We are obsessed with being thin in our culture. We have been deceived to believe the definition of beauty is being thin. Pop culture, TV, and social media sells us the lie which breeds the eating disorder. This article is to shine a spot light on eating disorders and expose the not so pretty side of the addiction.
The following are the glamorous and beautiful side effects of an eating disorder: Let’s take a look together. If you would like to start an eating disorder here’s what you get for your efforts.
- dry flaky skin
- dry brittle hair
- receding gum lines
- gastrointestinal problems
- infertility problems later in life
- isolation
- depression
- hollow sunken facial features
- dry brittle nails
- inability to think or focus
- extreme bloating of the stomach from starvation
- extreme fatigue
- insomnia
Sound glamorous to you? You are right it’s not so pretty. An eating disorder is a powerful disease which takes over the mind and manifest itself in the physical appearance of the body. You have two voices inside your head, your voice and the voice of the eating disorder. The eating disorders voice has one mission: to destroy you. You have to learn to recognize the voice of the addiction from your own voice. Over time you have to learn to stand up to the eating disorders’ voice. If you keep doing this over time your voice will become stronger. You don’t have to start with eating a 10 course meal. Start with something small you can manage like a mint, then move on to liquids, then move on to solids. Recovery does not happen over night. You have to learn to think differently.
If you have a loved one battling an eating disorder the following information is for you. Never have a discussion about eating during meal time. This is already a battle ground for your child. Bringing it up over food is not effective. It will have the reverse effect. Never criticize your child in front of a group. Shaming them pushes them further into the depths of the disease. Never ever under any circumstances criticize them for eating between meals. You want them eating don’t you? The goal is for them to feel comfortable eating in front of you. Never draw attention to them if they do eat. Giving that an audience shuts down their ability to eat in public again. Do pray without ceasing that God will heal their mind. One more prayer might be the one to release Gods power over them. Remember the angels in heaven are fighting for your loved one’s life. The angels have to fight off and defend them in the supernatural. That takes a multitude of prayers.
Through the power of God anyone can be transformed. People who recover from eating disorders are very powerful people. God can and He will heal the body, mind, spirit, and self-esteem. They can and will stand completely restored someday. God can and will pick up their broken pieces and put them back together again. The mighty hand of God can reach down and pick anyone up out of the depths of addiction when they surrender the broken pieces to Him.
I leave you with this powerful life changing scripture verse.
2 Samuel 22: 17
God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before Him. When I cleaned up my act, He gave me a fresh start. Indeed, I’ve kept alert to God’s ways; I haven’t taken God for granted. Every day I review the ways He works, I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to His eyes.
Good post Trisha!!