Sunday, March 28, 2010
Eating Disorders in College
Each year eating disorders continue to be on the rise among college students. When entering college, people experience many different feelings and emotions. Some may feel excited about finally being able to start studying towards the career of their choice and feel hopeful about their future. They may be looking forward to their freedom and a chance to experience independence. They may be excited about having a chance to meet people and develop new friendships. Others may not experience those same feelings and may not be ready to enter into such an environment. The thought of being on their own and having to be independent can be very frightening. They may feel uncertain about their future and fear becoming an adult and taking on the extra responsibilities. Having to meet people and develop new friendships can also be frightening. They may fear they will not be accepted or fit in. Some may not even want to be in college. They may have been pressured into going there by their parents. All though college can be a wonderful experience for people, for some, it can be one of the worst. Read More>>>
Friday, March 26, 2010
The Media, Culture, and Society
The media plays a significant role in contributing to the number of women and even men who will develop an eating disorder. Western culture and society tells us we must look a certain way. Parents often communicate these messages to their young children without realizing the pressure this imposes.
When we watch television or read a magazine we are constantly bombarded with images of beautiful women/men. How many of us are aware that these photos are touched up? How can we even compare and know what is real? Are you aware that these images were created to sell products and make money? Are you going to buy in or are you going to create your own sense of style and beauty?
Certain professions, like gymnastics create terrible pressure to maintain a certain kind of body shape and weight and often lead individuals to engage in disordered eating.
The media and society are not the only causes of eating disorders. I think that a person who is predisposed to low self-esteem will be at a higher risk of being negatively influenced by the media and society. How do you feel about yourself? Are you trying to live up to some unrealistic standard that is simply leaving you feeling like you're not good enough, not pretty enough, not skinny enough? Have you asked yourself if you are good enough on the inside?
Ilissa
Okay, so we all want to hear how Calvin Klein is the culprit and that the emaciated waif look has caused women to tale-spin into the world of Eating Disorders. While the images of child-like women has obviously contributed to an increased obsession to be thin, and we can't deny the media influence on eating disorders, there's a lot more to it than that. With approximately six billion people in the world, and a mere ten million of them suffering with some type of disordered eating (.18% of the overall population -- less than a ¼ of 1%), the media obviously doesn't cause everyone to develop Anorexia, Bulimia or Compulsive Overeating. (Current statistics indicated that approximately one in every one hundred teenage girls may develop an Eating Disorder).
It is a lot more complex than blaming the media.
The media most certainly contributes to dieting and size discrimination
but Eating Disorders are NOT Diets!
From early-on children are taught by society that their looks matter. Think of the three and four year old who is continuously praised for being "oh so cute". Read More>>>
When we watch television or read a magazine we are constantly bombarded with images of beautiful women/men. How many of us are aware that these photos are touched up? How can we even compare and know what is real? Are you aware that these images were created to sell products and make money? Are you going to buy in or are you going to create your own sense of style and beauty?
Certain professions, like gymnastics create terrible pressure to maintain a certain kind of body shape and weight and often lead individuals to engage in disordered eating.
The media and society are not the only causes of eating disorders. I think that a person who is predisposed to low self-esteem will be at a higher risk of being negatively influenced by the media and society. How do you feel about yourself? Are you trying to live up to some unrealistic standard that is simply leaving you feeling like you're not good enough, not pretty enough, not skinny enough? Have you asked yourself if you are good enough on the inside?
Ilissa
Okay, so we all want to hear how Calvin Klein is the culprit and that the emaciated waif look has caused women to tale-spin into the world of Eating Disorders. While the images of child-like women has obviously contributed to an increased obsession to be thin, and we can't deny the media influence on eating disorders, there's a lot more to it than that. With approximately six billion people in the world, and a mere ten million of them suffering with some type of disordered eating (.18% of the overall population -- less than a ¼ of 1%), the media obviously doesn't cause everyone to develop Anorexia, Bulimia or Compulsive Overeating. (Current statistics indicated that approximately one in every one hundred teenage girls may develop an Eating Disorder).
It is a lot more complex than blaming the media.
The media most certainly contributes to dieting and size discrimination
but Eating Disorders are NOT Diets!
From early-on children are taught by society that their looks matter. Think of the three and four year old who is continuously praised for being "oh so cute". Read More>>>
Sunday, March 14, 2010
"We Can Let Go of the Past, and of the Future"
This week's blog is a follow up to last week's blog; "Let Go of Control" and learn to trust the journey. This week, I am sharing exercises that when practiced regularly, can help you to get "unstuck" from your need to have control all the time.
Please leave a comment regarding your experience with these exercises!
Ilissa
The difference between theory and experience generally lies in practice, and this is certainly true of Attitudinal Healing. Try to do one of the following personal practice exercises each day (but not more than once per waking hour). Most are five-minute exercises, but you may extend them to 15 minutes if you are comfortable with them. Try not to judge yourself for failing, or for doing them imperfectly, or for being distracted while doing them. Nevertheless, be willing to make an effort, and give them enough priority in your day to make the practice effective. In fact, it is your own "little willingness" that sparks the changes we come to know as "healing".
Practice Exercises:
"We Can Let Go of the Past, and of the Future"
• Individual Exercise:
As a tool for organizing our life, "control" is a useful thing. But when we use the past to "control" our life, we often block our own healthful growth. "Letting go" is the antidote to unhealthful control, and hence we get the principle: "We can let go of the past, and of the future." For five minutes at the beginning of your day, sit quietly in a quiet place. Read More>>>
Please leave a comment regarding your experience with these exercises!
Ilissa
The difference between theory and experience generally lies in practice, and this is certainly true of Attitudinal Healing. Try to do one of the following personal practice exercises each day (but not more than once per waking hour). Most are five-minute exercises, but you may extend them to 15 minutes if you are comfortable with them. Try not to judge yourself for failing, or for doing them imperfectly, or for being distracted while doing them. Nevertheless, be willing to make an effort, and give them enough priority in your day to make the practice effective. In fact, it is your own "little willingness" that sparks the changes we come to know as "healing".
Practice Exercises:
"We Can Let Go of the Past, and of the Future"
• Individual Exercise:
As a tool for organizing our life, "control" is a useful thing. But when we use the past to "control" our life, we often block our own healthful growth. "Letting go" is the antidote to unhealthful control, and hence we get the principle: "We can let go of the past, and of the future." For five minutes at the beginning of your day, sit quietly in a quiet place. Read More>>>
Monday, March 8, 2010
Let Go of Control
Some of us live in a kind of box, although invisible. Some of us find comfort in controlling our environment. Usually it’s because childhood or some other trauma was chaotic or frightening. Unfortunately, living this way keeps us from experiencing life to the fullest. For some of us it is difficult and scary to let go of control. Here are some exercises, that when used consistently can help an individual to learn to let go of some control and allow in some pleasure and spontaneity.
Keep the image of you riding on the horse in your head!
Ilissa
Exploring is hard work. Sometimes it can put you in a funk.
For instance, I lost all of my physical energy yesterday afternoon. I mean all. Pretending it was a cold; I put myself to bed and slept 12 hours of bad-dream-induced sleep and woke up wondering why. Why was I doing all this change on purpose and to myself? Where was I going? What was I doing? What was the point?
The path is in love of self – compassion for self.
So I gave myself a little compassion.
Here’s what I saw: The giver is the One, the greater self within yourself. The receiver is the Other. That's you, too.
The path, I saw, is with the giver. The path is the creative force. The path is not the result: the clean house, the new career, the healthy family. Read more>>>
Keep the image of you riding on the horse in your head!
Ilissa
Exploring is hard work. Sometimes it can put you in a funk.
For instance, I lost all of my physical energy yesterday afternoon. I mean all. Pretending it was a cold; I put myself to bed and slept 12 hours of bad-dream-induced sleep and woke up wondering why. Why was I doing all this change on purpose and to myself? Where was I going? What was I doing? What was the point?
The path is in love of self – compassion for self.
So I gave myself a little compassion.
Here’s what I saw: The giver is the One, the greater self within yourself. The receiver is the Other. That's you, too.
The path, I saw, is with the giver. The path is the creative force. The path is not the result: the clean house, the new career, the healthy family. Read more>>>
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