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Thank you for visiting. Content MAY BE TRIGGERING ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE, STRUGGLE WITH SELF-INJURY, SUICIDE, DEPRESSION OR AN EATING DISORDER. Contains graphic descriptions of suicidal thoughts, self-injury and emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Do not read further if you are not in a safe place. If you are triggered, please reach out to your support system, a mental health professional or call 911.
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A key word that you will see:
Fragmentation: a mental process where a person becomes intensely emotionally focused on one aspect of themselves, such as “I am angry” or “no one loves me,” to the point where all thoughts, feelings and behavior demonstrate this emotional state, in which, the person does not or is unable to take into account the reality of their environment, others or themselves and their resources. This is a term that my therapist and I use and is on the continuum of dissociation.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week: Media and Garment Industry influences.
Vanity sizing, also known as size inflation is used to refer to the phenomenon of ready-to-wear clothing of the same nominal size becoming larger over time. It is generally acknowledged that clothing of the same nominal size has become larger over the years.
In 2003, a study that measured over 1,011 pairs of women's pants found that more expensive brands tended to be smaller than cheaper ones of the same nominal size. The increasing dimensions of garments of the same nominal size has caused some designers to introduce size 0, 00, or other subzero sizes. Many commentators have suggested that "vanity sizing," as its name suggests, is designed to satisfy buyers' wishes to appear thin and feel better about themselves.
Model fired for being "too large."
For another video clip titled, "Size 4 model 'too fat' to work"
Retouching: Real versus Fake:
Trying to attain the "perfect" body according to the media requires retouching. No wonder most women want to lose weight...some will DIE to get it.
4 comments:
I must admit to be being completely taken aback by the Anorexia: Real vs. Fake.
I mean, re-touching, to an extent I can understand. But what drives somebody to re-touch folk who are mostly (or so it appears)underweight to begin with to appear to be 'anorexic'? *Shakes head*. I've been battling anorexia and bulimia for 18 years and I'm mortified by this.
The tragic reality is that those prior to being re-touched may have eating disorders...this just reinforces the general view that unless you're a bag of bones you don't have a problem. Unfortunately this feeds into the healthcare system too and can make even some professionals become complacent about the health of individuals who do not exhibit extreme emaciation.
I've been in and out of inpatient units like a yo-yo for years and of all the folk I've known 3 have died. They were not emaciated. I despair every time I hear anorexia being used within the context of fashion and vanity because it belittles the subject.
When are we going to validate eating disorders as a mental illness? When will it be realised that restoration of weight does not equal recovery? Suicide is high amongst the eating disordered -relative to the general populus- and I don't believe that what drives these folk (and myself) to the edge of suicide is wanting to fit into a particular size..I didn't want to be a size *whatever*..I only ever wanted to feel better. Or feel nothing.
The media need to wind their collective necks in regarding eating disorders. They do nothing but confuse the issue.
It is not a wonder that eating disorder services are still seen as Cinderella services and that sufferers are seen as stubborn and childish if they are unable to "recover" - whatever the hell that means. Yes, I am angry (but not at you!).
Rufty,
Thank you again for your insightful comment. I'm sure that they have eating disorders too. The industry puts so much pressure on them. I agree with the attitude of the health system. Since, I gained about 60-70 pounds due to an illness and medications, I've been having a great difficulty getting people to understand that my eating disorder is not obesity. My own physican of more than 20 years keeps mentioning the word "diet," which throws me into a tail spin. My psychiatrist has had to talk to her about this trigger word. My therapist says that my weight quite conviently covers up my eating disorder...he is right.
Eating disorders are considered a mental illness per the DSM IV-TR. I agree that weight restoration is not equal recovery. It is an addiction and a way of thinking and viewing food. Those unlying issues must be addressed and not just weight.
I am also anger...and not at you. Be well and take care of yourself and keep fighting for healing and recovery
Good God why can't we just be who we are and love it? It's so hard... I never called it an eating disorder until my therapist pointed it out to me...
I'm not anorexic and not a binger. However, I also never ate when I was alone. I cooked for my family or ate when they were around or if I went out with friends, but it never occurred to me to eat when i was alone. I never even thought of it.
Strange, sure... and related to more than just the body images on magazines.
But since I've started eating "normally" and because of various medications I now take, I have gained weight in the last three years - about thirty pounds. Whereas I was always thin before, now I am a bit above average and it is horrible! I tell myself that it is not horrible, that it's okay to be who I am, but when I look around at what's acceptable in print and movies, it makes me feel terrible about myself.
Today, at the grocery store, I saw a friend I hadn't seen in a few years. She has lost a lot of weight and I was mortified for her to see me. I'm not fat... I wear a size ten... but I felt like a blimp next to her and I felt like that was all she could see.
It's good for everyone to consider these body images you've put up, not just those who admit to an eating disorder. Great post.
Shen,
I agree and am quite self-conscious when I meet someone that I haven't seen for awhile since I've always been thin. However, when I got my pneumonia, I gained 60-70 pounds in about 6-9 months.
However, I still have an eating disorder (anorexia)...size doesn't always tell the whole story.
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