Our Catch 22

One of the issues in the recovery process is accepting we have a real problem. While many of us would describe it as our "little problem", or an "issue", we are unwilling to come to terms with the degree to which we are aberrant or, in fact, mentally ill. This horrifying concept is so stigmatizing to anyone, but to us it is especially so.

Why?

Because our very disorder/illness is one of perfectionism and image maintenance and acceptance/approval by others. To accept that one indeed has a stigmatizing condition is the worse possible scenario. But one must accept that in order to recover. One must be able to go beyond " I have eating issues" to understand, "I am mentally ill- at least when it comes to food and my perceptions of my body". In order to begin to grapple with those faulty perceptions, the voices that you hear in your head and to seek the full battery of psychological, nutritional, psychiatric, and medical intervention as necessary.

Definitions of "Mental Illness" :

A clinically diagnosable disorder that significantly interferes with an individual’s cognitive, emotional or social abilities

A broad range of disorders with psychological or behavioral symptoms and/or impairment in functioning due to a social, psychological, genetic, physical/chemical or biological disturbance

A substantial disorder of thought or mood

A state of being in which an individual has difficulty in handling situations and feelings of an everyday nature.

means an underlying pathological infirmity of the mind, whether of long or short duration and whether permanent or temporary, but does not include a condition that results from the reaction of a healthy mind to extraordinary stimuli

Consider this:

We can not eat- we are unable to do something of an everyday nature, something of significant important to human survival

We have significant alterations in our ability to accurately perceive how we appear to others- a significant psychological disturbance in reality

These have serious consequences on our social lives, intimate relationships, careers, ability to learn and complete our education, and our families

We suffer serious, SERIOUS, periods of anxiety, panic, and depression sometimes with serious consequences. Eating Disorders have one of the highest suicide rates of all of the mental illnesses.

It's not a "little problem" my friends.