Eating Disorders...

T

TeTe

Cathlete
I just got into a pretty heated debate with someone here at work (yes, again, slow here today!) She refuses to believe that eating disorders exist. She thinks they are just excuses people make up for attention.:mad:

Now, I'm not an expert, but I've known some people who have had some real issues with food, and I can't believe they were just making it up! I mean, they had to go to therapy and are living with a struggle every day!

Anyhoo, just wanted to vent.
 
Hmmmm.

Obviously she's no expert, either!

I've known people with eating disorders, and the last thing that they want is attention. They hate having people point out how much they've eaten (or not). They become expert at hiding things ... food consumed, food left on the plate, and mad dashes to the bathroom after eating.

Hope that it gets busy at work so you don't have to listen to more of her uninformed opinions!
 
Pearlstrand said:
Hope that it gets busy at work so you don't have to listen to more of her uninformed opinions!
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Here here!

To say eating disorders don't exist is is like saying back pain or allergies don't exist. Sorry, but your coworker's a moron. I wish people would give mental illnesses the respect they deserve.

There's a new commerical on the radio that I've been hearing a lot lately where a woman says "If I told you I had back pain instead of a mental illness, then would you date me?" and then you hear a man say "If I told you I had shin splints instead of a mental illness, then would you carpool with me?" and then you hear a little girl's voice and she says "If I told you I had allergies instead of a mental illness, then would you come over and play?"

It really strikes a cord with me. It's so sad how people treat others because of mental illnesses and yet physical ailments/illnesses are considered completely acceptable.
 
I'm not going there with her, Beavs!

No, she's one of those people who is all about "me, me, me" and loves to argue. She just thinks that because she doesn't have the problem, it doesn't exist. Although, she goes a little nutso about, god-forbid, eating carbs. (Hmmm...maybe it IS about her after all!)
 
SOME EDs extend from depression and other severe mental disorders. does she discredit them too? b/c maybe my sister will get over her ED and just eat something and i will get over my "depression" b/c i should be happy. after all we are just looking for attention so badly that we hid it from most of our friends and family for years. :confused: why do some ppl open their mouth?nothing useful ever comes from ppl with no filter between brain and mouth :p

kassia
 
crazystepr said:
Here here!

To say eating disorders don't exist is is like saying back pain or allergies don't exist. Sorry, but your coworker's a moron. I wish people would give mental illnesses the respect they deserve.

There's a new commerical on the radio that I've been hearing a lot lately where a woman says "If I told you I had back pain instead of a mental illness, then would you date me?" and then you hear a man say "If I told you I had shin splints instead of a mental illness, then would you carpool with me?" and then you hear a little girl's voice and she says "If I told you I had allergies instead of a mental illness, then would you come over and play?"

It really strikes a cord with me. It's so sad how people treat others because of mental illnesses and yet physical ailments/illnesses are considered completely acceptable.
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wow i haven't heard that before but i bet if they made it a tv commerical it would really hit a wide audience. it seems we haven't grown to much since the institution days of danvers and byberry. lock them away or back away b/c they are different and can't control themselves.

kassia
 
lol

Cause right. We want attention. And we get that by disappearing (either by being big or so thin we are see through.) Right sure

(dripping with sarcasm.)
 
ldy_solana said:
maybe my sister will get over her ED and just eat something and i will get over my "depression" b/c i should be happy.
kassia
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Oh how I wish it was that easy too, Kassia. :(

People who think it is are uneducated wastes of space. I have no patience for close-minded, ignorant idiots. :mad:

ETA: Holy harshness, Allison!. Yikes. Sorry, guys. It's a sore subject.
 
allison i feel ya. i run into it a lot. esp with in laws. they swear i just need "to get over it" and then offer beer. yeah just what i need alcohol to boost that mood :eek:

kassia
 
This woman's attitude reminds me of the slinky quote:

Some people are like slinkies. They are not really good for anything; however, they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

anne
 
mrsmel said:
This woman's attitude reminds me of the slinky quote:

Some people are like slinkies. They are not really good for anything; however, they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

anne
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That is a great quote!!!! LOL!

Lynn M.
 
I hope your co-worker never has to experience having an eating disorder or have a loved one struggle with this illness. It is definitely NOT about attention. In fact most sufferers of ED's are experts on hiding the signs of their illness.

Unfortunately, your co-worker seems to be very ignorant on this subject and it's probably useless to try and debate the issue with her or educate her on the subject.
 
Given your coworker's attitudes towards EDs, not to mention her own view on carbs, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if she didn't suffer from an ED herself. Sounds like orthorexia. I am merely speculating...

Perhaps sometimes weightloss can be about attention, but an ED - that's about control and power. They are awful, awful things and, unfortunately, very real for many.
 
When I was at the height of my disordered eating the last thing I wanted was attention. I just wanted to be alone with it, obsessively calculating calories and over-exercising without anyone around bothering me with comments and opinions.

Eating disorders prey on your mind, and make it tough to focus on anything else.

Sparrow
 
Naw, no eating disorders, alcoholism, those diabetics for SURE are in it for attention, the holocaust never happened, and Elvis is still alive.

People are so stupid.
 
ED's truly take over a person's whole life. It is very isolating for sufferers of these disorders to keep up appearances and make it seem like everything is ok.

This disorder is mainly about control. If you feel you don't have a say or control in your life, well at least you can control what you eat and your weight. Eating disorders are not about the food which makes it so complicated to treat the illness. It is heartbreaking to see what this illness does to people.

Does anyone remember that controversial fashion ad in Italy with that french anorexic woman? I think it was for a company called Nolita or something. It was so sad to see what years of anorexia did to that woman's body. I couldn't believe she was still alive.
 
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