Digesting One of Society's Biggest Problems: Eating Disorders

"Too fat" "Too skinny" "Eat more" "Eat less" "Yo big back (means you eat a lot)" "You are festively plump" "Horizontally challenged (still trying to envision this) " or... be perfect; society can be contradictory and make it seem as if one can never be enough.

Whether the comments are from family members (who loves holiday parties?), friends, pressure from social media, or the perception of oneself, these comments echo in the minds of many, plaguing their perception of themselves. These seemingly harmless comments have devastating psychological effects on the lives of many. These comments are most often associated with ED's, otherwise known as "eating disorders". With eating disorders on the rise worldwide—nearly doubling in prevalence—let’s dive into this mental disorder that consumes many lives daily.

Eating disorders come in many different shapes and sizes. They haunt the lives of many, most common in individuals from 12 to 25 years of age. An eating disorder is a serious health condition that affects one's physical and mental well being. Types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, other specified feeding and eating disorder, pica and rumination disorder. Many seemingly harmless actions can trigger eating disorders. Behaviors such as dieting or exercise, or stressors including illness, trauma or loss can set off eating disorders. These obsessive thoughts plague the minds of many people. However in recent years, eating disorders have been on the rise.

In our world, one of the biggest challenges of growing up is society's standards-everything we must confine ourselves to. One of the biggest roots of these-are social media. When we yearn to see reality, we often turn to the internet, only to be blinded with perfectly proportioned images, gloriously white teeth, and hourglass figures that are made to mold perfectly. We can often be wrapped up in the expectations of what society expects us to be, buried in boundaries. Some people can even be pushed to the extent of harming themselves, starving themselves, or pushing themselves past a physical extent. If you or someone you know is struggling, do not hesitate to reach out to a trusted adult or confide in a friend. 

It can often be difficult to find a way out of the dark depths of a mental illness, especially when you don’t have the support from others. If you are struggling with maintaining healthy eating habits, it is worth reaching out to those close to you as burying yourself in a world of obsessive self doubt can destroy your life. Even if you’re uncomfortable speaking to others about your issues, there are always resources available online. Furthermore, while the internet can be helpful, it can also be harmful. Make sure to avoid triggering posts that might hinder the recovering process. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, always remember that recovery takes time and it is never easy. However, stand tall with a positive mindset, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel.