Comments on: Eating Disorders and Blog of the Week: Real Recovery from Bulimia & Binge Eating http://www.blisstree.com/articles/eating-disorders-and-blog-of-the-week-real-recovery-from-bulimia-binge-eating/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:58:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Genetics and Health » Gene Talk #1: business|bytes|genes|molecules http://www.blisstree.com/articles/eating-disorders-and-blog-of-the-week-real-recovery-from-bulimia-binge-eating/comment-page-1/#comment-566946 Genetics and Health » Gene Talk #1: business|bytes|genes|molecules Mon, 29 May 2006 10:03:29 +0000 http://www.geneticsandhealth.com/2006/03/12/eating-disorders-and-blog-of-the-week-real-recovery-from-bulimia-binge-eating/#comment-566946 [...] For the past year, I have featured blogs every Sunday that shared personal stories and opinions about various health topics, including ADD, bulimia and binge eating, and stuttering. Today, I’m introducing a new series called Gene Talk which will feature excerpts from blogs talking about genetics, genes, and/or DNA. [...] [...] For the past year, I have featured blogs every Sunday that shared personal stories and opinions about various health topics, including ADD, bulimia and binge eating, and stuttering. Today, I’m introducing a new series called Gene Talk which will feature excerpts from blogs talking about genetics, genes, and/or DNA. [...]

]]> By: Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/eating-disorders-and-blog-of-the-week-real-recovery-from-bulimia-binge-eating/comment-page-1/#comment-566635 Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:33:57 +0000 http://www.geneticsandhealth.com/2006/03/12/eating-disorders-and-blog-of-the-week-real-recovery-from-bulimia-binge-eating/#comment-566635 <b>Michelle</b>: It's your generosity in helping others that impressed me. All the best! Michelle: It’s your generosity in helping others that impressed me. All the best!

]]> By: Michelle Hope http://www.blisstree.com/articles/eating-disorders-and-blog-of-the-week-real-recovery-from-bulimia-binge-eating/comment-page-1/#comment-566632 Michelle Hope Mon, 13 Mar 2006 02:32:14 +0000 http://www.geneticsandhealth.com/2006/03/12/eating-disorders-and-blog-of-the-week-real-recovery-from-bulimia-binge-eating/#comment-566632 Hello Hsien. Thank you for your kind comments about my blog and for featuring it as your blog of the week. I'm looking forward to getting to know your site as well. From my own personal experience as well as from many of my readers who have shared their stories with me, I believe the most common trait among people with chronic (ie. they're addicted) eating disorders is a chaotic childhood. The exact family dynamics may be quite different, but if the child experiences persistent unpredictability, with or without a dysfunctional parent, that child will grow up with an inability to feel secure - and so will be more likely to seek stability and comfort in dysfunctional, self-defeating ways. We know that food or drugs or alcohol or video games or whatever addiction of choice do provide (however temporary) a means to help a person COPE with uncertainty - they numb and they calm. Of course, having a dysfunctional parent greatly increases the chances of a chaotic childhood. But, even highly functioning parents who for whatever reason don't provide a secure, predictable, relatively calm household, may end up with addicted children. If there is anything else I can do to help people understand what an addiction, particularly a food addiction, is like, please contact me anytime at michelle@michellehope.org. Remember, I also suffered from persistent depression, panic attacks, and frightening attacks of uncontrollable rage. I found my rage to be much more disconcerting than my eating disorder. With gratitude, Michelle Hope Hello Hsien.

Thank you for your kind comments about my blog and for featuring it as your blog of the week. I’m looking forward to getting to know your site as well.

From my own personal experience as well as from many of my readers who have shared their stories with me, I believe the most common trait among people with chronic (ie. they’re addicted) eating disorders is a chaotic childhood. The exact family dynamics may be quite different, but if the child experiences persistent unpredictability, with or without a dysfunctional parent, that child will grow up with an inability to feel secure – and so will be more likely to seek stability and comfort in dysfunctional, self-defeating ways. We know that food or drugs or alcohol or video games or whatever addiction of choice do provide (however temporary) a means to help a person COPE with uncertainty – they numb and they calm.

Of course, having a dysfunctional parent greatly increases the chances of a chaotic childhood. But, even highly functioning parents who for whatever reason don’t provide a secure, predictable, relatively calm household, may end up with addicted children.

If there is anything else I can do to help people understand what an addiction, particularly a food addiction, is like, please contact me anytime at michelle@michellehope.org. Remember, I also suffered from persistent depression, panic attacks, and frightening attacks of uncontrollable rage. I found my rage to be much more disconcerting than my eating disorder.

With gratitude,
Michelle Hope

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