Special Topics

The point of my letter is to let you know that eating disorders aren’t a joke. I’ve been in treatment for two years and have missed out on so much of my life. I have fainted and been hospitalized many times. On your show Marley faints and then goes back to everyday life. I understand that it is very hard for anyone without an eating disorder to understand, but as a show, you have an obligation to thoroughly research any type of medical condition you write into your script.

Most people don’t know a lot about eating disorders, and this particular episode of your show has sent the wrong message. I commend you in your effort to spread awareness of this disease, but I feel strongly that it should be done correctly.

"Fat Chat is No Light Matter," by Andrea Wachter and incorporated them into an info-graphic you can share with your spouse, other parents and your community. Let's help every child feel good about the way they look!

I’m going to discuss and review a few applications. Some I suggest you ignore. Or delete. And some I think you should know about.

As I stood in the kitchen feeling sick, I realized that if my body isn't well, I won’t be productive and none of the things I need to get done will happen correctly. So, I decided to listen to my body and go lie down and rest. As I lied in bed I said to my body, “sorry for almost blowing you off.” When I was with Ed, he would make me feel guilty for taking care of myself and listening to my body…not now…now that I am recovered I take care of myself and my body and you can too!

In eating disorder treatment and recovery, people often talk about the eating disorder’s “voice.” Sometimes patients and family members are initially wary of this language, wondering if they are “hearing voices,” and whether that means they are “crazy.” However, that’s not the case at all!

One day last week out of the blue my back decided to give me some trouble. So much so that it was very hard for me to walk. I put a plan in place to take care of what my body was telling me. I took some medicine, called my massage therapist, did some yoga postures, iced my back, and got some rest. All of these things were necessary to get me feeling better and on my feet again. I listened to what my body was telling me and I reacted with kindness, care, and love.

To the uninitiated, many of the things said about eating disorder treatment can be confusing. “Insiders” (staff and established patients) use words and phrases that may be unfamiliar. Whether you are a first-time patient, a family member, friend, or outside provider, “learning the lingo” can go a long way in demystifying the treatment process. Here is an introduction to some of the most common terms you may encounter.

During the first week of treatment, she had temper tantrums, like a three year old, rambling on about the most irrational statements, misquoting her doctor to suit her eating disorder’s agenda. At one point, she put her fingers down her throat in an attempt to purge her snack before we drove to treatment. This was devastating to me and my husband because she used to purge when her eating disorder began, but I could safely say before treatment she hadn't purged for months.