What the Therapists Don't Tell You About Eating Disorders 1

[shabazzmath]

but you can say that sexual abuse is a common factor of a lot of people with eating disorders.  You can not just dismiss it completly b/c there are several that have not had that experience. What makes your research better that the researchers that are professionals in this field?

[shabazzmath]

I understand that not all people fit into the generalizations of eating disorders. But just b/c there are a many that do not you can not just discredit theapists by saying therapists are completly wrong b/c they say generally anorexics have control issues and bulimics deal with chaos. The majority of ED's do fall into the generalizations that therapists and researcher make. You can not say that all people with ED's have been sexually abused

[SarinSyn]

THANK YOU on the intimacy mark! You hit the nail on the head COMPLETELY!

[CoraInTheDoldrums]

You were very accurate on intimacy. Most of those reasons were true for myself. I think I developed an eating disorder as a way to be "worthy" of being protected, as being so small would make me appear fragile and child-like, which was my goal. Not so much looking like a child, but that just came along with what I was striving for. I was abused on several accounts, and it had always bothered me that no one stopped it or was able to save me from it.

[CoraInTheDoldrums]

I thought no one stopped it because they thought I didn't need protection. As a child, I was big, not fat, but very tall and I developed very early, and I was independent. I always thought people saw no need to protect me and make sure I was ok was because I didn't look like I needed it.

~Cora

[OnTheEdge121]

not all therapists are like this....my therapist totally understands eating disorders

[AnnaRe905]

I'm not sure when this video was made, but I'm currently a psych grad student and have been in college for the last 8 years...most of the myths that you are debunking are things that were made clear to me even as an undergrad, so I'm wondering if you had very unfortunate poor treatment from inexperienced therapists?

[Wonderwandarocks]

The people I spoke with and my own experience seems to indicate that, regardless of whether professionals "know" these truths, they may not be applying them. Almost everyone I interviewed claimed they had a therapist or had experiences that showed that the professional, friend, or family member did not believe or apply what I was trying to get across here. I think the media affects this. Professionals and laypeople alike may not practice the ideal that is taught and preached.

[FizzySherbert]

Therapists say you aren't depressed if you still have an appetite. BULIMIA CAUSES AND IS LINKED TO DEPRESSION!! How can they even say that? I eat to control my low mood, not that it works... Therapists are stupid :(

[JosieJusticeX]

@FizzySherbert

Seriously... I have depression and I am in OP for my bulimia and cutting. And I most definitely have an appetite. :S

[erginakif]

A nice webcam costs less than 50 bucks now. Just sayin'...

[FizzySherbert]

lol

good video though

[PeaceChick07]

excellent! thanks

[alexgirrl285]

oh right - i think its great what your doing. i really hope you get some decent exposure and something eventuates from your research. x

[alexgirrl285]

you always talk about 'your research' - where did yu get this information from???? are you an eating disorder specialist or psychologist or anything????

[Wonderwandarocks]

I interviewed people with EDs and also read about 50 texts on eating disorders and related topics, as well as information on Web sites. I also have had an ED myself. My rants are based on the inconsistencies I found and the problem that much of the norm in ED treatment and psych is not provable. It's become popular just because it's promoted, not because it necessarily works.

[msdrazy]

Stereotypes - you left one out... people think 'eating disorder' means teenaged, white, female, middle class, and ANOREXIC. It's like there is ONE way you can look, or you do NOT have an ED. A huge issue for bulimics, compulsive overeaters, etc, is feeling that they deserve to attend an ED clinic with the "really sick looking" ones.

[Wonderwandarocks]

You are absolutely right in that I neglected to talk about that in this rant--I do mention it in the text I am working on. Thanks!

[Lerato85]

There might never be. Anyway thanks for the video and the attempt to tell other people more about a desease which affects a lot of people and is often represented in a disastrous way. Especially here on Youtube. :-)

[Lerato85]

people suffering from an ED don't get help because they just don't seem to fit in these concepts. That might be being bulimic or anorexic but not being underweight. Or being an adult and being embarassed to tell other people beacause most people think that EDs are a sighn of being dependant and just a "teen desease". Still there are a lot of misunderstandings about EDs and there is not ONE way to cure it.

[Lerato85]

...To me it would be interesting to know more about what kind of research you did? Qualitative, quantitative? Interviews, Statistics??? Obviously it is Not very likely that one person might be able to do a research about EDs which includes all aspects or is representative at all. That would simply be too much. But not being representative doesn't mean that all results are wrong. I might be a start and I think you did a very good start.

There are a lot of stereotipes about EDs and many

[Lerato85]

HI everybody!

Its a bit sad to see how everybody is insulting each other. A discussion normally is about different points of views. So you don't have to agree but still it won't help to insult. To me the video was quit interesting and I think you made some good points about these common stereotipes. Being affected by an ED doesn't mean you can not talk about it objective. Even though experiences might have an impact on research results. But that is one main propblem all researches have together.

[psychsoon]

Your constant citing of research is a bit anoying. Leave the "reserach" to the professionals, if you want to discuss your experience, that is one thing, and we appreciate it, but stop playing psychologist. I agree with the comment made above that you are acting a bit robotic...it is hard to believe you have suffered through this illness, you seem so disconnected from it.

[Wonderwandarocks]

I cited the research and left my personal anecdotes out of these videos for the most part precisely because I did not want people to assume that my experience was clouding my analysis. As for playing psychologist, you may want to reconsider putting so much stock only in their expertise when 70 percent of people with EDs relapse during their "professional" treatments. If they really understood, the relapse rate would not be so high.

[Orlyt3]

Yes. Sorry if that sounded harsh.I just feel as someone who suffered for six years and is now Ed free that when you`re in that place, no matter how much you think you know, logically or otherwise,you actually know very little. You may have the life experience,but you don`t have the psychology behind it.Professionals learn from the patient, that`s true, but they then use that knowledge and intermingle it with medical and psychological knowledge.I wish you well too, I`m just expressing my opinion.

[Wonderwandarocks]

I completely respect that. I will say, though, that excessive trust in the professional field leaves very little room for alternate ideas to be introduced into the mix. My video is intended only to examine the credibility of what the professionals are saying, and quite frankly, I found no hard evidence that what they are saying or doing is necessarily correct or best. Good luck!

[wheatabix3xfrosty]

Wow! If any one should know it should be the person who goes thru it- dumbass. I have an anxiety disorder and I CAN TELL you that an eating disorder is the same and that it does not "consume my mind", maybe physically but not mentally. But only as far as a behavioral issue. Eating 'disorder' is mentally caused. And something that is learned and practiced, is behavioral ,meaning that me in my own mind tell myself to do it so much it becomes like an automatic reflex based on cause of my emotions

[wheatabix3xfrosty]

with my emotions being caused by situations in life. And the fact that I would be cautiously aware that somthing is wrong for the rest of the half of my mind does mean I am qulaified. But a disorder would reffer to an illness not causes of illnesses but a illness in itself like skitsophrenics. The only thing disorderly about it is the physical aspects the so-called lack of control and that repetitively im destroying my body.

[wheatabix3xfrosty]

So if im able to communicate it which comunication would consist of anaylzing, explaining and articulating it then I wouldnt have a fucking problem telling stupid ass people like u what an eating disorder is just cause they're ED they're not allowed to speak!!! does it scare you that much. You say you learn from the patient well who's the real teacher here! HOW can u ever put the student above the teacher, the teahcer might seem to be or even may be weak at the moment

[wheatabix3xfrosty]

but notice its still gonna be the teacher you dumb shit. And I also have some other behavioral issues thankx to stupid ass people like you in the world.

[wheatabix3xfrosty]

please orlyt3 shut the fuck up!!!

[Wonderwandarocks]

Just as with orlyt3, I do respect your opinions, as the whole point of these videos is to challenge popular conceptions. I understand what you are saying and even agree on some points, but please keep this forum free from a personal attack. Everyone deserves to be heard--that's the only way these things will ever be analyzed correctly. Disagree if you wish but be kind to each other! Thanks!

[Orlyt3]

You are not qualified to talk about this. This is awful ramble and advice should not come from someone who has an ED. Such awful bullshit. You soundlike a robot.

[Wonderwandarocks]

Everything any professional has learned about any illness has been learned because the professional observed and listened to the patient, so I cannot concede that ED patients are unqualified to talk about their sickness. It is not the professionals who can tell a patient what the patient wants. I think the fact that most comments here are positive suggests that maybe I'm not entirely off my rocker. I wish you all the best and good luck. Take care.

[imjoy393]

Whoa. I posted a video just yesterday where I talked about what you call the "Cinderella complex". What a great name for it, and it makes me feel relieved somehow that it seems to be a common feeling among ED sufferers.

[Guido0383]

She look like a dwarf lol

[scampuddy]

I believe there is a holistic approach to ED...it starts first with EDUCATION. Education about what to eat -- what's healthy, UN-PROCESSED food...the things you put in your body that are good, natural, and healthy. Plant a garden -- Eat naturally!!! That's just the beginning.... The main thing is EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION!!!! Please don't kill yourself!

[Wonderwandarocks]

There is no replacement for good nutritional education. However, knowing what is healthy doesn't beat back the demons. It can be just as hard to eat a salad as it is to eat french fries, because the issue is against food in general a lot of the time. In that sense, nutritional education only taps one side of disordered eating. There is research to support the idea that it is the application of the education, not the getting educated, that is the problem.

[knkvas]

i agree with you so much and appreciate you for bringing up these points that other people don't see and understand

[TheWakkyTank]

dude, your camera sucks! That is my biggest pet peave is when ppl make vids with CRAPY CAMERAS!!!

[stanwoodgp]

too bad more people don't have a holistic approach to treating ED pathways..

[caroline1233321]

i have to disagree with you a little bit on the control issue. i think there is a control separation between anorexics and bulemics. i do think that anorexics have more control over at the least the food aspect than bulemics do. from personal experience, a bulemic feels out of control when it comes to food, as an anorexic can avoid food easily.

[Wonderwandarocks]

Everyone's experiences are different and I totally respect that. Still, I can tell you that avoiding food for some anorectics can be far from "easy." I thought about it constantly and it was torture to me. I felt like I was constantly being assaulted by it, because it was everywhere.

[jellyfisher12]

This is great. I can totally relate to the Cinderella complex you spoke of.

[prurplelilly]

You got it girl. The Cinderella complex and the creating the separate sphere to separate from the world are right on. When a therapist told me that I had a control issue, I felt more guilty and it added to the problem. Was control really that important to me? Because what I missed the most was not being numb all the time.

[perfect1daysoon]

the only reason why you see so many adolescents in the treatment centers is because the parents still have control over their lives and CAN put them there. Many of us with eating disorders either cannot afford the treatment on our own or do not want to admit to doctors etc that we have a problem so we don't seek treatment. My Aunt has anorexia and has had it all of her life...she is in her 70's. It affects all ages...and I think most of the time it is brought on by stress.

[carlotta9811]

"a stress response that is very defensive"

Thank you for this.

[blessed923]

very informative. I look forward to viewing the other ones

[pinkpisces]

do you have an email that we can talk? b/c i'd like to talk to you if you wouldnt doing so.

[LucyShy]

WOW, is all I can say. The control part especially; I always wondered how it was that people saw this as me trying to 'control' myself, when clearly I have NO choice or else I would have avoided all the crap, humiliation, and embarassment that comes with trying to get help! Walls falling in...yeah. Totally yeah

[darlingtester1982]

Hello, I been in the eating disorder clinic Dec 05 and to Jan 07 at out panients i see many professionals at the time. since i been dicharge at EDs Clinic i am going down hill. LW 129 HW 157 Now 135ibs who is 6 ft 3. have you got msn or yahoo messager i dont have no support with many health problems. looking forward to hearing from you again Stewart

[Wonderwandarocks]

Hey, my email in the videos, I can't post a comment with personal info, but if you email I can provide you with my screen name for yahoo messenger. In the meantime I have read all your comments. Please know you are not alone. Not a lot of men come forward with eating problems because it's seen as a female issue and because most facilities focus on women. Maybe we could set you up with a supportive group on yahoo or something for starters just to help you feel less isolated....?

[Wonderwandarocks]

Also, please don't leave numbers about weight in the comments, just because it can be triggering for other people. I know you are only trying to give me info, and we can chat more personally once you email. Thanks!

[jadoreurdior]

god thats true..i read the numbers and got triggered =S

[darlingtester1982]

Hello There, I am male who anorexia nervosa i have it most of life who is rare i dont know anyknow who is males have it. I been suffer many health problems like metal, psycolist, emontional, sexuallaly, rape, beating up black and blue abuses etc. depression, PTSD, anixley and panic attacks, back problems, mirgraine, eczema, ashma, hayfever, bowel problems, ADHD etc. i am taking around 25 per tablets per day.

[isaglow]

You are breaking ground here!

[Princetongirl144]

Thank you very much for this video, I think it is so informative and scary really, that there are so many stereotypes and mistakes in the way the media talks about eating disorders.