| The pro-ana movement is especially ugly for an eating disorder survivor like myself.
When I was in my mid to late 20's I became anorexic. Back then I'd never heard of anorexia nervosa. All I knew was that I wouldn't eat more than my self-prescribed 500 calories a day for fear of gaining an ounce. I didn't discuss my eating habits with anyone because, as is typical with any mental disorder, I was in denial. I didn't think I had a problem, I just thought I finally had control of my life.
Eating what I wanted, when I wanted without any interference put me in control of my life like I'd never been before. I had a daily, even hourly routine that included eating the same thing every single day at exactly the same time and weighing myself constantly thoughout the day. When I had to break from the routine I became angry. I avoided all events that included eating. Any situation where I was expected to sit down at a table with food in front of me was a nightmare. It made me feel as though I had ceded control to someone else.
I was anything but healthy. I was fortunate I never lost any teeth or much hair but I couldn't sit for very long on a hard surface because I had no natural padding. Crossing my legs wasn't something I could for very long either and my rib cage jutted out like tines on a fork. Yet my self-image still said I was fat.
After two nearly two years I was able to gradually come out of it on my own. The process was very mentally painful. It was a terrible, terrible time and one of great emotional anguish. I would never, ever want to relive those years. So anyone who promotes this behavior is sicker than I was then.
__________________
Men are all alike in their promises. It is only in their deeds that they differ. Moliere |