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So at the end of the month National ED Awareness Week (February 26-March 3, 2012). I have in some of my blogs mentioned to some extent mentioned that I am in recovery....from what well a few things some are which are private but I am going to talk right now about my recovery from an eating disorder. There are a few reasons why I am doing this. One is that there are so many misconceptions about them, two is that there are some personal benefits of writing for me :), and finally it is awareness week next week and this year the theme is Everybody knows Somebody. I think that it totally true. I know many people, partially those I have been in treatment with but I also know of friends that I know outside of that world that have struggled as well, even before me. Eating disorders kill. Let me begin with that. These past two years I have known five friends that died from eating disorders or eating disorder complications. Those were 5 too many precious lives lost to a deadly disease. So Eating disorders -- such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder, and EDNOS (Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified) -- include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues. Eating disorders are serious emotional and physical problems that can have life-threatening consequences for females and males.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
Symptoms include:
• Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body
type, age, and activity level
• Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”
• Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
• Loss of menstrual periods
• Extreme concern with body weight and shape
BULIMIA NERVOSA is characterized by a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging.
Bulimia includes eating large amounts of food--more than most people would eat in one meal--in short
periods of time, then getting rid of the food and calories through vomiting, laxative abuse, or overexercising.
Symptoms include:
• Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
• Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness
• Purging after a binge, (typically by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills
and/or diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)
• Frequent dieting
• Extreme concern with body weight and shape
BINGE EATING DISORDER (also known as COMPULSIVE OVEREATING) is
characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of
feeling comfortably full. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and
often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge. People who overeat compulsively may struggle with
anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge eating.
Body weight may vary from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.
EDNOS- can include some combination of the signs and symptoms
of anorexia, bulimia, and/or binge eating disorder. While these behaviors may not be clinically
considered a full syndrome eating disorder, they can still be physically dangerous and emotionally
draining. All eating disorders require professional help. Some of the heath consequences of eating disorders are:
Health Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa: In anorexia nervosa’s cycle of self-starvation,
the body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally. Thus, the body is forced to
slow down all of its processes to conserve energy, resulting in serious medical consequences:
• Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is
changing. The risk for heart failure rises as the heart rate and blood pressure levels sink
lower and lower.
• Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones.
• Muscle loss and weakness.
• Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
• Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
• Dry hair and skin; hair loss is common.
• Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an
effort to keep the body warm.
Health Consequences of Bulimia Nervosa: The recurrent binge-and-purge cycles of
bulimia can affect the entire digestive system and can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances
in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions. Some of the health consequences
of bulimia nervosa include:
– Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and
death. Electrolyte imbalance is caused by dehydration and loss of potassium, sodium and
chloride from the body as a result of purging behaviors.
– Potential for gastric rupture during periods of bingeing.
– Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting.
– Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting.
– Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of laxative abuse.
– Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis.
Health Consequences of Binge Eating Disorder: Binge eating disorder often results in
many of the same health risks associated with clinical obesity. Some of the potential health
consequences of binge eating disorder include:
– High blood pressure.
– High cholesterol levels.
– Heart disease as a result of elevated triglyceride levels.
– Type II diabetes mellitus.
– Gallbladder disease.
These are from the-National Eating Disorder Association
Personally, I have struggled with an eating disorder but it doesn't matter which one because the symptoms might be different but the outcome is still the same. It also can lead to triggering information for those in recovery that I am not going to post on here. I can however say, that I have been in and out of treatment all through high school including inpatient, residential, PHP, and outpatient...so every level of care out there. I have also been to 4 places for treatment because this disease is so hard to fight and it is one that at first I didn't completely have the energy to fight. I can also say I have been out of Center for Change where I last was at for inpatient and day (PHP) treatment for 15 months and I have been free of ED behaviors since my discharge (and during because you can't get away with crap at CFC). That doesn't mean I still don't have my struggles but now I am getting to what are the root causes because after all the real problems are not the food. This disease for me was cause by several factors but one that I want to focus on tonight that was once unhealthy for me is now healthy and that is cheerleading/dancing. Cheerleading was one of the factors that contributed to my ED. Now I also do take responsibility for my actions but I also started cheering when I was nine years old so my responsibility level and awareness at that age and up til about 15 was not as strong. However, I acknowledge my choices and actions.
Anyways, cheerleading is a sport that often puts a lot of emphasis on beauty and weight. Even at a young age we were told what to eat and not eat. What we should be weighing and that we needed to exercise everyday. Now I encourage healthy eating and exercise especially in children but I believe in intuitive eating and loving guidance from parents, not from cheer coaches. Well the thing is I kept cheering all throughout my childhood which was good in some ways, I made some friends and was active in school but also it was bad for my mental health. Did my parents know...well not really especially at first. I was just a "picky" eater. Well, eventually I had a mental breakdown and was physically unstable and needed help. My parents noticed too and got it for me and then evnetually I began to get better and healthier. Then that went downhill again after treatment. This happened a lot until Center for Change. Am I saying it won't happen again...most likely not...at least not for ED as for some of my other diagnoses I cannnot say but I am who I am. Taking one day at a time is all that I can do.
About a month and a half ago I joined an adult community of cheerleaders forming here in Salt Lake. It is a all-volunteer adult cheer-for charity squad whose mission is to raise money for people living with HIV/AIDS, breast cancer and other life threatening conditions through the sport of cheerleading. As a proud member of the PCA (Pride Cheerleading Association), we are composed of adults of all ages, body types, races, religions, genders, and sexual orientations. Cheer Salt Lake values the beautiful diversity our community offers and believes that together we will work hard to provide the most exhilarating crowd-pleasing performances so that we may help those in need. Each team of the Pride Cheerleading Association are hard working fundraisers for what we call ‘Cheer for Life.’ As a fundraising group who cheers, we seek to enhance the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS and other life threatening conditions by not only raising money for local charities, but by raising the spirits and hopes of the community and inspiring people to always strive for their personal best. Furthermore, we celebrate the beauty and diversity of all the members of our community. Eating disorders are also diseases that are life-threatening and are also so often connected to the sport of cheerleading. A study recently conducted of Division I and II college cheerleaders (both male and females) said that there were 33.1 percent had some risk of eating disorder characteristics and/or behaviors. Cheerleaders on teams with midriff uniforms were most disposed to body-image issues. Ok well midriff uniforms are being used in cheerleaders and dancers as young as 5 these days!!!! Also a lot of cheerleaders go on diets...diets don't work. Promise. If you want to learn more about your hunger/fullness and others get this book called Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD and Elyse Resch, MS, RD, FADA. It is the CFC Bible basically and an AMAZING book I think everyone should read honestly.
This time I am doing cheer with a whole new body basically. I am now nourished and my weight has definitely changed (FOR THE BETTER!!) and I am healthy. My mind is in a better place most practices and days and it allows my body to function and to do the things it needs to do. Has it presented challenges? Yes! I am having to re-learn previous skills that came quite easy for me especially my tumbling. I am also having to re-learn how to fly again being used to my body and aware of it and also how to base correctly again and building up muscle in the right areas. But this aspect that was once so unhealthy for me is now probably one of my best coping skills in recovery.
"There is no cure... (but)... there is a solution. That solution is recovery."-Jenni Schaefer
