Purge The Pain
As teenagers, we have a natural propensity to be fascinated with celebrities. Whether they are actors, models, musicians, socialites, etcetera, we hold them in a light that is all too bright. They’re idolized like deities and held to a standard of excellence that no one should be expected to reach.We’ve seen the famous Nicole Richie standard of so-called “beauty”; the rib cage showing quite noticeably, the cheekbones, hipbones, collarbones all protruding to the point that they may quite literally be nothing else but skin and bone. The general media may scrutinize famous females for being too skinny, but as soon as they gain a couple of healthy pounds gossipers speculate on whose child they’ve conceived. No matter what, it seems that they can never run away from the harsh criticism of tabloids and camera glare from stalkerrazzi.
However, do these women truly know what they’re doing to themselves? Sure they deny having any idea as to what makes them so thin; but when they experience a drastic weight loss that seems to come from no where the answer is quite obvious. Many celebrities are perfectionists. After having been in the spotlight for so many years and catching a glimpse of those malicious headlines, they start to conform to what they think is expected of them. And soon learn that the media is relentless in finding dirt and exposing a secret whether it is true or not. Therefore, they seem to just try and do the best they can.
The same can be said for teenage girls, and boys alike. An overwhelming number of eating disorder patients are perfectionists that want nothing more than to please everyone around them. The extremely intelligent students that becomes repressed, the social butterfly that needs to keep up their image, the athlete that needs to make weight and stay slim can all have symptoms that lead to disordered eating. Athletes like gymnasts and wrestlers are especially at risk since they strive to stay in their weight class or need to stay slim.
The other people-pleasing types just need a way to get out and sometimes that is through eating impossible amounts of food to take their mind off of their tasks. Than afterward they feel guilty and somehow purge the food. Then they feel guilty again thus creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to break. Bulimics can feel a sense of relief after they’ve purged. It’s the same way cutters may feel after hurting themselves.
As you can see, there is a wide variety of people that are susceptible to anorexic or bulimic symptoms. Perfectionists and narcissists are especially at risk for developing one. Don’t think that it is just a teenage girl’s disease. The rising numbers of patients are male and thousands of unknown anorexics/bulimics are males that are afraid to come forward.
If you know someone that needs help, get it to them before it’s too late. If you yourself need help, tell someone! Self-starvation isn’t a diet; it’s a disease.
Julie Anne PhD
A New Beginning Outpatient Center
4300 N Miller Road Suite 251
Scottsdale Arizona 85251
P. 480 941 4247
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