Where is Tyra?

My mission for this blog is not to trash these websites, but to publicize their danger. I was hoping to get a little help in spreading my message through a public role model. I chose Tyra Banks as my target, as I believe that she is a beautiful example of someone who inspires others to feel comfortable with their bodies and overall self.

Over the past few weeks, however, I have begun reconsidering my change agent. Maybe I went for someone too big, too public. I have sent in more than one letter, such as the one I posted earlier, and I have not even received a response saying that they RECEIVED the letter. Yes, I am starting to think I reached a little too high for Tyra.

Also, perhaps those who are/are trying to recover from their eating disorder need someone who has experienced the same disease…similar to the way a drug or alcohol addict needs the support of a former addict to recover simply for the fact that that individual understands the pain and the torture, and has persevered. Perhaps Tyra does not resonate enough with those I am trying to help. While she certainly stands for loving ones body, perhaps she is too idealistic, as she has never NOT loved her body to the extent that an eating disorder sufferer has, perhaps the two cannot relate.

With all these factors in mind, I am taking the idea of changing my change agent into consideration. I think I should find someone who can relate closer to eating disorder sufferers, and who serves as an inspiration in the sense that they have done the seemingly impossible and made definite advances on the road to recovery. I have a few individuals in mind…but what do you, my readers, think of this proposition? Does it make more sense? If so, any ideas for a candidate?

*Role Model*

It is difficult for eating disorder sufferers to be very open about their disease. Once of the major symptoms of the disorder is a desire to keep control over one’s life. By opening up about the disorder, these individuals are putting themselves in an incredibly vulnerable position. They put themselves in a seemingly dangerous position of allowing others to judge them, to question them, to try and tell them what to do.

When considering the above circumstances, the appeal of an anonymous website to open up about the disease is very clear. Rather than fighting the disease, they are encouraged to embrace it, thus rather than feel as if they are judged for it, they feel as if they are being welcomed into a secret organization for it. The attraction to these websites is understandable, which is why they must be stopped.

Cori Magnotta took part in another interview with Real Health TV, explaining her personal struggle in greater detail. She explains the addictive component of the websites and the dangerous ability their followers are able to pull you back in, even during rehabilitation.

If you are an eating disorder sufferer reading this post, please take note of her personal story and how long she has struggled. Cori is an intensely strong and brave woman for being so public about her disease and use of the websites. She is a wonderful person to look up to as an example for her ability to admit to her struggles and publicize her story to help others.

You never know...

When I look back on the things I have been subjected to, from Barbies to advertisements and now from diet pills to hardcore drugs even, I am shocked I don’t have an eating disorder myself. This Dove clip highlights the intense overload of advertising we are subjected to. Even watching the short clip makes me feel anxious, like I need to go OD on diet pills and exercise until I collapse.

Considering my friends and I started measuring our thighs by the 5^th grade and skipping meals to lose weight by the 7^th, it is not surprising that one of us has an eating disorder, only surprising that more of us do not. This leads me to my next point—anorexia and bulimia often fall under the radar. For example, my best friend has been clinically diagnosed with anorexia, meaning she has doctors and psychologists confirming the fact that she has an eating disorder.

There are, however, hundreds of thousands of individuals who are not clinically diagnosed. There are hundreds of thousands of individuals who look emaciated and whose minds are distorted, leading them to live unhealthy and sad lives, but they are not being helped by a doctor nor are they ‘noticed’ by a professional for their closet disease. There are even more who do not look like they have an eating disorder. There are individuals who look like they are healthy, perhaps even overweight, who purge after meals or consume inadequate calories. With this in mind, think about how many people are logging onto these websites for support. Yes, the first thing that comes to mind are the extremists, those who are skeletal figures that encourage each other to keep their skin clinging tightly to their bone, but there are also others. There are people who are temporarily dieting, there are young girls and maybe boys who are finding these and participating. This is the INTERNET and you do not know who is taking part!