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

Please watch all 12 videos in this series documenting the problems in eating disorder treatment and theory, as the information in each is unique and covers a lot of data. *** Thibodeaux is still in need of survey interviewees if you would like to share your story!!!***

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• professional
• eating
• disorder
• anorexia
• bulimia
• treatment
• therapy
• therapist
• ED
• recovery

[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.

[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!

[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 :(

[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]

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

[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.

[JosieJusticeX]

@FizzySherbert

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

[OnTheEdge121]

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