May 2009 Archive
A first hand memory living with Anorexia…
05.25.09
Candles from last year’s Thanksgiving centerpiece had scarred the oak of the kitchen table. Rubbing this spot, I remained fascinated by the one dark flaw amongst the pristine mauve and taupe kitchen. I wondered how long it would be until my mother replaced the table. My gaze drifted to the four eyes staring down at me, and I realized war had begun.
The kitchen of my youth had become the jail cell of my young adulthood. I crossed my arms across my chest and ignored the cold bowl of oatmeal before me. I stared at them blankly.
I was walking a tightrope between life and death each day. The eyes staring down at me had been watching me closely the past two months. The lumpy bowl of Cream of Wheat between us had become the battlefield representing their unspoken fears and my newfound identity. Our eyes were daring one another to win.
My dad spoke first.
“You are going to finish that before you go to bed tonight.”
My mom shot him a look and tentatively offered the ever present idea of compromise. “How about just a couple bites?”
I rewarded both demands with a sullen look and left the table without a word. Taking a deep breath I descended the plush taupe stairs, ignoring the effort it took to do so.
Entering the immaculate bedroom, my attention immediately riveted to the full length glistening obsession before me. Disgusted by the emaciated reflection before me, I whispered my silent, regular affirmation to eat less the next day.
I crawled into bed, as the Devil Anorexia lulled my buzzing head and screaming body into an uneasy sleep.
Join Mindfullness on Twitter & Facebook!
05.20.09
Mindfullness has joined soical networking!
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What triggers your binge?
05.19.09
In sessions I have been working with my patients to identify triggers to their binge eating. We have been getting as detailed as possible.
Here are some of the questions I ask:
- Are there certain times of day when you most often binge eat?
- What situations or events trigger binge eating or craving to binge?
- What feelings contribute to a binge?
-Are there certain people or places that contribute to binging?
- What kinds of thoughts trigger or give yourself permission to binge? (i.e. “I should not have eaten that.” “I am bad becuase I binged”. “Well, the day is ruined now that I ate that I might as well give up trying.”)
- Are there certain foods that trigger your binge eating?
Take the time to answer each question as carefully and thoroughly as you can. Look over your answers and reflect on them. Are there patterns that emerge?
Now that you have a fuller picture of your binge eating behaviors ask yourself how you can begin changing your behavior. Are there certain activities you can do to nurture yourself when triggering feelings or events kick in? Can you challenge some of the thoughts that permit the binge eating?
Take action and challenge your eating disorder. It is powerful, but so are you.
Congratulations French Elle!
05.15.09
French Elle recently published an airbrush free issue. This means all models and celebrities featured in the article were photographed naturally.No changes to their skin, body or weight were made.
What a progressive move! Let’s hope other magazines take note and begin featuring not only realistic images but natural ones! Lets begin celebrating women’s real beauty! I hope this type of publication becomes a regular issue rather than a special edition!