Posted on 11/29/2004 10:58:19 PM PST by neverdem
They apparently can eat just fine. It's their attitudes about food and body image that are f***ed up.
I'm incredibly hard-pressed to consider these behaviors a "disease." If it was a genuine disease, it'd be showing up all over the world: America, Europe, Russia, Asia and even Africa. But as it stands, it's only in nations in which everything is so okay that people have to make crap up to be miserable about.
Mental illness is a disease. Not viral or bacterial, but a disease none the less.
Calling a problem a disease is often times a cop out, and a way to excuse irresponsible behavior. Calling shoplifting a disease is one good example. But don't be tempted lump in eating disorders. Anorexia and bulimia are forms of mental illness.
As far as why we only see this illness in the western world - there's not a short answer to that. There are other examples of aberrant behavior and emotional states that are regional. In Japan there is a phobia that is common in men that their penis will retract into their body while they sleep. Some men actually have injured themselves by attempting to secure their members outside their body with a rock and a string. This problem is unheard of in the United States. Anorexia is just as uncommon outside the US. That doesn't mean it's not real.
"In Japan there is a phobia that is common in men that their penis will retract into their body while they sleep. Some men actually have injured themselves by attempting to secure their members outside their body with a rock and a string. This problem is unheard of in the United States. Anorexia is just as uncommon outside the US. That doesn't mean it's not real."
...would that be like the "Pocket Fisherman?"
http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/pocketfisherman.htm?gid=
Popeil Pocket Fisherman
Spin Casting Outfit - This is the famous fishing pal that has thrilled generations!
Convenient Design
Double-flex rod is hinged into closed position when stored away. Simply unfold from this position until it snaps into fully extended position.
LOL! A string and a rock, that's almost too good to be true. I wouldn't be surprised if that fear can be traced to Japanese folklore and superstition. But your comments about mental illness in general are true. Somethings with the psychiatric qualifier NOS as in "not otherwise specified" can be just idiosyncratic. Anorexia Nervosa can be fatal.
I wonder if many of the current psychiatric/psychological maladies are due to modern civilization. Not so long ago 100 - 200 years ago many of our ancestors were living a simple existence farming, hunting and/or fishing.
This is no phobia. This can really happen! Mine got lost that way for several weeks until it popped back out one day while I was doing weighted squats.
You can imagine my relief!
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
The carrot-and-toast thing almost certainly would qualify as OCD, at least if I read the DSM-IV right.
Yeah, I can imagine you had a HUGE smile on your face that day!
I just think that anorexia, like alchoholism is just a means of coping with stress. You can't go and take your frustrations out on other people, so you turn it inward.
Most of these people just need to find other ways to cope with their frustrations.
ACTUALLY, these women have OCD: Obsessive compulsive disorder...stress makes it worse, and it is manifested as eating. "Sex addiction", "transgender confusion" "gambling addiction" and other obsessive ideas that take over one's life are also OCD varients.
I believe it is a condition that entitles me to free stuff and sympathy. But those views might meet with some disagreement here on this forum. That's okay, I don't really need the free stuff. But it would sure be neat if you were to give it to me anyhow. Because after all, I'm special. And you all bloody well know it.
Yours too!?!?
I saw a picture of Helen Thomas nude and got a reverse erection. I had arrythmia for a week because the ol' trouser snake in inverted position kept smacking my heart when I walked.
With the help of a good woman and about fifteen readings of the last 5 SI Swimsuit editions, I'm back to normal.
All my life I have been dealing with people who have serious eating disorders, a parent, a sibling, a child. In my opinion the tendency to get an eating disorder can be inherited. There is a lot more to it than body image. I have an older son with an eating disorder that doesn't fit anyone's criteria. It's ruining his life. One of the worst things is the doctors who say they know how to treat it but who actually only know how to collect fees.
...so she ends up vomiting, on average, about once a week.
Sorry, but this is NYT nonsense. No one can maintain their weight by eating all day and then vomiting once a week. Especially if they're eating ice cream all day.
Sorry, no speed reading is allowed. Look at the first clause. She does a Ramadan all day. She pigs out after 6 PM.
All of those symptoms are the result of OCD? Is that theory in any medical texts? I've never heard of it. It certainly doesn't square with what I know about OCD (having known someone with the disorder). If you are correct, than anyone with a non-chemical addiction should also manifest OCD symptoms, and I've never heard of such a thing.
I like the old (OLD) "nutrtion" guides: 3 squares and each meal balanced between the food groups. And those 3 squares are eaten pretty much at the same time EVERY day. I know this is news to some families. And little to no fast food. I've seen it work miracles in households where some or all have eating disorders. egads... Raise your children with this, and no matter the fad, they tend to stick with that routine. Not fat, but healthy, informed eaters.
Actually, she doesn't eat breakfast, lunch or snacks during the day.
She starts eating at 6pm, pigging out and I assume she eats dinner. But eventually she goes to sleep. She isn't actually eating all day. So yes she can maintain her weight if she purges once a week (perhaps on the day she eats the most, who knows).
I have never purged, but I definitely know this eating pattern. And you can maintain your weight this way. Of course, it's a horrible thing to do. I've eaten this way many times, not exactly pigging out in the evening, but not eating all day and then eating two meals worth of calories at night. I don't have a body image problem, I'm just so very not hungry during the day. But I try.
While I realize that there are people who die of this and I don't want to make light of it, there was a commedian I heard once who said the following...
"Only in America could we have something like anorexia or bulemia... Those aren't "eating disorders." Now, Jeffery Dahmer... That's an eating disorder!"
Mark
Yep, I missed the part about eating after 6 pm. Still, you can pack in a lot of calories before you go to bed.
Amazed that anyone could eat this way - keep their energy level up - keep a job - or function during the day.
Frankly, I'd collapse about 3PM if hadn't eaten lunch and breakfast.
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