepts us. STARVE ALL THE FAT OFF! Screw them!"

believe me, i've been there.

and yeah, it's disturbing and it's scary, but these people need acceptance. Acceptance of the person helps the person accept themselves.

and self-acceptance is the ONLY cure for eating disorders

the. only. cure.

That makes me ill. As someone who was seriously underweight... you CAN'T be that way forever. I read that anorexia can only last for so long and then go in one of three directions - death, rehabilitation, or another ED. And now I'm trying to LOSE weight because of the weight gain from the binges, due to the fact that for years my body had been deprived for so long. I just think to myself, I would never, EVER wish this on someone else. It has handicapped me in so many ways. I have lost so many wonderful opportunities of my teens and early 20s because of its isolation.

Completly agree with this! I have been controlling my anorexia/bulimia since I admitted to it at 16! It is a life long illness that can return at any point and it is something I wouldn't wish on anybody x

Right on (from one Kate to another)

Having battled EDs since the age of 13 on and off (I am now almost 37), I often wish I could flick a switch and go back to that day when I decided to go on a diet the same as my friend. It totally consumed me, and coupled with childhood abuse and severe bullying as well as mild Asperger's syndrome, it has stolen much of my life away so far, and lost me opportunities to work in West End theatre, and do so many things I had aspired to do. I have just about given up hope of ever fulfilling any of my dreams now, in truth.

For me, it was never about being thin or being perfect. It was about feeling in control, and at a time where my self esteem was zero, I came to associate my weight, with my value, to such a degree that it has never left me. There is nothing glamorous, pretty or impressive about eating disorders. Nothing at all. They are soul destroying.

At times, I sit and think, it should be so easy to just step out of it. I am forever advising others and reminding them that life is so short and I can even at times 'see' that I should be living life to the full and simply striving to be healthy, but that balance has yet to be found for me. I despair when I see a) those who think it is the latest fad and cool thing to do b) those who are taking the path I took, which can so easily lead to death ( I almost died of heart failure at 18, and kidney failure at 22).

I long for the carefree days of just eating what I felt like eating when I was hungry, and stopping when I was full; of being able to have an ice cream and stop without binge eating and purging. The hardest part is knowing how deadly it is, and the risks associated, yet at the point in time the ED takes over thought, 'forgetting' those risks to feel empty again.

I honestly think those actively pursuing their ED and making no attempt and showing no desire to recover, should not be on this site. I came here because I was DESPERATE to overcome the binge eating and to try and find some balance in my eating and exercise habits. I hoped, when I found out the extent of this site, that there would be those out there, fully recovered, perhaps adding me and offering support. But in the end, there is only so much people can do to help when someone is in the grip of such faulty thinking and obsession.

I hope those who are still in the grip of their EDs, and who are still striving to disappear entirely physically, see some light and find in themselves the wish to recover and start living again, as quite honestly, you never know when you might purge once too often, restrict a little too much, exercise beyond your already weakened heart's capacity, and end up snuffing out your own, very precious life.

Having battled EDs since the age of 13 on and off (I am now almost 37), I often wish I could flick a switch and go back to that day when I decided to go on a diet the same as my friend. It totally consumed me, and coupled with childhood abuse and severe bullying as well as mild Asperger's syndrome, it has stolen much of my life away so far, and lost me opportunities to work in West End theatre, and do so many things I had aspired to do. I have just about given up hope of ever fulfilling any of my dreams now, in truth.

For me, it was never about being thin or being perfect. It was about feeling in control, and at a time where my self esteem was zero, I came to associate my weight, with my value, to such a degree that it has never left me. There is nothing glamorous, pretty or impressive about eating disorders. Nothing at all. They are soul destroying.

At times, I sit and think, it should be so easy to just step out of it. I am forever advising others and reminding them that life is so short and I can even at times 'see' that I should be living life to the full and simply striving to be healthy, but that balance has yet to be found for me. I despair when I see a) those who think it is the latest fad and cool thing to do b) those who are taking the path I took, which can so easily lead to death ( I almost died of heart failure at 18, and kidney failure at 22).

I long for the carefree days of just eating what I felt like eating when I was hungry, and stopping when I was full; of being able to have an ice cream and stop without binge eating and purging. The hardest part is knowing how deadly it is, and the risks associated, yet at the point in time the ED takes over thought, 'forgetting' those risks to feel empty again.

I honestly think those actively pursuing their ED and making no attempt and showing no desire to recover, should not be on this site. I came here because I was DESPERATE to overcome the binge eating and to try and find some balance in my eating and exercise habits. I hoped, when I found out the extent of this site, that there would be those out there, fully recovered, perhaps adding me and offering support. But in the end, there is only so much people can do to help when someone is in the grip of such faulty thinking and obsession.

I hope those who are still in the grip of their EDs, and who are still striving to disappear entirely physically, see some light and find in themselves the wish to recover and start living again, as quite honestly, you never know when you might purge once too often, restrict a little too much, exercise beyond your already weakened heart's capacity, and end up snuffing out your own, very precious life.

Once again, well said.