Hi everyone, I want to encourage you all to share your stories and personal experiences on this page. Here is some guidance on how to do this responsibly. I am still learning how to do this myself and would like to open a forum for you all to learn with me. This information was retrieved from the National Eating Disorders Association at nationaleatingdisorders.org: Guidelines for Sharing Your Story Responsibly: As someone with a personal connection to the field of eating disorders, be it through your own experience or that of a loved one, you are in unique position to offer hope, understanding and vital information to others. At the same time, it is important to carefully consider the potential impact of your message on the public, as well the effects of self-disclosure on your personal well-being. Research and anecdotal evidence show that even with the best intentions, personal testimonies can provide dangerous ideas that may contribute to disordered-eating behaviors. Furthermore, an individual sharing their story may be left feeling exposed, vulnerable to judgment, and/or emotionally overwhelmed. Below are strategies to help you present your story in a useful way while protecting your personal well-being. An effective recovery story helps lead others toward health, hope, and understanding. How to Protect Your Personal Well-Being •Be committed to your own recovery. Before becoming an advocate for eating disorders awareness, be sure you are first and foremost an advocate for you! Sharing your story is a big responsibility. •Understand that it may feel like a lot of pressure and will likely bring up a lot of emotions. It is imperative to stay focused on your own recovery before taking steps to help others. If you are currently working with a professional, or have worked with one in the past, please ask for their feedback regarding your decision to share your story. Recognize your limits. While you are an expert of your own experience, remember that this experience is unique to you. It is important to not answer questions that you don’t know the answers to or provide advice that suggests “this is what works for everyone.” Remember, since you are not an expert or professional in the field, you are not responsible for being someone’s therapist or for her or his recovery. You can, however, help to put individuals in contact with professionals specializing in eating disorders. You might even think about inviting a professional to participate in or be available for questions during your presentation if one is not already scheduled to be there. Know what you are and are not willing to share. Just because you’ve taken this step to share your story does not mean you have to disclose every aspect of your experience. Keep a commitment to yourself not to disclose more than you are comfortable with. Be armed with phrases such as “That is more than I am willing to share” or “I believe you have enough understanding without talking about ______.” This will help protect you should questions arise that you are not comfortable answering. Be prepared for assumptions/questions. Remember that the extent of eating disorders knowledge will vary widely within your audience. Be prepared to address common myths about eating disorders and keep in mind what a valuable opportunity this is to clear up those all-too-prevalent misunderstandings. Refer to NEDA’s various handouts for more information (see next page for handout suggestions). Remember your reason for speaking. Before sharing your story, carefully consider your motivations for doing so. While it may be personally rewarding to be honest and open about your experience, remember that you have an important obligation to your audience members. Make sure you leave your audience with the message that there is hope, that recovery and freedom from food and weight concerns is possible, and professional help is available. How to Share a Story Responsibly Eating disorders are serious illnesses that must be discussed in a careful and responsible manner. Try not to inadvertently glamorize them or promote copycats who may experiment with life-threatening behaviors. Whether you are sharing your story during an interview, in a written piece, or in front of an audience, here are some suggestions to guide you in your coverage of eating disorders. Dont focus on graphic images or physical descriptions of the body at its unhealthiest point. Research strongly suggests that testimonies which dramatize dangerous thinness can provoke a race to the bottom among those struggling with or susceptible to an eating disorder (i.e. She is thinner than I am and shes still alive. I should lose more weight.). A focus on the physical descriptions of the body is not only dangerous, but can also be misleading. Individuals with eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes – just like in life! Dont provide ‘tips’ or play the numbers game. I ate only X calories a day or He took as many as X laxatives at a time can turn a well-intentioned story into ‘how-to’ instructions for someone to follow. You might instead highlight that our self-worth cannot be measured by the numbers on a scale or the size of our clothes. Stories can also effectively – and responsibly – be illustrated by focusing on the mental and physical consequences of the eating disorder (e.g. disrupted friendships and isolation, fear and depression, fatigue, decreased ability to concentrate, medical complications, etc.) rather than the specific behaviors or number counting that perpetuated the eating disorder. Watch out for ‘anorexia chic’. Eating disorders and those who have them should not be glamorized or, worse yet, presented as people with astounding will-power or incredible self-control. This threatens to not only inaccurately portray eating disorders as desirable, but can also give the false impression that if one only had enough will power or self-control, they could overcome an eating disorder too. Eating disorders are not just a ‘fad’ or a ‘phase,’ and one doesn’t ‘catch’ an eating disorder for a period of time. Remind the audience that eating disorders are illnesses, not choices. Be careful about providing testimony of how you bravely fought this illness alone. Perhaps you did, but most do not – the vast majority of those who recover from their illness do it only with the ongoing help of trained professionals. Remember that isolation is one of the most difficult aspects of eating disorders for many sufferers. Make sure you reinforce that it is courageous and necessary to reach out for support and guidance during the recovery process. Emphasize the seriousness of eating disorders without portraying them as hopeless. Always encourage people to seek help for themselves or loved ones who are suffering. Recovery is often a long and expensive process – but it is achievable and there are many options available. Thank you for your support in this endeavor. I look forward to hearing from you as we go forward. :)
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 03:13:31 +0000
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