Triggers - deal with 'em

Triggers are a huge topic of discussion in the ED blogosphere, with many demanding "trigger warnings" be posted. My take? Life is a trigger -- learn to deal.

"eating disorder triggers" thinspiration anorexia proana proanorexia bulimia "ana and mia" ednos "health at any size" "fat acceptance" "weight loss" dieting

I need you to explain this whole trigger thing to me.

Here is what I am hearing, not sure it is accurate, but here goes:

If I am proana, I am seeking to view and read materials which will trigger me to not eat, since my goal is to be thinner or anorexic. Thinspiration was born out of this idea right? Ok, this part I get.

If I have an eating disorder and I am working to recover, I am to avoid viewing and reading things which may trigger me to restrict, purge, or engage in some behavior which would be considered negative for my recovery goal.

Heres where I get stuck issue. The world is a trigger.

Hypothetical case in point; I am sitting in the LaGuardia airport writing this post, I glance up to see the dreaded magazine stand filled with thin beauties and perfect glistening bodies. I get up, walk away from the situation, only to walk right into a huge ass billboard for some broadway show with a half naked airbrushed babeMiss Perfect Live. Turn the corner, and theres girls everywhere waiting for planes. I scan them up and down, they are way skinny.

I now feel like shit about myself. I head to the restroom, try to avoid the full length mirror, but cant resist. One glance at my legs, arms, stomach -its over. Negative thoughts start, Im fat. I am a loser. I am not eating today. I need to work out.

Is this a realistic reinactment of what you girls go through? How the heck are you to avoid triggers in this world? It seems impossible to me.

More over, it doesnt seem healthy, nor realistic. I mean, youve got to live in this world and learn how to deal with your ED, and yourself, and all the influences in your life.

Isnt part of therapy to learn how to survive, learn how to accept yourself, learn mantras on what to tell yourself when you start slipping?

Help me get a grip on this concept please.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• eating disorder triggers
• thinspiration
• anorexia
• proana
• proanorexia
• bulimia
• ana and mia
• ednos
• health at any size
• fat acceptance
• weight loss
• dieting

[joshuanbanx]

After that, is their fault. But that's just my opinion

[joshuanbanx]

That's basically like saying "I'm not going to place a wet sign on a wet floor in a store because people should be adult enough to see its wet, EVEN if they might have eyes issues, cuz they are adults". Yes I agree life is surrounded by triggers and we must take action in our own dealing with it but it does help when someone is vulnerable to choose wiser if a person wants to watch a content or not. Meds, products and tv programs all come with warning for a reason. To make wiser choices.

[meetmodels2010]

@skinnylovexx if she is only a person with a camera... then why you watch?? Go, enjoy Disney ...

[meetmodels2010]

@redpirate37 thats one if the best ideas. Im really with you!

[mayitpleasethecourt]

you're an interesting creature.

[effceeyoukay]

if you don't mind me saying i think you're being a bit hypocritical. You are saying that if someone finds your videos or blogs "triggering" that they ought to remove themselves from it. Yet you indulge in things you know are the trigger points of anorexia. Example given: Your video about the "Beautiful Dead Models" photoshoot from ANTM. How would you like if someone simply said "If you don't like it, don't watch it!".

[redpirate37]

... life is a trigger- learn to deal?

Look, i have an idear, send all people which suffer from hunger in the world to the homes of people with an eating disorder and the people with the eating disorder to the homes of the millions of peoples and childrens in the coutrys with nothing to eat,

problem solved ... ! trigger that?

[skinnylovexx]

this is wrong...eating disorders can grow even from a simple insecurity about a part of a persons body. internet sights, pro ana or not, about anorexia, effect people regardless. Because of websites like yours, my eating disorder grew. your not helping, your just a person with a camera.

[MissRobynRenee]

FINALLY someone gets it.

[SouthernStyle352]

I agree that triggers are everywhere. Its a natural impulse, from eatting, shopping, ect. I feel media has taught us to look or hear things that make these trigger go off mentaly.