It’s the old “free speech” question again.  How far should sites that promote anorexia and bulimia as lifestyle choices (and not just mental health problems) be allowed to go? 

I still haven’t decided.  As I’ve said before, I would have most definitely been pro-ana if the Internet had existed in the 1980s, and that really worries me.  In fact, I would have been the first to start posting pics of my bones in the bathroom mirror.  And I have the feeling that if I had gone that route and been supported in my eating disorder, I might not be recovered (or in recovery) today.

What do you think?

Post from: Blisstree

Pro-ana debate on My Crime Space

I so easily and quickly would have glommed onto the pro ana message boards, scarfing up the information and hints (while simultaneously starving myself of nourishment.) I would have surreptitiously taken and posted self-portraits positioned in front of the bathroom mirror, angling my body so viewers had the best shots of my protruding hipbones and ribcage. And I would have gloried in being able to tell other pro anas and pro mias about the numbers on my scale.

Yes, I would have been pro ana.  No question.  Case closed.

This leads me to have a great deal of sympathy for those who buy into the whole pro ana and pro mia movement. I mean, I get it. I truly do. As much as I do not support it, I understand it (even if pro anas and mias don’t believe me.) At the height of my eating disorder, I would have been super-excited to share my thoughts, feelings, worries, et cetera, with likeminded individuals.

And that really scares me. Because if the Internet had existed when I was a teen with anorexia, I would absolutely, positively not be living the life I am today.

(For more pro ana Breaking the Mirror posts, click here.)

Post from: Blisstree

The Jury is In: I would have been pro ana

But there are many other blogs and forums that discuss anorexia, bulimia and ED-NOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified). Those I’d like to discuss today designate themselves as pro-ana or pro-mia.

There’s a great deal of controversy about those communities. Some people believe they are evil; others feel they have saved their lives by providing a connection with likeminded individuals. Many people don’t care either way.

Today, I’d like to start a dialogue about pro-ana and pro-mia websites.

Do you think they are innately good, bad or neither? Do they provide a welcoming place for lonely girls and guys who are suffering in silence? Or do they legitimize the social acceptance of extreme thinness?

My only request (perhaps rule) for our conversation about pro-ana and pro-mia sites and societies is that it is held respectfully. Please refrain from name-calling, as it does nothing to prove a point. Anorexia and bulimia are life-threatening conditions, so let’s treat this discussion seriously.

It’s your turn.

Tell me about your thoughts on pro-ana and pro-mia, the good, the bad, the ugly, the neutral.
 

Post from: Blisstree

Pro-ana and pro-mia: good, bad or neither?

Thanks to a few very honest visitors who educated me, I’m here to tell you that the “proper” hues for the bracelets are:

Red – pro-ana

Purple (not blue) – pro-mia

Black & Blue – self-mutilation (such as cutting)

Of course, I’m not advocating the wearing of such jewelry.  But I think awareness of the silent signals that pro-anas and pro-mias use to identify each other could be useful to parents.

Post from: Blisstree

Update: Pro-ana and pro-mia bracelets

Of course, all pro-recovery sites like Breaking the Mirror talk about the dangers of thinspo.  That’s nothing new.

But could thinspiration be truly useful in some situations?  I mean, people without eating disorders tend to use “thinspiration”, too. 

For instance, a gal who wants to return to her pre-pregnancy weight may put pics of her years ”before kids” around the house as a reminder to curb her snacking tendencies. 

Or a clinically obese man may turn his refrigerator into a collage of thinspo images just to prevent him from eating another helping of spaghetti or reaching for a tub of Haagen-Daas.

These people are using “thinspiration” in what seems to be a legitimate manner.  After all, plenty of diet books encourage people to use images as guides.

Personally, I think it’s terrible.

First of all, thinspiration in any form is downright demeaning.  It’s basically saying, “You are hideous now.  If you look like this, you’ll be perfect.”  Thinspo makes everything about appearance only.

Secondly, thinspiration provides only a temporary boost.  After a while, more is needed for it to make any lasting “dent”.  (I think it can be addicting, too, but I have no scientific reports to back me up.)

Finally, using thinspo is a lot different than making an actual lifestyle change.  Being healthy isn’t about photos — it’s about how you treat yourself, inside and out.  It’s holistic, not one-dimensional.

Consequently, I think “thinspiration” in any form is disastrous in the long run.  What do you think?

Post from: Blisstree

Is “thinspiration” ever truly useful?

Not so.

You see, like any other “clique”, those with EDs have a caste system, a heirarchy of sorts.  It’s not usually discussed, but it definitely exists. 

Allow me to explain (and feel free to let me know if any of this has changed recently or if I’m missing something)…

Followers of Ana are undesputedly the “highest” on the eating disorder ladder.  These are folks who strongly adhere to anorexic principles and pro-ana tenets.  “Rexies” are those with anorexia but who could stop if they wanted to and only choose to be anorexic; they aren’t as high up on the (non-)food chain.

Next would probably be binge eaters.  (Not bulimics, but those who simply binge.)  They cannot stop with one cookie but have to eat a box — or five.  However, they do not vomit after eating nor do they regularly starve themselves afterwards, exercise to excess or use laxatives to lose weight.

At the bottom of the ED caste system come bulimics.  These pro-mia gals and guys are almost reviled by many Ana purists.  It’s kind of “cool” to be anorexic; however, to regularly worship the porcelain god after ingesting thousands of calories of food makes you “weak” because you gave into the temptation to eat.

As far as those suffering from EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified), I’m not sure.  I can never tell where these folks fall, though I do know that most anorexics who follow the path of Ana rigidly would probably find those with EDNOS to be “wannarexics” or perhaps “Rexies”.

Class dismissed.  It’s Friday.  Go play.

Post from: Blisstree

The caste system of eating disorders

Yeah, right.

As if a 10-pound weight gain would mean the end of a complicated relationship with Ana or Mia.

There are plenty of people in recovery who are still underweight and will remain so for quite a while, perhaps years.  That doesn’t mean they are pro-ana or pro-mia, however.  It just means they haven’t reached the stage of their recovery where they are able to eat enough (or keep enough food in their bodies) to increase their BMI.

I think this is an important issue to remember, especially for parents, friends, family members, teachers and coaches.  It’s also one that I don’t believe is discussed often enough.

Post from: Blisstree

Recovery from an eating disorder isn’t all about gaining weight

On the web, there are underground programs and “schools” (loosely defined) of pro-ana and pro-mia supporters that, in essence, claim to help and support the anorexic, bulimic or EDNOS sufferer who does not want to get better.

Yes, these “thinstitutes” (my word) of ana/mia education are available.  And many of them have strict policies on who is allowed to become a “student”.  (I think they are concerned that people like myself might try to infiltrate their societies, which, I admit, is a legitimate worry from their point of view because I’ve considered doing so many times.)

Thinspiration abounds on those sites, and although they are quick to say that they are for people who already have EDs and notthose who desire to have an ED (the so-called “wannarexics), I’m dubious and concerned.

However, I have no hatred for either the “teachers” or the “students” — the sites are run by webmistresses (I’ve yet to find one operated by a man) who are in the grips of an ED and sincerely believe that it’s a-okay to simply live with an ED, embracing it rather than fighting it.

I’d be interested in hearing from any readers who have past or present experience with the pro-ana movement.  Did you “matriculate” from Ana U?

Post from: Blisstree

Is your daughter attending Ana U?

Your daughter loves wearing her blue or red beaded bracelet.  Maybe it even has a dragonfly on it or what is known as a “dragonfly” clasp.

Now, her piece of fashion wear could be completely innocent.  Or it could be a sign that she’s telling the world she’s pro-ana (red beads) or pro-mia (blue beads).

I blogged briefly about this topic a couple of days ago, but I wanted to mention it again because I think it’s incredibly important for people everywhere to know the little “signals” that folks in the pro-ana and pro-mia movements send one another.

Again, I’m in no way suggesting that a beaded bracelet tells the whole story.  (I think I might have a blue beaded one somewhere around the house, and I’m anything but pro-mia.)  However, it could be a clue if you’re seeing other signs of a possible eating disorder in your child, friend or student.

As a side note, I’ve seriously been considering creating a red beaded one and wearing it openly to see if anyone approaches me.  Hm.  I might have to try that.

IMAGES:  Newscom

Post from: Blisstree

Know thy bracelets: red is pro-ana; blue is pro-mia

You see, my role involves looking at dozens of “thinspo” images every week.  I also peruse pro-ana and pro-mia sites ad nauseum, checking them out, seeing what the participants are saying and reporting back to you their messages.

The idea of being around all that thinspiration on a daily basis scared the feces out of me.  (Not literally, of course, for which I’m very grateful, but you get the point…)

I truly thought that there was a small, but real, chance that I would “fall” back into my old habits of eating… or not eating.  I was very, very scared.  Would I embrace Ana as though she were a long-lost love I should never have abandoned?  Would Mia charm me with her ways?  Or would I begin a pattern of bingeing that led to a new eating disorder?

As it’s turned out, knowledge has been very powerful for me. 

Although I’m still not happy about my body image, I’ve become less likely to define myself solely based on my appearance.

Am I still a disordered eater… or at least thinker…?  Yep.  And I’m fairly certain I’ll carry those tendencies with me until the day the Grim Reaper taps me on the shoulder and tells me it’s time to get out of the pool. 

But thankfully I’ve been spared the desire to get back on the merry-go-round world of having an active eating disorder.

Post from: Blisstree

Why I was very worried about thinspiration when I started writing for Breaking the Mirror