My heart is breaking right now.
It's 2:14 a.m. as I sit here watching a woman on Dr. Phil suffering from Anorexia. She describes herself as "I'm just a disease waiting to die."
She has no desire to seek a treatment center because they've failed her.
She feels completely worthless. disconnected.
She feels like a burden. nothing. hopeless.
(Dr. Phil just used Art Therapy on her.. holla!)
Anyway.
My heart is breaking because this woman, like millions of other people, has been captivated by an illness that has gotten so far in her head, it's suffocating her.
It's not just anorexia that does this. It's depression, bipolar, schizo, ADD, bulimia, and countless others that take control over one's life.
But what's even more upsetting, is the way people are viewed who have these issues. The audience on Dr. Phil, is looking at her with disgust. They are in shock that someone could look, think, and act in such a way that is so disastrous to their health. I guarantee most of them dont have empathy. They just have judgemental eyes.
I have had my fair share of run ins with ignorant people who don't know how to deal with others different than themselves. They see the person as the disease they have, not who they really are.
This woman is a skier, biker, kind, and I'm sure much more. But the audience will never know that.
I sympathize so much with this woman. I was sick for 2 years with a hidden tumor, lost 20 lbs, was accused numerous times of having an eating disorder because I looked "disgusting", and felt like a diseased, hopeless burden.
I have never had an eating disorder.
But the accusations murdered my spirit.
I write this with tears in my eyes, hoping that if you're reading this and are going through something tricky, just know that you're not alone.
If you are sick, I pray you get healthy soon. But know that everything will be ok and you are never alone.
If you are depressed, I pray you find your smile again, because I'm sure it missed being on your face.
If times are just really hard right now, I pray the storm eases quickly. Hard times don't last forever.
....I guess I write these blogs in hopes that they touch someone. That maybe they give a little sunshine to an otherwise gloomy day. Everyone is battling something, whether it's based around food, emotions, genetics, or infection, in the end, we all have to lean on eachother instead of judge one another for our differences. God made everyone unique, embrace it. If you're skinny, embrace it. If you're curvylicious, embrace it. If you have a genetic disorder, embrace it. Be content with who you are.
There's no need to belittle others who look or act differently than yourself. You have no idea what anyone is going through. This woman became anorexic because of her father being so worried she would be fat, that he put her on a diet at age 5. He couldn't stand the thought of his child weighting more than everyone else. Now, because of his words and actions, she's destroying herself.
When I was a Junior in high school, I went through a tough time.
Years later, a distant friend began to go through the same hard time, but she had me to lean on.
It was then that I created the mindset that, "Ok, I'm going through a hard time right now. But in the future, this hard time will help someone."
I've stuck with this mind set ever since and it's never failed me.
We have the power to help eachother.
Maybe because we've been through a similar situation, or maybe just because we can.
As I wipe away my tears, I can only hope I lifted someone spirits.
It's 2:14 a.m. as I sit here watching a woman on Dr. Phil suffering from Anorexia. She describes herself as "I'm just a disease waiting to die."
She has no desire to seek a treatment center because they've failed her.
She feels completely worthless. disconnected.
She feels like a burden. nothing. hopeless.
(Dr. Phil just used Art Therapy on her.. holla!)
Anyway.
My heart is breaking because this woman, like millions of other people, has been captivated by an illness that has gotten so far in her head, it's suffocating her.
It's not just anorexia that does this. It's depression, bipolar, schizo, ADD, bulimia, and countless others that take control over one's life.
But what's even more upsetting, is the way people are viewed who have these issues. The audience on Dr. Phil, is looking at her with disgust. They are in shock that someone could look, think, and act in such a way that is so disastrous to their health. I guarantee most of them dont have empathy. They just have judgemental eyes.
I have had my fair share of run ins with ignorant people who don't know how to deal with others different than themselves. They see the person as the disease they have, not who they really are.
This woman is a skier, biker, kind, and I'm sure much more. But the audience will never know that.
I sympathize so much with this woman. I was sick for 2 years with a hidden tumor, lost 20 lbs, was accused numerous times of having an eating disorder because I looked "disgusting", and felt like a diseased, hopeless burden.
I have never had an eating disorder.
But the accusations murdered my spirit.
I write this with tears in my eyes, hoping that if you're reading this and are going through something tricky, just know that you're not alone.
If you are sick, I pray you get healthy soon. But know that everything will be ok and you are never alone.
If you are depressed, I pray you find your smile again, because I'm sure it missed being on your face.
If times are just really hard right now, I pray the storm eases quickly. Hard times don't last forever.
....I guess I write these blogs in hopes that they touch someone. That maybe they give a little sunshine to an otherwise gloomy day. Everyone is battling something, whether it's based around food, emotions, genetics, or infection, in the end, we all have to lean on eachother instead of judge one another for our differences. God made everyone unique, embrace it. If you're skinny, embrace it. If you're curvylicious, embrace it. If you have a genetic disorder, embrace it. Be content with who you are.
There's no need to belittle others who look or act differently than yourself. You have no idea what anyone is going through. This woman became anorexic because of her father being so worried she would be fat, that he put her on a diet at age 5. He couldn't stand the thought of his child weighting more than everyone else. Now, because of his words and actions, she's destroying herself.
When I was a Junior in high school, I went through a tough time.
Years later, a distant friend began to go through the same hard time, but she had me to lean on.
It was then that I created the mindset that, "Ok, I'm going through a hard time right now. But in the future, this hard time will help someone."
I've stuck with this mind set ever since and it's never failed me.
We have the power to help eachother.
Maybe because we've been through a similar situation, or maybe just because we can.
As I wipe away my tears, I can only hope I lifted someone spirits.
Wow. THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, yes, thank you Amy Jo! As you know my mom and sister both have eating disorders...for years. I saw the same Dr. Phil show. He has a compassionate heart for the those afflicted with the disorder. It's time to change the world's ideas, perceptions and philosophies on body image! We are created in the image and likeness of God!
ReplyDeleteWhat a powerful message. You are wise beyond your years. XOXO
ReplyDelete