ED Envy
December 24, 2007 by angelique
Filed under Women's Health
“I wish I had an eating disorder!”
I have actually had numerous people laughingly say this to me or in my presence.
Obviously, what they really mean is: “I wish I could lose some extra weight.”
But their words always remind me that most individuals just don’t “get” the seriousness of anorexia and bulimia.
And how could they be expected to?
It’s so difficult to describe all the ED rituals, the head games, the deception, the terror, the control… I’ve been through it, and it still surprises and baffles me on some level.
“I wish I had an eating disorder!”
In the past, I used to become angry when someone would so flippantly joke about EDs, even though I knew in my heart and mind that they weren’t aiming their sentences at me personally.
But I’d get on my soapbox (so high in the air that you could see my panties, for goodness’ sake!) and wag my finger and tongue at their ignorance. I’d become all huffy and upset and purple that… well… it didn’t help anyone.
“I wish I had an eating disorder!”
My response today, years after abandoning anorexia and allowing my inner wounds to heal?
I smile, shake my head, and simply answer, “No. You don’t.”
Sage advice, Angelique. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t be getting on my soapbox MORE when people say flippant (and either knowingly or unknowingly) incredibly hurtful things about not being able to have children. But, as you said, does it really help? In most cases, I think (I have to think) that people don’t mean to do harm. They simply haven’t thought before opening their mouths.
Gabrielle:
Welcome!
Good points about associating fertility and EDs. People do talk about both subjects without thinking first.
I try never to ask, “When are you going to have children?” for that very reason.