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Food and eating feature largely on this site and we have already produced a few lists about bizarre food and bizarre mental disorders. This list joins the two together by discussing relatively bizarre mental disorders that relate to food or weight. If you can think of others, or have an experience with one or more on this list, let us know in the comments.
Characterized by the obsession with eating healthy foods, this disease can be confused with and/or diagnosed as anorexia; the main difference being the reasoning behind the eating habits. Anorexics are obsessed with losing weight, while orthorexics feel a need for healthy or “pure” foods. Orthorexia is not recognized by the DSM IV and in general will not be diagnosed, but it is seeing a greater stronghold across the US. You can read the tragic story of a young woman who ultimately succumbed to orthorexia here.
PWS is caused by a chromosomal defect. It is non hereditary and it affects both sexes and all races. PWS can bring with it a number of symptoms including motor skill deficiency, incomplete growth, and mental retardation. In addition, PWS causes an unquenchable appetite. Left unchecked, sufferers can literally eat themselves to death. Treatment includes growth hormone and a low-cal diet that absolutely must be maintained. A fictionalized account of Prader-Willi was seen on the show CSI in 2005.
Pica is perhaps the most interesting disease on this list. It is both an eating disorder and a psychiatric problem. People with pica feel a compulsion to eat non-nutritional and non-food items. These can include anything from cigarette butts to paint. It is quite easy to get sick or even die from pica as the sufferer can eat dangerous chemicals or sharp objects that can puncture their vital organs.
Often called the opposite of anorexia, bigorexia is the only disorder on this list with more male sufferers than women. Bigorexics compulsively work out, take supplements, and severely restrict their diets. No matter how muscular and sculpted their bodies are, those with the disease are shy or even humiliated to show off their bodies because in their minds they just aren’t good enough. Statistics vary widely, as in addition to the embarrassment from the illness, eating disorders have long been seen as a women’s or girl’s disease and many men will not come forward.
Binge eating is a separate condition than bulimia. It is thought to be the most common eating disorder, yet is specified in the DSM IV as a part of EDNOS, or Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. This is a broad category of ED and you can read about the criteria for EDNOS here. BED sufferers do not have the love of food most compulsive orders do. Like anorexics and bulimics, binge eaters are ashamed of their bodies and generally are embarrassed about their eating habits.
While not technically an eating related illness in and of itself, it is almost never diagnosed without the presence of another eating disorder. As the name suggests, a person with anorexia athletica goes beyond the normal feeling most of us have after a nice long run or a good session in the gym. The feeling is not optional for those with the disease, and they will often push themselves to over exertion or even serious injury to achieve the perfect body.
NES is a new disorder, yet like orthorexia is gaining in diagnosis. Night eating sufferers- usually obese or morbidly obese, eat almost nothing in the morning and during the day and eat over half of their daily calories at night. They often experience insomnia or wake up to indulge as well. Like others with and ED, people with NES are often secretive about their habits and are loathe to admit there is a problem.
While BDD can be diagnosed without the presence of an ED, is is nearly almost diagnosed along with the “big two” and often lingers long after other symptoms have lessened. People with BDD are convinced they have any number of defects, including but not limited to being fat and ugly,and having bad hair, bad teeth, and a bad odor. This goes beyond the normal teenage insecurities about how someone looks. When a BDD sufferer looks in the mirror, they see something completely different than those around them do.
Bulimia is characterized by binge/purge cycles. When most people think of bulimics, they think of self induced vomiting to purge. While this is one of the most common ways to purge, bulimics will also use diuretics and enemas. Additionally, bulimics will use ipecac syrup or over exercise to induce vomiting. Bulimics are very aware that their behavior is both abnormal and frowned upon and will go to great lengths to hide it. Interestingly, bulimics with a balanced binge purge cycle are generally a normal weight. It is only those who purge more than they binge who exhibit the outside signs of an eating disorder.
Newest studies estimate that 1 out of 100 teenage girls suffer from anorexia. Girls as young as 8 have been hospitalized with the condition. Brain mapping of those with anorexia shows their addiction to not eating is just as great as those with heavy drug or alcohol addiction. Anorexics are at great risk for relapse because anorexia and other eating disorders, like most addictions, never go away. Those that have been through treatment and no longer show symptoms or signs of their condition are considered in remission and must keep their impulses and urges in check. Even years down the line, one event can re-trigger the illness. However, those who do manage to keep the disease in line can recover fully and live and eat normally.
Contributor: Callie
March 15th, 2009 at 1:49 am
I had a friend in high school that used to put flat head pins in her mouth and would chew on them. I don’t think she actually swollowed them, but it’s a weird thing to put in your mouth though!!!
March 15th, 2009 at 1:50 am
#7 I understand the guy in the picture trouble… Something just seem to be really not in proportion.
)
Good work
March 15th, 2009 at 1:54 am
This list just makes me sad.
March 15th, 2009 at 2:30 am
Is there any significance in the fact that this list comes one day after the food festivals list?
March 15th, 2009 at 2:55 am
Great list.
I think I might have had number eight for a while. When i was 13/14 I used to eat at least 5 sheets of paper every day, along with pieces of wood and even CD’s and their cases. In one day I remember realising I’d eaten 6 CDs and 5 cases. As far as I know it never did me any harm, and I guess I just grew out of it. It seemed perfectly normal at the time, but thinking back it was extreamly odd.
March 15th, 2009 at 3:19 am
when i was in school some people (including me) had this habbit of eating chalks but i think that is a indication of calcium deficiency (correct me if i m wrong ) .i even had an urge to eat earthenware. I m frm india
March 15th, 2009 at 3:32 am
this list is good but very sad, those poor people who suffer with these dieseases and either cant admit to them or wont admit to them,
i nursed a lad with prader-willie syndrome before, never heard of it until then, its an interesting disorder to read up on, well…i your geeky like me haha
March 15th, 2009 at 3:53 am
astraya: the lists posted are always significant
I take great care over topics 
amitabh: I ate chalk once – it was tasty!
nurseamy: you are geeky? Well you found the right site then
LilyBily: I used to eat paper too – but it gave me a pain in the stomach so I stopped.
March 15th, 2009 at 4:04 am
Interesting list. Last week when I was in the hospital, the toddler in the room next to mine had been diagnosed with #9.
March 15th, 2009 at 4:24 am
the picture for #1 makes me feel sick, i dont understand how anyone can do that to themselves. also, i know that people with bulimia and anorexia have psychological problems and that they feel pressured to be thin but there are people in the world who need food and die everyday because there isnt enough of it, i think that when people can have food but dont eat it because they might get ‘fat’, they need to wake up and realise that people in other countries are dieing without it when theyre just giving it up.
March 15th, 2009 at 4:57 am
Good, informative list. I never realised orthorexia could be fatal. Also thank you for pointing out that many bulimics can be normal weight. Jfrater, is there any chance of a disturbing image warning? The pic for number one is a bit gross.
March 15th, 2009 at 5:02 am
I have no. 3 (I’m getting help for it now) and I’m surprised that I never realised how those with 1 and 2 will usually have 3. That makes sense, really. I take it out with my hair (and used to have to carry scissors around with me in case I saw something I didn’t like about my hair in a public toilet mirror or any shiny surface), though there is the general ‘wrong’ and ugly feeling too, and at my worst spent up to 10 hours in front of mirrors. I can imagine how that would become anorexia if the obsession was with size and not hair.
DC, these things came from an obsessive compulsion and a warped self image. It’s not so easy to just “wake up and realise” when bad thoughts dominate your mind every day. It’d be like telling yourself not to be hungry when you feel hungry, it’s an overpowering feeling. It’s not something you can snap out of without time and support because you have to completely change your way of thinking and reduce your habits.
March 15th, 2009 at 5:31 am
meepthesheep: I’m so glad you are seeking help! And I’m glad that your BDD isn’t about weight. I have a friend with #1 and it is so heartbreaking. She has been hospitalized several times and yet still cannot control it. I second your comments to DC. My friend works (when she can) in a field where sees lots of sickness and suffering. Her disease is not cause by a lack of empathy.
March 15th, 2009 at 5:35 am
I know about a lot of these. Hoping to become a psychiatrist one day
.
I think I’ve heard that anorexia makes you fatter for a bit because your stomach bloats due to lack of food.
Good list.
March 15th, 2009 at 5:53 am
Stir-fried guns on the list, g – disorders abound aplenty re: grub, just ask a belching nose-picking Korean farmer yo
March 15th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Pica is often a symptom of an underlying disorder, not a primary disease.
March 15th, 2009 at 6:16 am
DC: Please shut up. I see your point, and for a lot of “wannabe”-anorexia-sufferers that is probably the cause, they really want to be thin. But for most others with eating disorders, it’s NOT about being thin!!! If you said that to someone really suffering, they would just feel even more guilty than they are. Therefore, please try to understand it before you say something like that!!
Many don’t feel they are good enough no matter what they do, because parents or class mates say mean things no matter what. They then realise that they CAN be the best, and CAN be in control, if they just not eat, because then they can get popular (this is society’s fault!) if they’re just a bit thinner, and a bit more, and a bit more.. Of course, they are nevere satisfied, and no matter how thin, they still feel worthless. To then add guilt like “think of the children in africa”, really doesn’t help. You would be suprised if you knew how many suicides there are every year because of thougtless things people say.
Eating disorders are NOT about food. Food and exercise is just a manifestation to the pain inside.
March 15th, 2009 at 6:40 am
From my understanding, eating disorders are usually about control rather than food/exercise. It is really sad that we judge ourselves purely on our physiques. I’ve known a few skinny/pretty people who really should have concentrated on other areas as well.
Callie, very great list. This seems like one in rushfan’s caliber (haven’t seen her in a while, where did she go?).
March 15th, 2009 at 7:07 am
I think what people don’t understand, especially about 1,2,& 3, is that most of the disorders are psychological. Having a psychological disorder is usually not a choice. Being a sufferer of OCD I know that if I could just stop I would. But people who have these eating disorders just can’t stop the impulses, thoughts, or feelings that they have. People who don’t suffer from psychological disorders have a hard time understanding why others can’t just snap out of it. Trust me if it were that easy we would do it.
On the other other hand there are people who choose to do these things to themselves and hide behind one of the disorders.
March 15th, 2009 at 7:10 am
@14nuby: The “fatter” aspect is ascites, the same as the “beer belly” seen in malnutrition cases (especially the starving kids in Africa you see on TV). Having severely low intake of protein in your diet decreases the amount of protein in your blood. Then the difference in osmotic potential of the blood and tissue forces fluid out into the peritoneal cavity (AKA your belly). So a serious medical condition once again reinforces the idea that the person is fat in their minds.
March 15th, 2009 at 7:29 am
I used to work at a residential group home for developmentally disabled (DD) adults. At one point, we took in a respite client with Prader-Willi Syndrome. We had to put locks on the refrigerator and all the food cabinets. This particular client was only mildly retarded and was very good at manipulating those around her to try and get the food she craved. Here’s what I learned about this syndrome. It very often includes Pica, including eating feces and skin to try and satisfy the urgent craving for food. Some folks with PW, if left on their own, will steal and prostitute themselves for food. Unfortunately, folks with this disorder gain the same amount of weight from half as much food as a “normal” person so they are usually forced to eat less than most people do. Imagine never feeling full, always wanting and searching for food, and knowing that you will do just about anything to get it. It was not an easy thing to watch. This particular client was the only person I ever had to admit to the psych ward after threatening suicide. Caring for her was one of the most difficult work experiences I ever had but I’m thankful I wasn’t on the other end of it.
March 15th, 2009 at 7:38 am
I usually have no sympathy for people with eating disorders. I understand that it IS psychological but I just don’t understand how people can take their looks and appearance so seriously that they have to make these drastic mistakes. Believe me, being an 18 year old girl, I understand what it’s like to not be 100% comfortable with your body, but I do NOT understand what would make a person not eat for weeks and basically starve themselves to death.
A girl I went to high school with suffered from anorexia and would be taken out of school for treatment as often as once a month. It was horrible to see her go through it.
It’s the kind of thing where you know you can’t, but you just want to scream GET THE F OVER IT.
March 15th, 2009 at 8:14 am
When i look at list like this it makes me feel like crap. I mean i have none of these problems but I know a lot of people who do and sometimes its like dealing with a drug addict during withdrawals. The one thing I can’t stand are the people who act like they have a problem but just want attention. Those people make me sick.
March 15th, 2009 at 8:20 am
22 lucy- maybe a few more years on this planet will help you develop, not just sympathy but a sense of empathy and compassion for people that suffer.
As someone with borderline ED issues, someone who has to seriously struggle to eat some times (like now), I can tell you that how I look is the least of my concerns. It is about control and fear- of a life that feels beyond control and overwhelming. Control over the body is often the only place sufferers can connect with a sense of power and agency – by subjecting the body’s biological drives to the will a sense of control is gained (eg the number of people suffering with ED’s who have also been sexually abused or weathered a similar trauma is significant). And while many sufferers also struggle with severe body image issues that offer up images of idealized physical perfection, it is usually intertwined with feelings of powerlessness and helplessness.
When I’m healthy and free from any emotional triggers, I have a fit but curvy figure that i am very happy with. When I get stressed or feel insecure in other areas of my life and see myself rapidly shedding pounds, when my pants start to fall off and my hips stick out a bit, I know it is not good and it scares me. but I like it too somehow, because it proves to me I can be in control of something. anything. and it is a control that is mine. no one can take it away from me. And I hate that I feel that way.
When people approach other peoples’ suffering from their own myopic and limited experience, I just want to scream GET THE F OVER IT.
March 15th, 2009 at 8:25 am
well, Lucy, the thing is that the condition of anorexia & bulemia are not vanity driven afflictions.
what you are saying is akin to an idividual saying to a friend whom suffers from panic disorders “it’s all in your head” and “get over it” when, in reality, it is a complex condition consisting of threat perception and chemical imbalances.
at 18, you have no experience to judge others on. you simply haven’t lived thru or experienced enough, and it is highly unlikely you have had enough personal relationships to form an educated bias.
you may not understand why a person might starve themselves skinny…but it’s not always about what is in the mirror. i don’t understand why people believe in God, or embezzle money from companies, or write computer viruses, or cheat on their spouses. but i am certain it fills a need for them that i, thankfully, do not possess.
ringtailroxy
March 15th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I have been anorexic most of my life, but have been in remission for the last four years. I am 5′8″ tall, and my average weight, during anorexia bouts, was 105. I am now a healthy weight for my height, 135, but, to me, look enormous, like a bloated cow. I know I will fall into another bout at some time, but hope not.
Pica is the funny one, and only struck me during pregnancy. I had to eat ice. Lots and lots of ice. And I mean “eat” it, not let it melt in my mouth, I chewed it…”crunch, crunch,crunch”…all the time.
NES. This one was part of an Ambien syndrome. Remember all of the warnings that suddenly came out about possible side-effects of Ambien? I was where they came from. Not only would I eat, or just prepare food in my sleep ( toast bagels, fry eggs, heat soup)and take it back to bed with me, usually falling asleep on the food, I would vacuum my apartment, I would visit friends, I would take drives, I once cut up the carpeting in my bedroom (the only carpeting in the apartment).
March 15th, 2009 at 8:47 am
very cool list. I love all the medicine related lsts, great job!
March 15th, 2009 at 8:47 am
You know what I don’t have any sympathy for? People calling eating disorders ED. None you ladies have erectile dysfunction, hopefully…
March 15th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Oh, and since I had been anorexic, I will tell you that YES I was in complete control most of the time, and I did ‘just’ get over it. I may fall into a minority when it comes to this, but I wasn’t a screaming psychological wreck and I garuntee you some other anorexics aren’t either.
March 15th, 2009 at 9:22 am
29. Freya: You can’t imagine how lucky you are.
I wasn’t born this way (at least, I don’t think I was), but pressure from certain sources created it, infused me with it, and I became (as you so lyrically put it) “a screaming psychological wreck”.
But now, with someone who actually loves me for me, I am totally in remission. That’s all it took.
Imagine that.
March 15th, 2009 at 9:27 am
What’s that thing that the woman has in her hand under ‘Pica’? It looks like a giant jellybean.
March 15th, 2009 at 9:36 am
joy: i believe that would be soap.
March 15th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Another one of those informative/introspective lists. Prader-Willi syndrome is Neat and that episode was great.
March 15th, 2009 at 9:59 am
#10. I read the page attached to the link. Everyone should read it. RIP Kate Finn.
March 15th, 2009 at 10:01 am
wow this is just disturbing
March 15th, 2009 at 10:05 am
My personal opinion is that 99% of “eating disorders” are complete BS excuses.
Mainly because I’ve had every “disorder” on this list at one time or another.
March 15th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Pica can also come from some type of mineral deficiency. It’s quite common for pregnant women to crave things like chalk, soil, or chewing bits of metal, because they are lacking essential nutrients. It usually comes from them either not eating enough or eating a balanced diet, or from not taking prenatal vitamins.
March 15th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Cedestra
I don’t know where Rushfan went, but I know why I’m gone. It’s not fun anymore.
March 15th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I’ve had BDD and binge eating most of my life. It’s terrible
March 15th, 2009 at 11:12 am
“Bigorexia” is actually called Muscle Dysmorphia.
March 15th, 2009 at 11:15 am
ok I eat alot maybe too much but I am not fat or anything just I eat ALOT and often my freinds would tell me I am never going to be overweight but anyway the point is I had no idea eating binges was a disorder! ( I only thought throwing it up was)
March 15th, 2009 at 11:18 am
I remember a few years ago, people telling me that they thought I had #3,…BDD. The funny thing was, they’d say in the same breath that men (which I am) couldn’t get BDD. It was funny listening to them contradict themselves. “Men can’t get it,…except for you Dave. You have it, but you’re the only one.” BTW, you chose a bad picture for BDD. The gal in the mirror is actually more attractive than the actual gal.
March 15th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I hate to be an a*shole, but your list is poorly written. The grammar makes me cringe.
March 15th, 2009 at 11:26 am
does Body Dysmorphic Disorder have an opposite condition… called Body Enhancement Disorder?
When I look in the mirror, i don’t see the 200+ lbs woman I have become… I still see myself as 150 lbs. I can’t fit into my old clothes, but I still dress sexy in my size 16 jeans & XL jr.s tops. Nobody believes me when I tell them I am 200 lbs. I think I look very similar to the mirror image of the girl in #3, but with larger thighs, cellulite, bigger breasts, and a rounder face.
what I am saying is I don’t see myself as obese or ‘fat’. I call myself a ‘big girl’ and enjoy my curves and roundness. I don’t think I look unattractive…but my bf likes to remind me (constantly) about my weight.
I think it’s his problem, not mine. I’m healthy as an ox and although my doctor is concerned, he says my cholesterol and glucose levels are as good as they where when I was 150 lbs.
just wondering.
ringtailroxy
March 15th, 2009 at 11:44 am
How pitifully sad, these diseases. Especially when they become terminal. I’ve had a weight problem all of my life. The times that I was able to keep my weight down, it was very, very hard. I find myself frequently on a self pity party. Then I’ll come across an article or tv show (now this list) on eating disorders. Shame on me! How dare me to think I have it so bad! Even being classified as “obese”, I really have no right to have that much pity on myself. Times like that, I’m the one that needs to get over it! I’m really lucky and I need to try to continue to remember that.
March 15th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I eat paper, but not copiously. I don’t find it strange at all, it is mostly to chew on. I developed it when I was younger, and would view movies that made me nervous. As time went on, instead of chewing my finger nails, I chewed my movie ticket stub. I have made a tradition of it as well, so now I tell movie ticket collectors I have more stubs than they do. When they ask me to show it, I open my mouth real wide and I’ll say something like, “In here!”
March 15th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
46 Brent: I eat paper
That probably indicates a lack of “wood” in your life. There are pills for that you know.
March 15th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I have been diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and I was really glad to see it on the list. That picture is an accurate depiction of what it’s like… I am doing much better now thanks to medication and therapy, but it has been a long and hard road. I know it is hard for people to understand…heck it’s hard for me to understand, but it is a really terrible disorder and can cause terrible problems in the sufferer’s life…socially and otherwise.
March 15th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Very very interesting list Callie, opening up heart-felt responses from all around the globe. This list may not appeal to daytime TV soap fans, but to those who crave HBO specials this is informative as well as an anonymous way to open up about ones issues; which is of course the very first step on the road to recovery.
Human beings are indeed fallable creatures. They are also very impressionable. It only takes one knock to damage someones self-esteem [such a fragile and delicate aspect of our character] – to skew the integrity of the mind; and perhaps self-perception too.
There are no real ’solutions’ to these issues beyond a persons own desire to re-evaluate themselves; sometimes as a direct result of contrary (positive) feedback. There are, however, little tricks that can help – such as by noticing habitual remarks such as: ‘I know I am / I know I will..’ [a self fulfilling prophesy], ‘I will always..’,'I could never..’[prevents openess to change], and of course ‘I am ‘trying’ to..’ [subconciously implies perceived failure]. A much better line would be ‘I’ve moved on now.’
BTW – the woman in the mirror of No.3 is actually my ideal shape for a woman; curvy and well-padded in all the right places. Also good to see JFrater in no.7.
March 15th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Just a thought – Is that guy that can eat anything (Razor blades & bikes due to his super strong stomach acid) considered to have Pica? I’m thinking he isn’t a compulsive eater of those things, he just does because he can, but it cant be too unpleasant to eat those things since he eats metal daily.
March 15th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I like the girl in the first picture.
March 15th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Interesting list, callie! I just suffer from compulsive eating. Eating way too much until I feel like I will burst…and I don’t have any willpower to stop. However, they do make medicines for that so it’s helping. (basically, aritfical willpower in a bottle!)
March 15th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
51 Paceman90: I like the girl in the first picture.
So did I, until I took a gander at the goddess in list item #2. Be still, my heart.
March 15th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Wow, the dude in #7 is too skinny, and the anorexics are too fat.
March 15th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Pica can also happen during pregnancy. I got it. It was weird at the time, kind of hilarious now. I had this desperate urge to eat the bubbles from the dishwashing liquid. I couldn’t wash dishes after awhile cos I would get all panicky and fluster because I was worried I was going to eat the bubbles. I did a few times. Was great.
March 15th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
i think i have disease # 10.. waaaa… wait, is the girl in #1 picture/item real?? just bones ans skin huh..brrr… reminds me of Tales from the Crypt….
March 15th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I think my girlfriend might have pica. i worry about it all the time and tell her. but no matter what i do she just won’t stop eating arbys.
March 15th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
56. Kealey: Pregnancy pica is common, besides the ice pica I mentioned earlier in pregnancy, I also developed a need for barbecued shish-ka-bob for breakfast and chalk with pears anytime.
March 15th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
my first published list!
A lot of you may know I’ve suffered with anorexia and bulimia for many years. At my lowest, I was 5′4 and 84 pounds. I’ve not been to treatment for years and these days stand at a healthy 5′4, 125 pounds. I still suffer occasional bouts of purging and meal skipping but I honestly think that might be as normal as I’m going to get- I’ve come a long way from eating laxatives like candy and swallowing cotton balls to feel full.
To those who know what I’ve been through and what I’ll likely go through for the foreseeable future, thank you for sharing your stories as well. To those who don’t understand, who think we’re all attention seekers, it’s nothing we haven’t heard before, and I know how hard it is to deal with us sometimes, but trust me- if we could fix ourselves, we would.
and Brad (43)…what’s wrong with my grammar?
March 15th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Great job, Callie. I appreciate your candor and wish you all the best in life.
March 15th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Callie – I think you did an excellent job on this list. There’s nothing wrong with your grammar. (I think there was just one typo.) Thanks for sharing something so personal with us, I know that it’s not easy to put yourself in the spotlight like that, especially with some of these trollz around.
In college, we had a girl fall unconcious, and I was one of the people who did CPR. I was a bit panicky, and the first breathe I let her exhalation go back into my lungs. It sounds weird, but right then, I knew she was already dead. It felt cold and lifeless. After the paramedics came and took her off, we stayed and talked about what happened, since it was very disturbing. A few days later, several members of her family came and talked to us, in gratitude for what we had done, and to let us know what happened. She was anorexic to the point that her body had started to consume its own organs. She had a hole in her heart, and that’s why she died. She was pronounced DOA at the hospital. She was a very smart, interesting girl that I enjoyed having as a classmate. I can never look at eating disorders the same way again. It is just too sad how much she suffered without ever reaching out for help. She still has a place in my heart.
March 15th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
oops, make that breath
March 15th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
there should be an edit comment..or I should learn to type my numbers
I was 5′4 and 73 at my lowest. Now I’m 5′4 and 125. I don’t like making typos lol.
March 15th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Callie, that’s really scary – 73. I’m so glad you are getting better. We definitely don’t want to lose you.
March 15th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Ringtail: You’re a mountain biker! How can you be anything But healthy? Just because you can go longer without food than him doesn’t mean that he should always remind you of a problem that you don’t have. If he thinks it was a bad decision, why would he be with you?
Your profiles are great and you are definitely “Invitable.”
You have one of the best self images I’ve seen In a while. Keep the way you are. Not everyone likes a bean pole. Fluffy Rocks!
March 15th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I always frown upon my friends who make fun of other people (ESPECIALLY for their body image/weight)
No person is perfect on the outside, nor on the inside – but to me I still like to think of them as a person.
March 15th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Yo JFrater now that you have the death metal list put it up
March 15th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Hi Callie
I had an idea you had been somewhere there; glad you made it…
March 15th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Crimanon~
aw, you da best! yes, i mountain bike ride, but i’m not all hard core and certainly can’t keep up with boys…but i hold my own and finish the trails and then enjoy a Monster so all is well.
what i think i was trying to say is that i have no problems with my weight-sure, i’d like to be 150 again. but i am still the same person, regardless of what my scale says. I am no less active or sexy or driven than when i weighed any less.
i blame much of these conditions as a social ill, an incorrect vision of physical perfection, propagated by magazines and television, movies and reality t.v., and by the bizarre fact that many beautiful people seem to have more problems than do more average looking people.
i wish every woman would love herself first before trying to find love outside of herself…it’s all about what you think, not what anybody else thinks. and i think that we are all beautiful…because we are all capable of recognizing the internal beauty of others…
ringtailroxy
March 16th, 2009 at 12:25 am
segue-
oh, dear friend, i’d gathered from comments that you have a few major health issues plaguing you. being a LV noob i didn’t know which ones.
but i am so very sorry that anorexia is one.
people commenting that it could be something a sufferer could just “get over” obviously don’t understand that is a genuine disorder way, WAY beyond something one could simply “get over,” and their ignorant comments sound hateful, when compared to the real disease, but i guess they don’t know any better from their own lives…
i’ve never met you in real (offline) life, but i think you are a wondrous woman, with vast intellectual and empathetic capacity!
from what i know, anorexia is a disorder related to wanting control when faced with a daily world of perceived pain and chaos. NOT a disorder about wanting to be “skinny and therefore hot.” -it’s way, WAY more complex then that! this is going to sound bizarre, but i believe my father suffers from a form of it. he’s an MD, a cardiologist, and was always slim but never “skinny” -until now. he also was always a perfectionist (as am i) with high standards in all facets of life that are almost unachievable.
when i was in high school, a decade ago, i went through a time where i ate less then 700 calories a day (which i know from a health class computer exercise were we tracked what we ate), now I’m over-weight for my height. and my dad -the doctor- brags about how he’ll prep for thanksgiving by eating 800 calories a day (or less) for weeks, not really healthy for a mid-fifties man of 5′11″ who cardio and weight-trains daily and just started running marathons! and he berates my mom (who has early-onset Parkinson’s) my sister, and me if we can’t live up to his nearly-fat-free, uber-low-cal-yet-high-protein lifestyle, sigh. it’s good that my sister and i now live out of our parental home, but i worry about how his weird food relationship might effect my mom, who frankly has enough health issues already (and is a healthy weight).
i just think that people who’ve never had “eating disorder” issues in their own lives, or the lives of their loved ones, don’t get that it’s a way bigger issue than “feeling a little fat.” i wish they got the complexities of it all. i think it’s similar to people equating genuine clinical depressive disorder to “feeling a little sad” or real manic phase bipolar people being misinterpreted as “a little hyper;” sometimes, people just don’t get it.
i send you all my hope for you staying healthy. if love from a “stranger” helps at all, you’re getting some from me!
March 16th, 2009 at 12:42 am
I just wanted to point something out. There are quite a few comments referring to Pica, saying that people suffering from Pica crave a certain thing due to a lack of minerals or vitamins in their diet. There was also a couple of comments made by Segue saying that they craved ice and shish-kabobs during pregnancy.
I have worked with the mentally handicapped for many years and I am completely certified to do so, therefore I would like to clarify something for those who seem to be confused. Pica is NOT craving something because you are lacking it in your diet, nor is it craving ice or shish-kabobs. It is, as the list states, feeling compelled to eat something that is NON-NUTRITIONAL or NON-FOOD ITEMS. Ice and shish-kabobs are both nutritional and food items, and craving something because you are lacking a vitamin or mineral in your diet is directly related to nutrition.
I’ve worked closely with a young man who is severely mentally disabled and suffers from Pica, examples of his behavior were: attempting to eat dryer lint or powder laundry detergent, drink liquid laundry detergent, bleach and other cleaning fluids if allowed in the laundry room; attempting to eat pebbles, leaves and cigarette butts if not supervised carefully when out for walks; eating strings and buttons off of clothing and furniture. Anything that was small enough to fit in his mouth had a good chance of ending up there.
Pica is not craving a food item, people. It is a serious disease with potentially disastrous consequences.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:39 am
I’m quite surprise that FAMINE is not on the list.it was an eating disorder wherein the person would like to eat but does not have a food.:-)
March 16th, 2009 at 2:30 am
I suffer from binge eating wich has culminated into binging/purging. I have always been overweight with no sense of control over my eating habits. I recently, after just having enough, lost 50kgs (aprox. 100lbs) and felt amazing ans so in control. Now I find myself binge eating more and more frequently and I feel like I am losing that control I so recently gained. Now I’m back to the toilet bowl after my binging (a habit I thought I had left behind in high school) but I can’t help it, I can’t stop myself. It’s a disgusting thing to do but it feels like the only way to keep some form of control over my weight. Clearly my self-image sucks and I don’t know what else to do about it. I hate it!
March 16th, 2009 at 8:15 am
About Pica- When my mother-in-law was pregnant she insisted on eating baby powder. After her daughter was born, the urge went away.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:28 am
I knew a girl in college that would binge but not purge. (Or at least I’m fairly certain she did not purge.) The girl and her friend would clean out the candy shelves after a holiday when they were on clearence and spend hours in their room eating. At first I thought it was innocent indulgence until I saw they amount of candy they were hoarding in their dorm room closets. It was almost as though they wanted to keep it a secret from people. Once, before a study session, I dropped by their room unexpectedly to say hello, and they were quite embaraased about the amount of wrapped that were strewned about their room. It struck me as very odd.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:29 am
wrappers*
March 16th, 2009 at 9:25 am
I lived with a friend of mine for a while who’s sister had Prader-Willi. She was on medication for it but it was either not strong enough, or her body had become used to it.
It was definitely and interesting experience at the same time it was extremely sad. I didn’t know at first what was going on. Sometimes we would finish dinner and then she would be rummaging through the fridge for something else to eat. I finally confronted my friend and asked as nicely as I could why she always seemed hungry. He explained.
She had to have a specific calorie allotment the she couldn’t pass and she was on medication for it. The doc’s told her not to eat all her calories at her main meals in case she had “urges” so that she could snack on a carrot or something with out going over her calories(restricting herself would just make the feelings of hunger stronger and she could end up binging).
I was up late one night and caught her sitting in front of the fridge, eating anything she could get her hands on. Not just snacking on something and then going to something else, but, completely finishing something off and going to the next.
She immediately burst into tears and admitted that she’s been getting up for the past week or so, after everyone had gone to sleep, because she felt so hungry. She was afraid to tell her brother because she didn’t want to disappoint him and she wanted to prove she could finally be on her own with someone merely checking up on her instead of having to constantly watch over her. We talked for a bit and I convinced her to tell her brother that she needed to go back to the doctors.
That was about 2 years ago. She did go back to the docs and got more effective meds. I go and visit her once in a while and shes lost quite a bit of weight. She lives in her own apartment and a nurse checks up on her every other day. She says she still has to fight feeling hungry but it no longer feels like shes starving constantly. Now its more like he just constantly needs a snack.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Perhaps purging begins as something comforting – like the person is actually doing something to change their lives, but ends up becoming a psychological habitual dependance that one can’t just ‘break’. I actually used to like feeling miserable while I had the symptoms of depression. It was only when I tried to move through it did I realise just how unhappy I was. Thankfully, I knew I wasn’t born that way, and after quite a few years of slowly moving with it I actually managed to tip the balance in my favour. I actually felt ‘attractive’ for the first time in my adult life – and happy to just be me.
Perhaps these things are like computer programming. The code is still there within me for all kinds of pcychological dependencies, I just learned to ‘patch’ my way around it, until the new code was strong enough to defeat the old. I haven’t looked back.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:38 am
On the pica subject again, ice eating is considered a pica and is called pagophagia. Ice is not a nutritive food and ice pica does not result from thirst.
I suffered from it for a few years. I would order drinks in restaurants with extra ice. I bought soft drinks at drive thrus, poured off the liquid and ate the ice. My children tried to keep me from drinking iced drinks except through a straw, because I was cracking and breaking my teeth.
In the midst of this new found compulsion, I was diagnosed with severe anemia which was fixed by some female surgery. Over the course of the next few months, my blood iron levels came up to normal and the pagophagia disappeared entirely. Later I discovered my ice eating and anemia were probably tied together, with the ice pica a symptom of the anemia.
March 16th, 2009 at 11:25 am
in the late 70’s i was well on my way to anorexia. thank god, my mom and best friend got hold of me in time. the anorexic woman broke my heart. it’s a shame that society teaches women to think that if they don’t fit some “ideal” they aren’t worth anything.
March 16th, 2009 at 11:40 am
I’ve had #6, #5, #3, #2, and #1 – back and forth…and back again.
Sometimes I’ve had multiple disorders at one time. It’s a living hell. Since I’ve been 11 years old (I’m 27 now) I’ve never gone a day (an hour) without thinking about my weight. (too much, too little…an eating disorder is like a shadow – you see it and it follows you everywhere)
March 16th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
70. lo: Please get in touch with me offlist. Either jrater or Cyn can give you my email addy.
March 16th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I’ve also read some stories on here and can’t believe how many people have misconceptions of eating disorders.
In short, I started losing weight when I was 11 years old. I was always called chubby when I was a kid, so being restrictive on my diet was helpful. I realized eating less and less meant losing more and more. Criticisms quickly turned to praise. Weight loss became something I was truly good at. I liked the attention I received.
Inevitably, I gained weight back, but when I turned 15 – I suffered another bout. This time, it wasn’t about looking better (although it was part of it) – it was about having a power that most others couldn’t have. When most people couldn’t go an entire day without eating chips or McDonalds…I could go 24 hours without, not just junk food, but any food.
March 16th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
…CONTINUED FROM #84 (posted too soon) Negative comments only fueled my desire to keep losing weight. I was a perfectionist. I viewed the people telling me to gain weight as my adversaries who were just trying to ruin me. I thought they were jealous of my ability. (I know now that it was the “disease talking” so to speak)
This continued for years (with bouts of bulimia and binge eating) but I always find my way back to restrictive eating. It’s my control source.
Like I’ve said though – food is always on my mind. It’s not something I like or want…but I can’t get away from it. It really is like my alcohol or drug. (something I’ve also struggled with)
I also believe Eating D/O are apart of one’s desire to hide themselves. Sometimes it’s away of gaining control over your body, when you feel life/others are putting too much pressure on you and expect too much of you. It’s one thing other people cannot control. No one can force you to eat or gain weight. (of course, I realize this doesn’t apply to minors or those who get medical holds placed on them) It can feel very empowering.
**I feel that most everyone has vices or something that they are not proud of – it’s wrong to point fingers at the people, whose vices/problems are more apparent to the naked eye.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Has anyone noticed Comment 81? Spam?…
March 16th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
As the mother of a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome, I’m disappointed to see PWS on this list. Unlike the rest of these disorders PWS is caused by a non-inherited genetic mutation of the 15th chromosome. Typically either a small piece (approx. 7 genes) is lost at or around conception or the person has two copies of the mother’s #15 chromosome and is lacking a copy of the father’s #15 chromosome. Therefore people with PWS are born with this disorder and the challanges begin at birth with hypotonia (extremely low muscle tone), an inabilty to suck, extreme sleepiness, and often times, difficulty breathing.
The hyperphagia (constant hunger and inabilty to feel full) doesn’t generally begin until age 2-6. There are currently NO medications or treatments that control of cure the hyperphagia. In PWS, hyperphagia is caused by the missing genes, not by a psychological or emotional problem. There is no way a person with PWS can just “get over it”. As a parent you can not use behavior modification techniques to control the food-seeking behaviors as they are hard-wired into the brain of a person with PWS. Just as you and I HAVE to breath, the person with PWS HAS to have food. I could offer you a million dollars to not breath for the next 10 minutes. No matter how desperately you wanted to you couldn’t do it. Your body would take over and make you breath. It’s the same for a person with PWS. Their brain is telling them that they are starving and NEED to get food. It’s not under their control. PWS is a syndrome and while most do demonstrate some form of cognitive delays, there are also those who have average to above average IQs. I know a woman who is working on her Master’s degree and she has to have assistance with controlling her food, because her brain is hard-wired incorrectly when it comes to food.
As for you, Mad Monkey, no, you have NEVER experienced Prader-Willi Syndrome. And if you truly have experienced every other disorder on this list, I feel sorry for you. However, throwing up a couple of times after binging or not eating for a few days does not get you a diagnosis of bulemia or anorexia. Nor does eating a piece of paper mean you have pica.
For anyone who does want to learn more about PWS please go to PWSAUSA.org
March 16th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
86. Crimanon: Has anyone noticed Comment 81? Spam?…
****
Spam. Reported.
March 16th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
22. lucy – Yes, I sometimes feel the same way. I would never SAY it to the person, but it can be very frustrating.
24. firefly73 – Before you attack me, I want to point out that my sister has suffered from anorexia and so did a girl I skated with, so I’m not inexperienced with it. It is an extremely difficult disorder for the family/friends to deal with, not because we think that the person should just “get over it,” but because like any addict, anorexics can be a pain in the butt to deal with.
The best thing I found to do was just to a) treat my sister/skater friend like normal and be there if they wanted to vent about something, and b) not take any controlling bullcrap from them. Once they realized they couldn’t pull it on me, they didn’t. Since they had control issues, I think it made them relieved that I was just accepting of them as they were, and they didn’t HAVE to pull any crap with me. I wrote to the skater friend when she was in the hospital and sent her comic strips, etc. to make her laugh. She appreciated it, and I was glad to do it.
So Lucy, just treat the person like you always do. Firefly, understand that it’s hard on us too: *HUG* And I’m glad that you are doing well.
March 16th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
87. Kimberly
How is it disappointing to see PWS on this list? So it´s a genetic disorder instead of a psychological one… So what? Are you implying (like others in these comments unfortunately) that anorexia or bulimia are things you can “just get over if you really wanted to” ? If you are, then you should REALLY look some of these disorders up so you can post an informed opinion. If you´re not (and I sincerely hope not), then you should realize that most people with these disorders do not CHOOSE to have them. It´s not like, “Hey, I think I´ll be anorexic or bulimic from now on.”
In fact, I would think that being on a list like this would be a good thing. It´s an informative list and I think it serves to open some eyes about different disorders. How, pray tell, was it offensive in any way?
March 16th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
“Anorexics are obsessed with losing weight”
No.
I’m diagnosed anorexic (by 2 psychiatrists, not an online quiz, mind) and I can say that it’s not just about losing weight. For some, losing weight doesn’t even tally into it.
March 16th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
I didn`t know most of this,enlightenment welcome. You big girls out there,don`t worry. More of you to love. Better than looking like a skeleton.
March 16th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
*admin. note* comments re: a previous one possibly being spam, don’t make sense now. cuz it was spam thus removed.
have a nice day.
March 17th, 2009 at 2:55 am
The picture in item no. 1 is freaking me out.
March 17th, 2009 at 2:57 am
Speaking of which, can a male be diagnosed with anorexia?
March 17th, 2009 at 5:54 am
kimberly- (86) I certainly didn’t want to offend. I do make the distinction that PWS is caused by a chromosomal defect and is not a psychological disorder. Howevever, it is still a disorder, it is eating related, and it is terrible, so I thought it fit in with the list.
bubina- (90) surely your anorexia at least started with the obsession to lose weight? I’ve been diagnosed twice and I can’t think of a day when I was sick that I didn’t think about losing weight.
denzell- (94) absolutely. About one million men, or 7-10% of those diagnosed with anorexia are men or boys.
March 17th, 2009 at 6:56 am
where is Mike Tyson?
March 17th, 2009 at 11:12 am
89. GTT
I would never imply that any psychological disorder, eating or otherwise, is something that someone chose to have, and no, I do not believe that they can “just get over it.”
However, what sets PWS apart from everything else on this list is that, with the right treatment, everything else on this list, generally, can be cured. Granted, I understand that some people will never be fully cured, but the possiblity is out there. There is no cure or even any treatment for the eating symptoms of PWS. The only way to manage it is to lock the cupboards and refrigerators and keep the person under 24/7 supervision for life.
95. Callie
I’m not offended. It’s just that many people look at PWS as an “eating disorder” and it’s not (and yes, I noticed that you used the term “eating related”). The hyperphagia is just one componant of a much larger syndrome. In addition to the hyperphagia my daughter, who is 5, also has low muscle tone (for which she receives Adapted PE and OT), dyspraxia (a very severe speech and language disorder similar to what an adult exhibits after a stroke…she gets speech), scoliosis, strabismus, difficulty regulating her body temperature, incomplete sexual development (for her age), growth issues (for which she receives daily injections of growth hormone), asthma, behavioral issues and possible learning disabilities and/or cognitive delay. As you can see the hyperphagia, while a major componant, is just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
I do appreciate you introducing the Prader-Willi Syndrome, as a whole, as very few people have heard about it and education is important. I just don’t want people to get the idea that it is “just” an eating disorder. Not to minimize the destructiveness of eating disorders, but to clarify that the eating issues are just one aspect of PWS.
Other than that, it was a well written and informative article.
Again, if anyone wants more information about PWS the national website is PWSAUSA.org.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
GTT – Just to clarify, I also don’t think any psycholgical issue is something one can “just get over”, or that one can be “cured” as such; perhaps the programming will always be there, but it IS possible to move throught it – with a lot of hard work and determination. Several folks on this list are shining examples of that.
March 18th, 2009 at 3:57 am
When I was young I used to eat egg shells. And my brother once found me in the sand box shovelling sand in my mouth. Also, did anyone else like the taste of Playdoh?
March 18th, 2009 at 6:29 am
Callie: No, it didn’t. It started as a sort of coping method when my fiance was seriously ill for months on end. Weight loss did happen, but I wasn’t starving myself because it would make me lose weight, but because it made me feel I could deal with things better.
March 18th, 2009 at 10:15 am
99. hayleydee:…did anyone else like the taste of Playdoh?
****
I preferred school paste, the stuff in the little tubs with the brush built into the lid. I’d brush it onto the paper, let it get to the “tacky” stage, then roll it up into little balls and pop them into my mouth.
I had to be sneaky, if the nuns caught me I’d get my knuckles caned, but I had a sneaky mind, so I was only caught once, and that in Kindergarten.
March 19th, 2009 at 1:49 am
**I’m quite surprise that FAMINE is not on the list.it was an eating disorder wherein the person would like to eat but does not have a food.:-)**
#72 comment – LOL
March 19th, 2009 at 4:31 am
pic no.1 = ….
March 21st, 2009 at 10:07 pm
i have BDD
March 24th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
i used to be anorexic – recovered now
but i also ate a lot of paper – maybe as a replacement for food? it was definitely because i had vitamin deficiency, because i no longer feel a craving to eat paper.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
36 MadMonkey – are you SURE you’ve had every disorder on the list? why did you have them? “oh i like throwing up, i’ll just say i have bulimia!” is that what you mean by BS excuse? what is it an excuse FOR exactly?
i hope everyone realizes that a lot of these disorders don’t actually have too much to do with losing weight. if i wanted to lose weight, i would go to a gym. that is NOT the point, it is just the form it takes. it’s easy to say someone can just “get over it” – hell, i’ve even done that before. but it’s not always possible and it’s not always easy, so get over YOURSELVES and your high horses.
March 26th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Just thought I would throw in my 2 cents.
Most any eating related disorder can be characterized as a behavioral disorder (eating or refraining from eating is a behavior and most successful treatments involve changing behavior).
The genetic defect of PWS effects the endocrine system, specifically the hypothalamus which regulated satiation. Individuals with PWS are also usually diagnosed with some degree of mental retardation (you can’t rationalize with these individuals and convince them not to overeat). While it is currently impossible to correct the genetic component, many behavioral treatment have been developed which provide frequent non-food rewards (reinforcement) for refraining from eating.
Also, while most of these disorders are classified as pychological, many people fail to recognize that over time physiological components come into play as well. For example, numerous studies have shown that the opiod and cannabinoid systems of the brain respond differently to food in bulimics compared to normal eaters. Also, different environmental situations can trigger bulimics by causing an increase in salivation and hunger (think of Pavlov’s dogs and the bell).
One of the reasons why many eating disorder interventions fail is because treatment does not occur in the environment where the behavior takes place (e.g., not letting a bulimic binge/purge where that behavior usually takes place, not letting the athletic anorexia exercise for longer than 30 minutes when she goes to the gym, making the anorexic eat a normal meal in her home (not the hospital) etc.)
April 1st, 2009 at 8:33 am
i think most of us have eaten something unusual just to see what it tastes like. paper is very common in fact i read somewhere that ballet dancers eat toilet paper to fill themselves up without having to eat or gain weight. and also most women love a binge now and then and sometimes i think people use these labels as a excuse for what they do. more reserch needs to be done in thse peoples mentel health oh yes and prader willi can surely not be deemed a eating disorder? its a medical condition not a mental health one.
April 1st, 2009 at 8:34 am
excuse poor spelling of above comment – DUH!
April 14th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
It is true that many of these sort of travel together, but I really want to thank bubina for bringing up what I was going to. Anorexia was my primary problem and is still something I work with and around. It is much much more than an obsession with losing weight.
I can remember the diminishing weight feeling good, but it was not the same kind of good feeling you might have if you had lost some of your baby weight or something. It was hateful, and it was personal. At some point weight doesn’t even matter. Also, some people feel good that way. I felt happier and more energetic although I had gotten down to 90lbs at a 5′10″ height. So much was going on, and I exhibited quite a few other problems which occur on this list such as obsessive working out, compulsion to eat only certain type of healthy food if anything (at this point I knew I was covering in order to avoid hospitalization). I also ate paper regularly. I figured it had no nutritional value and couldn’t really be digested. I took to eating a lot of non-foods such as bits of soap or holly leaves because I knew they would make me ill if I ate too much. Consider, those who are talking about it being wasteful, the waste of a suicide.
Anyway, my point madmonkey, is that these are huge compulsions. They never go away. You deal with it forever. I am now still a bit of an exercise freak, and trying to convince myself that my weight is ok because of my muscle mass. I am also now nearly 30 years old. This struggle will always be a part of my life. That is not BS. It’s something you should be thankful you don’t have to deal with.
April 15th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
i think that this is outragouse how girls think that they are fat WHEN THERE NOT!!!!!!! they are skin and bone fat is when people say you are fat or your over weiight not when you can see someones bones popping out! they need to change there life styles and people need to help them. stick a bloody chicken in there mouth or something!
April 16th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
the worst of them all…
reading countless lists of anything online
April 17th, 2009 at 1:00 am
BDD is one of the most horrifying mental condition to live with on a day to day basis. at my worst i had dropped out of school quit my job and i hadent left my house in 9 month’s and had attempted suicide 2 times. all i ever did was sit and look at myself in any sort of reflective surface, when i wasent looking at myself i was thinking about how shitty i thought i looked how deformed and masculine i felt.
April 17th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
holy cow, that woman at the bottom of the list looks like a flattened ball. no offense to her but she really does
April 17th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
actually she looks like gollum
April 17th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Jeeze, Zoombafoo, I’d looked at that photo several times before, always knowing it reminded me of something but never quite putting my finger on it. Then you said Gollum! It’s perfect. It’s exactly what I was trying to remember.
Thanks.
April 17th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
your welcome!!!! lol
May 24th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Reading all the comments here cleared my mind about eating disorders, which was an issue i hadn’t quite setttled.
They are indications of OTHER disorders classified under different names for reasons I can’t quite make out. As I have understood from the comments anorexia is about control over your life. Then it has to do something with your lifestyle, understanding of life and the sources of the feeling of achievement. All of a sudden (actually while typing these words) i realized it has something in common with video game addicts. Most of them play games because they feel the control and power the games grants them. So this feeling of powerlessness must have an effect on both groups.
I don’t know if there is a statistical study about this issue but my personal observations and knowledge (absolutely not enough to make a judgement) tells me that these disorders are more frequent in developed countries. Being a graduate student in economics I am now curious if the frequency of these diseases are correlated to a nation’s wealth. Can anyone point out any resources?
NOTE: This comment did not end up as i planned it to be but i wanted to keep it this way to reveal how this idea came to me
May 24th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Reading all the comments here cleared my mind about eating disorders, which was an issue i hadn’t quite setttled.
They are indications of OTHER disorders classified under different names for reasons I can’t quite make out. As I have understood from the comments anorexia is about control over your life. Then it has to do something with your lifestyle, understanding of life and the sources of the feeling of achievement. All of a sudden (actually while typing these words) i realized it has something in common with video game addicts. Most of them play games because they feel the control and power the games grants them. So this feeling of powerlessness must have an effect on both groups.
I don’t know if there is a statistical study about this issue but my personal observations and knowledge (absolutely not enough to make a judgement) tells me that these disorders are more frequent in developed countries. Being a graduate student in economics I am now curious if the frequency of these diseases are correlated to a nation’s wealth. Can anyone point out any resources?
NOTE: This comment did not end up as i planned it to be but i wanted to keep it this way to reveal how this idea came to me
June 1st, 2009 at 12:14 am
I think the bottom line is we need to be more confident with ourselves, we think that people will like us but the truth is we cannot please everybody. I learned from cheapsoma.ca articles that most people who are experiencing eating disorder are somewhat related to depression and the lack of self confidence.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
99. hayleydee:…did anyone else like the taste of Playdoh?
Once as a kid, my mom and I made playdoh cookies and such. My aunt came over and started eating them. My dad sits down and says, “Peggy, that’s playdoh.” She just says, “Well it tastes good” and eats more. My mom called her the following day to make sure she was okay. lol
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I’ve never had any of these eating disorders. I do however think I am fat at 5′ 4″, 125lbs. For years and years I’ve thought constantly about my weight. All day long I think about it. Every time I eat, I feel bad about it if it isn’t fruit or vegetables. I mostly drink water, and feel bad if I drink a soda or something. However, it doesn’t really stop me from eating. I try to limit my calorie intake, but even then I eat around 1600 calories a day. I suppose it’s a good thing I don’t have the kind of self control it takes to become anorexic or whatever.
For a time, 9th grade through 10th grade, I did have a physical problem with eating. At that time I was still eating whatever, whenever, yet once at a restaurant I became randomly sick to my stomach, before eating a single bite. After that it didn’t happen again until months later, with a steak on Christmas. I had to go outside and walk around for a while to keep myself from throwing up. I still can’t eat steak after that. That time though, it stuck and I would get sick at any restaurant, as well as at school. I never puked, but I couldn’t eat or even smell the food at school, nor go to any restaurant. I don’t know what caused it, but I’m sure that after a while it did become psychological. I was afraid of getting sick and throwing up in public, which made me nervous, causing me to feel sick…. at first though, it was really strange.
July 28th, 2009 at 9:37 am
although i don’t have experience with anorexia, i am bulimic. and others who have this disorder understand what i am about to say. sadly it does occur as a result of what a person thinks they should look like based on messages others around them are sending (ie- walking with down the street when your guy friend says wow she’s hot about every blond no bigger then a size 2, or reports of how a celebrity has let themselves go when the have beefed up to a whopping 130 pounds-whatever)but not always so.
it started for me when i was in a very abusive relationship,it became the only thing i could control. i remember thinking to myself when i first started throwing up “wow, i am so proud of myself,i can make myself throw up and no one can stop me. this is something i have 100% absolute power over”. that was a red flag moment for me. and just like some one who is an alcoholic or drug user it becomes an addiction. i used to count the minutes after a meal to when i could go throw up, watching the clock at work unable to contain myself almost in anticipation of being able to go spend 40 dollars at the drive through so i could go puke. it is insane. it is a sickness. but unlike drugs or alcohol, you cannot simple quit buying food. you have to totally reinvent your way of thinking, but it is possible. meditation has helped me alot simply by relieving alot of the stressers that made me feel a lack of control.
i still struggle with this more than ever. i have three daughters, two of whom are overweight, they actually are larger then me. but i try very hard not to let them see when i’m having one of my days as i don’t ever want them to think that it’s ok to be bulimic. this disease affects everyone who is in my life now, not just me.
have some compassion, eating disorders are not just something you can get over. food is a necessity and you can’t live without it.and it’s not just in your head, it is on all the billboards around us, it is the models who walk the runways and set the standard for how the world thinks we should look. it is the ex-husband that tells you what to wear,or the mother that criticizes every second place ribbon you bring home when it should have been a first place. every one contributes to this problem even if they don’t realize it.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:47 am
For some reason, on a lot of the lists I’ve clicked on the pictures &/or video won’t work or can’t be viewed. Now on this list I am able to see every picture. And I actually wish I couldn’t. The picture for anorexia nervosa was shocking, & made me a little sick.
I’ve had first-hand experience with eating disorder.
I think I’ve gone through some short periods of orthorexia. I guess. I remember once freaking out when I couldn’t really find any fruits or vegetables in the house. But with all these diets & health crazes, sometimes it seems like disorder like orthorexia is almost encouraged.
Of the disorders on this list, I think I can relate mostly to binge eating disorder. I dunno; but I know I’m a compulsive eater. Sometimes I wonder what my aim or whether what I’m doing is necessarily for a love of eating.
While I don’t doubt that Night Eating Disorder exists, nor would i not admit that it negatively impacts people’s lives. I dunno. It sounds kind of like the Restless Leg Syndrome advertised on commercials, you know? Like.. this disorder almost makes me want to say “THat’s a mental disorder now?” Okay. It’s real, people do it. But just get help. Oh… I think people might be pissed off after reading this. But, before you bite my head off: do you see where I’m coming from? It’s..some things– should they really be diagnosed as mental or physical disorders (okay, physical disorder was what I meant)?
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:04 am
I used to eat a lot of food in any kind either it is nutrional or junk foods but either of these food makes me fat. Until now I’m 27 years old i have weigh 50 to 52 kilos and my height was 5′8. I have insecurities on my body and i used to pretend that i’m ok but it’s NOT. How could i be able to overcome and accept the reality that this is my body and nothing that will change whether i have to exercise or eat a lot of food. Would you be able to advice base on my case? I would be glad o hear it from you or even reply to this message i have. thanks in advance. By the way, It was great and very informative list you have right now. I’m one of your fan and almost everyday i’m reading your site.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:49 am
i have or had number 5, yeah if we dont work out until physical exhaustion we wont feel satisfied, and there is a feeling of guilt and dpression if we do not workout either, it is an obsession
August 19th, 2009 at 10:56 am
I Like To Chew Balloons And Paint Tastes Quite Nice , And Sand