Recovery Matters by Leslie E Murray

Weight stigma at the physician's office

The day I learned of the blog carnival hosted by Voice in Recovery and sponsored by the Binge Eating Disorder Association, I found myself in an unique position.  I learned I was being given the opportunity to design my new office.  The first blog topic?  Weight stigma.

I had wondered how many times I'd walked into a physician's office and seen chairs, medical equipment, gowns, and restrooms that didn't accommodate a variety of sizes.  Too many.  I'd also heard painful stories about lectures about weight when a person presented to the physician for a non-weight related complaint.  A physician lecture (on weight) often occurs after patients have sat in an uncomfortable waiting room chair; had their blood pressure taken on the forearm due to lack of proper fitting cuffs whilst sitting in a gown 2 sizes too small.  These are the people who visit the physician.  Others choose to forego health examinations due to the indignities suffered.  I have difficulty seeing this scenario as empowering and inspiring healthy choices, yet it happens.

All of this is part of weight stigma.  It also includes the assumption that thinner automatically equates a healthier disease free state. 

It will be my pleasure to provide a comfortable area for people.  People see their physicians to share maladies and problems.  Ideally, the visit shouldn't create problems due to logistics.  An important part of addressing weight stigma involves empowering people to ask for their needs to be met.  Stigma is also only powerful as long as people let it continue to exist.  Let's watch our words and take care of each other.

 

 

Peace be with you.

Dr. Nancy Snyderman gets it wrong on eating disorders

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While I commend The Today Show for covering eating disorders in women over 30, covering the topic is just not enough.  I was beyond dismayed when I saw the embedded segment.  Dr. Nancy Snyderman, an otolaryngologist serves as the chief medical editor for NBC News and sits in for the interview.

Admittedly, in a five minute interview a full lecture can't be given on eating disorders, but I expected more.  Here's what we don't hear from Dr. Synderman: 1.) Eating disorders are thought to have both genetic and environmental triggers (multifactorial in etiology).  2.) Full recovery is possible.  3.) Treatment consists of team based approached usually combining medical, nutritional, psychological and psychiatric components.

Here's what we did hear: 1.) We loathe our bodies.  2.) {It is understandable} that beautiful blond suburban women have to hold themselves to a higher beauty standard.  3.) Eating disorders are dangerous illnesses that kill.  4.) Eating disorders are about control.  5.) Television personalities, including physicians, try to project an image that they "believe" society wants, not who they actually are.  Where is the choice in this matter? 

With the exception of #3, I have great difficulty agreeing with Dr. Synderman.  It isn't natural to loathe your body.  "Beauty standards" are relative and a creation of society.  They also vary from population to population.  Eating disorders are NOT always about control.  

The good news:  There are great treatment centers addressing this problem, like Renfrew.  You are not alone.  Please seek help today.   

 

Peace be with you.

 

A piece of my mind: "Manorexia"

 

The Journal of the American Medical Association often features essays by physicians titled "A Piece of My Mind."  Often refreshing, and often anonymous, this offers physicians an opportunity to be what they have little opportunity to...be human and express emotion.

Today, I decided to offer my edition.  While news was being made that the prevalence of eating disorders is increasing in males, I kept seeing the word "manorexia."  I personally found it demeaning.  (Suppose this is similar to a man saying he is a feminist?) I won't pretend that I don't understand the shorthand and why the word was created, but it is crude.  Should we then create a word for males who are diagnosed with bulimia or binge eating disorder?  Probably not, because it isn't as sensational.

Similar words are drunkorexia and diabulimia.  Orthorexia is also a newer term, but more research will be required to determine if this is a separate disease entity.

None of these words are in the DSM-IV and doesn't appear that they will be in the DSM-V.  I ask, why are they used?  Does this term help men feel that they are suffering from a man's illness?

The "illnesses" would be treated according to their symptoms.  Do we, unlike the French automatically accept words that people insist on putting into our lexicon; or do we decide how we are labelled?

In truth, the symptoms and drive behind eating disorders are different in men.  Clinicians know that.  Perhaps we need more education to help the media know that too.  Continued word creation won't help education efforts.

 

Peace be with you.

meeting marya: letting go of eating disorder paraphernalia

This blog is inspired in part by the following at Between Living and Existing.

A couple years ago, I met Marya Hornbacher when she spoke at a NAMI function in my town.  Upon hearing that she was coming, admittedly curiosity got the best of me.  MAR-YA, after all, had written a book that I read, carried around, dog eared, and knew all too intimately.  Her book has been banned in schools and much work had been done to undo its damage.  Was I angry? Yes.  At whom, I wasn't quite sure.  I'd come to wonder why such books were even published.  

So why did I go?

I hoped her message would be of recovery and hope.  She presented her new book and disclosed her bipolar diagnosis.  Her struggle was poignant and I felt my anger toward her dissipate.  While the eating disorder was no longer her main struggle, she spoke of the difficulties of depression.  I couldn't be indifferent or heartless when it came to her struggle.

During the book signing, I saw a tired appearing, petite woman with a smart haircut and tattoos covering scars on her arms.  I saw someone, in my opinion, who looked like she needed a hug.  

I don't know where the signed books are anymore.  I don't care.  I let go, I had won my battle.  I wish her peace.

We choose which things we hang on to in life.  Let go of the things that weigh you down.  Don't put people on pedestals, it leaves them no where to go but down.  Don't read things that make you feel bad about yourself or fuel your eating disorder.  Don't look at images and compare yourself to others.  

While I don't want to make recovery seem easy, you don't have to make it harder on yourself.  Loose yourself from the ties that bind.

 

Peace be with you.