EDAW Day 5: Exploration
(big trigger warning here because this post deals with symptoms of eating disorders. im sorry if this is triggering to you in any way and i hope you manage to seek some support from one of our listeners or through alternative methods. youre doing really well!)
Hello! So today were going to be going through three scenarios, and for each one Id like you to say what youd say to this person and what else you think you could do to help. If it helps, you may do research yourself or browse our eating disorders forum recovery section here and general resources here.
Scenario 1
I dont enjoy sports anymore but force myself to do them anyway. Im awfully tired but I do it because otherwise Ill think I am fat and feel extremely guilty. One day I couldnt do sports because it was getting so late but I cried and pleaded so my mother let me. I used to love peanut butter but now I avoid it because it has so many calories. I also stay away from chocolate and cheese. A lot of people have told me I look thin but I dont agree, I think my body is huge and I hate it.
Scenario 2
I was never that concerned with my weight until I found out I was the heaviest of all my friends. I started going on a diet and managed to lose a bit of weight which I was very happy with. One day, I had to bring my young cousins out to a fast food place. I could not get out of eating and reluctantly ordered something, but while I avoided it I realised the money wasted would not be worth it so I finished it. I then realised my body would not absorb this rubbish if it wasnt in my body, so I made myself choke it up. Nowadays I starve and then eat until I feel sick. I bathe after I eat so the water can conceal the vomiting.
Scenario 3
I dont feel satisfied anymore. I spend all of the money that I allocate for spending on whatever I want (except necessities) on various types of food that is easily stored, which I hide all over my room. I try to keep myself from eating too much at one time but around three times a week I give up and eat a lot, even when I feel sick. Even so, I dont feel satisfied and still feel extremely empty.
Thanks for participating, you're doing really well!
Tags!
People who indicated interest in joining the team:
@kenziesamantha07 @Chitowngirl1125 @JovialOne @LiamListens97 @NutellaPrince @tinugeorge @Crazycatperson @blissedNblessed @warmheartedCity8277 @emsworld @kindbreeze @mabel02 @caringsunset88 @sage14
ED taglist:
@carrotcakefan @ForeverKeepRising @Anomalia @justbreathe11 @PuppyLove13 @1adaptabletiger @CatGirl2015 @aminacoffin @MayBlue @Just0Annie @teddybear211 @summertimesamness @MapleSyyrup @FruitRock @Dancingalong @voyagetohavingneweyes @dancingrainbow45 @Teasley4031 @ @allnaturalNight50 @Peanat @NightOwlNightmare @Coolkidallthetime1998 @SmileYoureWorthIt @Narby @calmZebra @Lucy @allnaturalNight50 @Deathandallhisfriends @Nethersong @xbritx @Popbabe2410 @Butterflygirl1 @RedBlossom @ProSupport @resourcefulPond1641 @sujaypai @resourcefulPond1641 @brightLight35 @brendenjensen @goldenbeach22 @taylorjensen @blithesoul64 @brendenjnsn @comfortingAngel @Aubrey2018 @WendyBird15 @gelidaaer @MimiBliss @IamOHhhh @highlandramtv @LittleLotte @beautifulmelody11 @impartialplane7172 @giorjie @beautifulkoala49 @TheAsh @LeoTheLittleLionCub @peopleofearth @honestBranch5854 @mjkichb2 @Autismaunt14 @Simonandsally @Henlopeople @kcmunchkin @Dawn110 @CynthiaDawn @SoftTea @Everleigh27 @Hysterria @nasibah @CheeseAKAChizu @Nasibah @fortunatehappenstance @ViolinistMads @Ammolite @Ady123 @sam314 @CaringMermaid @KokoBear @Lovethehurt @Orangeowl1462 @AidenMilesAsh @IvyL @Btsspringday @blissedNblessed @tophatcrown @marguerite19 @Nymphalicushollandicus @dogsandcats100 @Jesse181 @HeyItsMish @Ocendade @thedudenamedkai @Nyway @LatinNightSky @FaithfulWriter4513 @EvilRegalsReadToo @Newtotallovatic @hopefulforest19 @Imaginativa2930 @easyMap6620 @QuidditchWitch @sophieleigh @Cheesy @Nitiyahhh @Hplistener @badoinkitydoop @lex22 @ItsMina @kindfish11 @PostTraumaticStillStressed @warmheartedCity8277 @Ellie150 @myaekingheart @diplomaticOcean9906 @lex22 @Iunderstand234
ED team:
@Eviesweet @MelAllYouNeedIsLove @Hope @BurningEmber @Emily619 @SummertimeSamness @AiluraBlaze @Chocoholic247 @LoloRunnah @KenzieLynn @Piercetheaiden @viictoriia @windflowers @HannahCaradonnnaMSW @tjb28
ED events taglist:
@SunFern @resourcefulPond1641 @dancingRainbow45 @brightLight35 @RaCat @soul700 @amiablePeace77 @Summer18 @CoolRainboom @Cherylanne @ApplePiney @PhoenixAsh @AiluraBlaze @cocoon @TaranWanderer
Also, the song form's results have shown a tie so I've made another form so we can decide. It'd be really helpful if you can fill it out asap so we can carry out the event, but no worries if you can't! Thank you anyway.
@windflowers a tie?😲😅 I'm crossing fingers for queen. I like the other song too but queen 😍
(sorry I'm late, but I still wanted to complete these 
) I think my responses could have some improvements, but I think this would be roughly the kinds of things I would say 
Scenario 1
While I think getting exercise is good in moderate amounts, forcing yourself to do something you don't want to isn't very healthy. You deserve to do the things you actually like, things that make you enjoy, you deserve to live happily. I think sometimes it's good to listen and consider the thoughts of others, since our own heads can get cloudy and distort our image of ourselves. Over-exercising and restricting calories are things often associated with eating disorders, as well as having a negative body image. Do you think you'd want to maybe try speaking to a doctor about how you've been feeling, and go from there?
Scenario 2
Bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and none of them are better or worse than each other. Heaviest of your friends doesn't necessarily mean you're heavy, and even moreso, there's nothing wrong with being heavy! Your body is yours alone, and comparing it to anyone else's isn't fair to you. But, it sounds like this is something that is really impacting your life, and that your view of your weight is turning into unhealthy habits. I know that purging can have a lot of negative effects on health, and so I'm concerned for you, I care about you and want you to not be alone in this. Would you want to look at resources about eating disorders with me?
Scenario 3
It sounds like food is taking up a lot of your resources, both money and time. Having these bursts of eating sounds like it could be a type of binging, and it seems like this is having a negative impact on your life. You deserve to have a healthy relationship with food, and to feel satisfied in life. I think it might be helpful to learn more about why these habits are happening, and to better understand ways to make your life more satisfying. Do you think you'd want to learn more about binge eating with me, and maybe make a plan together?
@TaranWanderer
going to comment on these as a member because that's primarily what i am on this site, but thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this, it's very much appreciated! it's good that you're thinking of improvements by the way, wanting to better yourself is one of the key steps in ensuring you constantly get better. for what it's worth though these responses are amazing!
i think my concern about scenario 1 is the person might get defensive, because you're effectively telling them they're wrong (or at least, that's what i'm interpreting it as). on the bright side, you show sympathy and sound like you have loads of experience, which can make the member feel like they're in good hands!
again, for scenario 2 i'm not sure telling someone how they're feeling isn't really the way they should be feeling is the right way to approach it -- sorry if you didn't mean it that way, again that's just how i'm viewing it. i love how you express your concern, you really show how much you care about others and that's brilliant! i love especially how your last sentences are always about something that could be done, i think that's a really effective way to structure your answer.
scenario 3's cool, i like how you make sure that the member's cared for and how you were careful not to state that it was bingeing but suggested it could be the case.
thank you for your answers and sorry if i offend you in any way!!
@windflowers Haha no worries, I wasn't offended at all! I think it's mostly hard to write a block response like this because it's not usually what I would do, I would for sure take it more one step at a time and make it more conversation-like (like asking for clarification or asking more about just one area to start), but obviously that's not possible in just example scenarios so I think some of my answers could come off as a bit blunt(?) I think it's tough because on one hand, you of course want to validate the person, it's obvious that it's understandable that they're feeling this way, how they feel is important, and it's not their fault at all. But at the same time, you don't want to say that what they're feeling is right (such as, saying it's okay/good to purge/over-exercise/etc, or that they should be feeling badly about themselves) so I think that message might have got muddied
@TaranWanderer
those are very good points and you're right, it is much harder to write block responses and not get to ask the member questions!! you've done very well though.