The Culture of Disordered Eating in Athletics

Emotional Maturity

Dear Readers,

I found this list among my growing pile of things to do/things to read/things to file, etc.:

"The Criteria of Emotional Maturity

• The ability to deal constructively with reality
• The capacity to adapt to change
• A relative freedom from symptoms that are produced by tensions and anxieties
• The capacity to find more satisfaction in giving than receiving
• The capacity to relate to other people in a consistent manner with mutual satisfaction and helpfulness
• the capacity to sublimate, to direct one's instinctive hostile energy into creative and constructive outlets
• The capacity to love"

-William C. Menninger, MD (1899-1966)

Although these thoughts were written over 40 years ago, I believe they are just as relevant today as they were at the time they were written.  I would encourage you to consider each of these items in terms of where you are with your capacity or ability to "do" them.  You can certainly think about this in terms of your every day life as well as your life as an athlete.  Specifically, you can consider things like "how do I respond when my coach tells me something I don't agree with/pulls me from the game/moves me down the depth chart," "are my interactions with my teammates satisfying for me, if not, why not," "when I get angry, what do I do? do I express my anger? how?,"  "can I accept things as they are - my role on the team, my playing time, etc." 

If you find that your answer to these or your own questions are troubling to you, by all means, seek assistance from a counselor or sport psychologist.  You may find that talking through some of these things leads to a sense of clarity, calmness, and greater satisfaction/enjoyment. 

I Beg to Differ!

Have you ever heard anyone say that to you?  Have you said that to anyone?  If not...all it means is that what you have just heard someone say, you disagree with.

What if you could "beg to differ" with the running commentary in your head that tells you how you are supposed to look, act, be.  Or what if you could "beg to differ" with the pressures you feel from all around you to look, act and be a certain way.  The simple reponse to this is that you can!  However, this is also one of those "easier said than done" moments.  It is possible to counteract the messages you hear from within and from all around you...it also takes practice, time and patience...and the courage to disagree.

One of the most promising areas of research related to prevention in the area of eating disorders and body image has to do with dissonance training.  Simply put, individuals are taught how to counteract or disagree with what they have held near and dear to their hearts - when what they believe it is hurting their hearts.

A few things you can do:

• Complement yourself or someone else on something other than your/their appearance.  For example: I like that you always have something nice to say to me; I like that I try to help others; I like the sound of my/your voice when I/you sing.
• Stand in front of a full-length mirror with as little clothing on as you feel comfortable (the idea is not necessarily to be complete naked but to be able to fully see your figure).  Consider your body in terms of what you like and/or how it works well for you.  Say these things outloud to yourself.  For example: I like my dimples; I like my arms; I like that my legs get me to school and back; I like that my fingers allow me to play the piano.
• Consider what you would say to a friend in order to try to convince her to stop harming herself by conforming to the "thin ideal."  For example: Those images in the magazine aren't real - they're airbrushed and altered by computers - no one really looks that way;  Your health and your life are more important that winning the approval of a judge/your parents/your boyfriend/your teammates.  Now say those things to yourself. 

Beg to differ wiwth the thin ideal!!  The more you do, the more you may find that you genuinely agree with the idea that being healthy (physcially, psychologically, spiritually, emotionally...you get the idea!) is more important to you than...well, anything!

Fat Talk Free Week

A new program has recently been launched by Delta, Delta, Delta called "Reflections Body Image Program."  This is a unique program that heavily involves peers in the process of educating college students about the effects of negative body image.  Recently, the lead researcher, Carolyn Becker, Ph.D. at Trinity University adapted this program for use with athletes.  I was fortunate to hear her speak on this program and the promising potential to help athletes help one another.  I am hopeful that the athlete version of this program will garner NCAA support as well as support from other major athletic associations/organizations in the way that the national sorority Delta, Delta, Delta has supported the Reflections Program.

The Reflections Program has declared this week to be "Fat Talk Free Week".  Please consider clicking on the link here to view a powerful video about eating disorders and body image concerns among women.  At the end of the video there will be a link to the main website for the Reflections Program (www.BodyImageProgram.org). 

Inspirational Quote

"Be not the slave of your own past.  Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience..."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

New Eating Disorder Special Interest Group in Sport Psychology!

I have just returned from the Annual Conference for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).  This year it was held in St. Louis and although I did not take the time to explore the city, I had the unique opportunity to meet with fellow professionals who have an interest in both sport/exercise and eating disorders.  Myself and a colleague have created a Special Interest Group (SIG) for AASP which is the leading organization for sport psychology information and credentialling.  The mission of this SIG is to: To educate athletes, coaches, parents, treatment professionals and the media about signs and symptoms, treatment and consequences of eating disorders and body image disturbance in athletes and exercisers. This SIG will also develop, for use by AASP’s members, prevention materials that can be presented to athletes, parents and coaches.  The Eating Disorders SIG will work with other SIGs within AASP and other professional organizations devoted to athletes and/or eating disorders to promote this effort.

I am excited to have been a part of creating this group of professionals!  I think we can make a significant impact in people's overall understanding of the impact of eating disorders and related concerns on athletes and exercisers.  I welcome any and all comments/suggestions/questions that you may have about this group and/or what we will be doing over the coming months/years.  Your input will be heard by leading professionals in the field of sport psychology and eating disorders.  Please let us know what you think!   

Thoughts on Peacefulness

As I reflect on writing for this blog, I often find that although this is intended to be specific to athletes and those who are regularly physically active I want to convey what I believe to be important for living a healthy and satisfying life regardless of one's status as an athlete or non-athlete, and regardless of whether or not one struggles with eating concerns.  What I believe to be central to our living the kind of lives we want to live is our ability to be authentic with ourselves and others.  I plan to say more about this in another blog; however, an important starting place is to be able to calm one's self and quite one's mind.  By developing our ability to do we can become more connected to our true thoughts, feelings and desires.

Below I have some quotes about peace and peacefulness that may help you to find a sense of peace and to become more true to yourself. 

"Peacefulness is an inner sense of calm - it comes from becoming still - in order to reflect and meditate on our inner wisdom and receive answers. A peaceful heart is one that is free from worry and trouble. It's becoming quiet so we can look at things quietly so we can more clearly understand them and thus come up with creative solutions. It is learning to live in the present."

Nothing is worth more than this day.
- Goethe

Whenever you are sincerely pleased, you are nourished.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Live in the present moment and find your interest and happiness in the things of today.
- Emmett Fox

Be childlike in your sport.

As a "new wave" of organized athletics begins for many of you this fall, I am reminded of the myriad benefits of exercise.  Although many can lose sight of why they may have begun to play a particular sport or to engage in some form of physical activity/exercise, it is useful to reacquaint yourself with those motivations.  Of course physical activity has the benefit of improving both physical and mental health and ca foster collaboration and cooperation between those who might not otherwise encounter one another.

As you consider your participation in athletics, I think it can be especially helpful to remember what it was like to play as a child.  Simply play.  If your memories are at all similar to mine, there was a lot of running, jumping, screaming, laughing, disagreement, compromise and just plain fun!  Certainly there is a certain amount of seriousness that comes with organized athletics especially if your are on a highly competitive team.  If you are so inclined, I'd encourage you to do the following...

Close your eyes, take a few deep, relaxing breaths, and as vividly as possible remember a time when you were a child when you weren't playing to win or to impress, but to have fun with your friends.  Try to recall how you felt running around, laughing and spending time with other kids.  After you spend some time with that memory, I hope that you find yourself smiling when you open your eyes...and a bit more relaxed.  Try to bring that feeling to your next practice or competition.  Sports and athletics can still be enjoyed even if everyone is also trying to win. 

What do you cheer about?

I wanted to share with you a post to a sport psychology listserve.  Again, I find that I am posting something here not directly related to eating disorders; however, I find that thoughts such as those below can be inspiring and centering.  It is easy to lose focus and difficult at times to find our way back. 

I have received permission from the author to reproduce her thoughts here in their entirety...

Hello List,

I just had the opportunity to watch a debate on what decides which "COUNTRY" wins the Olympic Games. The Chinese press came out with the headline that "China wins Olympics! China has won the most "GOLD" medals."

Before I knew it, I was yelling my opinion at the TV...a little embarrassing. But the question becomes, "Is the Olympics about a "Country" winning the Olympics or is the opportunity to compete "representing" your country, in your particular event(s) what's important? Did Phelps win his gold medals so the USA would be higher in the medal count than China or did he do it to enter the history books as the most decorated swimmer of all time and put his talent on the line? Did the women's beach volleyball team win for themselves and bring honor to the USA or did they do it so the USA would gain more Olympic medals to be the best country in the world? And I could go on and on but you get the idea.

Would the USA winning more gold and/or medals overall, somehow transform America, into a stronger, more unified country? What about China? Will their claim of victory change the dictatorial nature of a repressive regime and lack of civil rights of it's citizens? No, neither is going to occur.

We cheer for the best talent. We cheer for the under-dog. We cheer for the one athlete a country could afford to send. We cheer for the beauty and grace of movement. The point is we cheer...we CHEER!!

It is, however, two weeks that give us an excuse to sit back and watch the best talent gathered in the world compete against each other. And it gives us a chance to cheer in ways we may not know in our daily lives.

I have a framed picture of an Olympic Torch ablaze with a USA / Olympic rings flag in the background. At the bottom it says, "Belief: At any given place, on any given day, at any given time, something magical can happen." That is what I choose to cheer about.

Whatever your convictions, the games bringing Country to the forefront, or raising up the athletes for their incredible performances, do this one thing for me...CHEER with your hearts out!!!!

As an aside, I do not think a "country" wins the Olympic Games.

All my best,

Betty

PS If you are on the side of there is a winning "country", I pity the person designated to orchestrate that final medal ceremony!

Betty Kelley, PHD

CEO/Mental Skills Coach

Performance Enhancement Group, Inc

480.838.5603 H/O

480.227.3586 Cell

bckelleyphd@cox.net

www.mentalskillscoaching.net

I hope you are able to believe that "at any given place, on any given day, at any given time, something magical can happen" for you.

The Olympics are here!!

Another Olympic games brings excitement, passion, and the realization of dreams.  It is a wonderful thing to be a spectator as some of the world's most well-trained, talented athletes take to their respective fields and perform. 

As you watch the Games unfold I would encourage you to watch for your enjoyment, inspiration and to cheer on your favorite athletes.  I would also encourage you to be wary of moments you may have that distract you from this.  The moments that cause you to compare your physique to an Olympic athlete's physique.  Be gentle with yourself and remember that these athletes train as if this IS their job...and for some it is.  Many of these athletes have state-of-the-art technology and highly-trained professionals informing and guiding their training.  The rest of us are not so fortunate!

Please enjoy the Games in the spirit for which they were initiated...to bring competitors together from across the globe to compete in a variety of games...for the purpose of bringing peace between nations.

(To borrow from a national ad campaign...) Go World!! 

Mental Health Parity

I wanted to take a minute or two to inform those of you who may not know about action Congress is taking for Mental Health Parity.  The long and short of this legislation is to bring insurance coverage in line with coverage for physical health concerns.  The Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) has been active in leading the charge to educate our legislators about the importance of this work, especially as it relates to coverage for the treatment of eating disorders.  To learn more, go to the EDC website: http://www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org/legupdate/legupdate110.html