Fear. Guilt. Shame. The emotions are often driven by our deep rooted anxieties and self doubt. We must challenge ourselves to mentally "turn down the volume" and re-regulate the role that they play in our lives.
For individuals with eating disorders, and for the population at large, much of our behavior is governed by these emotions. It is only when we get out of balance that problems occur (yes, the everything in moderation talk).
In speaking with individuals who don't "fit the mold" of the "typical" eating disordered patient, there still exists the fear of exposure to family, friends, and loved ones. This fear, bolstered by shame for having the illness and/or guilt for having a " white woman's illness" is allowed to persist and strengthen.
By not speaking out, it becomes more difficult to obtain treatment and end the cycle. It also delays the necessary research to gain further knowledge about eating disorders. Most importantly, we cannot accurately assess the prevalence, incidence, at risk populations, and devise new treatment for these disorders.
Sadly, the media marketing industry preys on this, and constructs advertisements that are based on the premises on fear, guilt and shame. Think of ads for acne medication, powder (just a sprinkle a day, keeps the odor away), sports drinks, deodorant (raise your hand if your sure), toothpaste, shoes, pantyhose, face cream (that will take years off of our face), dust removers (whilst showing us spotless houses, well behaved kids, dinner on the table, women neatly dressed while doing housework with every hair in place? Who does that?)
The Journal of Business Research has published studies of marketing's use of fear, shame and guilt and its effect on consumer compliance. Certainly, I will not say that some use of these emotions are bad. We need to have fear of going to jail and committing crimes. These emotions help us learn social norms. They however, are not for manipulation for marketers or magazine editors looking to "cash in" by attempting to make us think that we need to "get our body beach ready."
Let's wean ourselves from using these emotions. Per Eleanor Roosevelt, "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face...You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
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