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Is Pro Ana your religion? Well, it seems that if it is your religion people should not judge you
based on it. Fellow Prothinspoer's I know how you feel when people judge you. I just wanted to
say, belief what you want to belief and follow your dreams.. On this planet, you can be whatever
religion you want to be! I surfed the web and found some more info I thought you would like to
read.
Pro-Ana prays to anorexia.
Reality: There is reference to a religion of sorts that exsists on pro-ana websites, with several
referrals of the name "Ana" mentioned. But people, mainly the media and anti's get confused
and spread the misinformation that Ana refers to anorexia. The name Ana in the religious
conotation actually is the full name Anamadim, and not some goddess named anorexia. The
orgin of Anamadim was the creation of a site by the name of Underground Grotto, where there is
even a summoning spell to invoke Anamadim. However there is an extremely slim (no pun
intended) minority of those on pro-ana sites that partake in this religious style activity. This also
has nothing to do with the letters, creeds, commandments, ect. either (see below for that
information). It has nothing to do with the huge majority of pro-ana.
The entire pro-ana religion.
Reality: The pro-ana religion seen on many pro-ana sites was never created by any pro-ana site
at all. All the creeds, letters, comandments are all made by professional psychologists in an
attempt to make the mindset of the anorexic views be seen through their eyes. This was seen as
a powerful message, and to those who are anorexic and wanting to go further into it, seen these
messages as motivation instead of the reverse that it was intended to be. It's funny how those
that hate pro-ana unwittingly gave it a religion isn't it? Not too many want that be known, and no
wonder. Big opps eh? Just so you know, that is their writings if you ever see and/or use it.
SO IF THIS IS YOUR RELIGION OF CHOICE.. CLICK HERE TO READ THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
Myth: Pro-Ana is Pro Death
Reality: If you ever been on a pro-ana forum before, you will notice that alot of the long term
members are of a normal to ever so slightly below normal weight range. There is very few long
termers that are in the medical anorexic weight range. So true they are thin, but in reality terms,
they are in fact normal. In fact many of the extreme thin don't frequent pro-ed forums at all, they
are on support forums instead. Of those that get to an extreme level who post pics and weights,
are replied back with messages of concern and pleas for them to take care of themselves and to
not loose any more weight. Now you have to actually be ON the forums to know this, but those
who cry out the evils do not do very good research into what they are talking about. You could
say that pro-ana is alot more pro-support leaning than it lets on too.
Myth: Pro-Ana is teaching others to become anorexic
Reality: You cannot "become" anorexic, it is not something you choose like a diet, anorexia
chooses you and in the lottery of anorexia winning is loosing more than you know. It's outside
factors in your own enviornment that make one eating disordered, not text and pictures on a
website. To those that think you can become "ana" ... it won't happen. You may skip a few
meals, fast for a few days but that does not make you anorexic at all. Much like a drag queen,
you can look act talk walk and sing every bit like Cher ... but you are not Cher. It's simple as that.
Myth: Pro-Ana encourages you to stay anorexic
Reality: This is the touchy one. We don't encourage you to stay anorexic, but this is the biggest
way in which we differ from the professional and pro-recovery sites. Instead of treating a
disorder itself, pro-ana treats the person. We get to know the individual, what makes them laugh,
smile, cry and scared to see what their world is like through their eyes. See, like I said before,
eating disorders are a deep rooted problem and there is no point trying to get rid of something
that will just come back again instantly. To get rid of this, one must get to the main root and work
from there. Once the root is gone, the consequense of eating disorders are that much easier to
recover from ... and the process will be a lasting one. This is why the most important part of any
ed forum is the journal area.
Ana Creed
I believe in Control, the only force mighty enough to bring order to the chaos that is my world.
I believe that I am the most vile, worthless and useless person ever to have existed on this
planet, and that I am totally unworthy of anyone's time and attention.
I believe that other people who tell me differently must be idiots. If they could see how I really am,
then they would hate me almost as much as I do.
I believe in oughts, musts and shoulds as unbreakable laws to determine my daily behavior.
I believe in perfection and strive to attain it.
I believe in salvation through trying just a bit harder than I did yesterday.
I believe in calorie counters as the inspired word of god, and memorize them accordingly.
I believe in bathroom scales as an indicator of my daily successes and failures
I believe in hell, because I sometimes think that I'm living in it.
I believe in a wholly black and white world, the losing of weight, recrimination for sins, the
abnegation of the body and a life ever fasting.
Ana Psalm
Strict is my diet. I must not want. It maketh me to lie down at night hungry. It leadeth me past the
confectioners. It trieth my willpower. It leadeth me in the paths of alteration for my figure's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the aisles of the pastry department, I will buy no sweet rolls for they
are fattening. The cakes and the pies, they tempt me. Before me is a table set with green beans
and lettuce. I filleth my stomach with liquids, My day's quota runneth over. Surely calorie and
weight charts will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the fear of the scales forever.
Ana Commandments
1. If you aren't thin you aren't attractive.
2. Being thin is more important than being healthy.
3. You must buy clothes, style your hair, take laxatives, starve yourself, do anything to make
yourself look thinner.
4. Thou shall not eat without feeling guilty.
5. Thou shall not eat fattening food without punishing oneself afterwards.
6. Thou shall count calories and restrict intake accordingly.
7. What the scale says is the most important thing.
8. Losing weight is good/gaining weight is bad.
9. You can never be too thin.
10. Being thin and not eating are signs of true will power and success.
Letter From Ana:
Allow me to introduce myself. My name, or as I am called by so called "doctors", is Anorexia.
Anorexia Nervosa is my full name, but you may call me Ana. Hopefully we can become great
partners. In the coming time, I will invest a lot of time in you, and I expect the same from you. In
the past you have heard all of your teachers and parents talk about you. You are "so mature",
"intelligent", "14 going on 45", and you possess "so much potential". Where has that gotten you,
may I ask? Absolutely no where! You are not perfect, you do not try hard enough, further more
you waste your time on thinking and talking with friends and drawing! Such acts of indulgence
shall not be allowed in the future.
Your friends do not understand you. They are not truthful. In the past, when the insecurity has
quietly gnawed away at your mind, and you asked them, "Do I look....fat?" and they answered
"Oh no, of course not" you knew they were lying! Only I tell the truth. Your parents, let's not even
go there! You know that they love you, and care for you, but part of that is just that they are
your parents and are obligated to do so. I shall tell you a secret now: deep down inside
themselves, they are disappointed with you. Their daughter, the one with so much potential, has
turned into a fat, lazy, and undeserving girl.
But I am about to change all that. I will expect you to drop your calorie intake and up your
exercise. I will push you to the limit. You must take it because you cannot defy me! I am
beginning to imbed myself into you. Pretty soon, I am with you always. I am there when you wake
up in the morning and run to the scale. The numbers become both friend and enemy, and the
frenzied thoughts pray for them to be lower than yesterday, last night, etc. You look into the
mirror with dismay. You prod and poke at the fat that is there, and smile when you come across
bone. I am there when you figure out the plan for the day: 400 calories, 2 hours exercise. I am
the one figuring this out, because by now my thoughts and your thoughts are blurred together
as one. I follow you throughout the day. In school, when your mind wanders I give you something
to think about. Recount the calories for the day. It's too much. I fill your mind with thoughts of
food, weight, calories, and things that are safe to think about. Because now, I am already inside
of you. I am in your head, your heart, and your soul. The hunger pains you pretend not to feel is
me, inside of you.
Pretty soon I am telling you not only what to do with food, but what to do ALL of the time. Smile
and nod. Present yourself well. Suck in that fat stomach, dammit! God, you are such a fat
cow!!!! When mealtimes come around I tell you what to do. I make a plate of lettuce seem like a
feast fit for a king. Push the food around. Make it look like you've eaten something. No piece of
anything...if you eat, all the control will be broken...do you WANT that?? To revert back to the fat
COW you once were?? I force you to stare at magazine models. Those perfect skinned, white
teethed, waifish models of perfection staring out at you from those glossy pages. I make you
realize that you could never be them. You will always be fat and never will you be as beautiful as
they are. When you look in the mirror, I will distort the image. I will show you obesity and
hideousness. I will show you a sumo wrestler where in reality there is a starving child. But you
must not know this, because if you knew the truth, you might start to eat again and our
relationship would come crashing down.
Sometimes you will rebel. Hopefully not often though. You will recognize the small rebellious fiber
left in your body and will venture down to the dark kitchen. The cupboard door will slowly open,
creaking softly. Your eyes will move over the food that I have kept at a safe distance from you.
You will find your hands reaching out, lethargically, like a nightmare, through the darkness to the
box of crackers. You shove them in, mechanically, not really tasting but simply relishing in the
fact that you are going against me. You reach for another box, then another, then another. Your
stomach will become bloated and grotesque, but you will not stop yet. And all the time I am
screaming at you to stop, you fat cow, you really have no self control, you are going to get fat.
When it is over you will cling to me again, ask me for advice because you really do not want to
get fat. You broke a cardinal rule and ate, and now you want me back. I'll force you into the
bathroom, onto your knees, staring into the void of the toilet bowl. Your fingers will be inserted
into your throat, and, not without a great deal of pain, your food binge will come up. Over and
over this is to be repeated, until you spit up blood and water and you know it is all gone. When
you stand up, you will feel dizzy. Don't pass out. Stand up right now. You fat cow you deserve to
be in pain! Maybe the choice of getting rid of the guilt is different. Maybe I chose to make you
take laxatives, where you sit on the toilet until the wee hours of the morning, feeling your insides
cringe. Or perhaps I just make you hurt yourself, bang your head into the wall until you receive a
throbbing headache. Cutting is also effective. I want you to see your blood, to see it fall down
your arm, and in that split second you will realize you deserve whatever pain I give you. You are
depressed, obsessed, in pain, hurting, reaching out but no one will listen? Who cares!! You are
deserving; you brought this upon yourself.
Oh, is this harsh? Do you not want this to happen to you? Am I unfair? I do do things that will
help you. I make it possible for you to stop thinking of emotions that cause you stress. Thoughts
of anger, sadness, desperation, and loneliness can cease because I take them away and fill
your head with the methodic calorie counting. I take away your struggle to fit in with kids your
age, the struggle of trying to please everyone as well. Because now, I am your only friend, and I
am the only one you need to please. I have a weak spot. But we must not tell anyone. If you
decide to fight back, to reach out to someone and tell them about how I make you live, all hell will
break lose. No one must find out, no one can crack this shell that I have covered you with. I have
created you, this thin, perfect, achieving child. You are mine and mine alone. Without me, you
are nothing. So do not fight back. When others comment, ignore them. Take it into stride, forget
about them, forget about everyone that tries to take me away. I am your greatest asset, and I
intend to keep it that way.
Sincerely,
Ana
Dear Ana:
I offer you my soul, my heart and my bodily functions. I give you all my earthly possessions.
I seek your wisdom, your faith and your feather weight. I pledge to obtain the ability to float, to
lower my weight to the single digits, I pledge to stare into space, to fear food, and to see obese
images in the mirror. I will worship you and pledge to be a faithful servant until death does us
part.
If I cheat on you and procreate with Ronald McDonald, Dave Thomas, the colonel or that cute
little dog. I will kneel over my toilet and thrust my fingers deep in my throat and pray for your
forgiveness.
Please Ana, don't give up on me. I'm so weak, I know, but only you with your strength inside me
will I become a woman worthy of love and respect. I'm begging for you not to give up, I'm
pleading with my shallow breathes and my pale skin. I bleed for you, suffer leg pains, headaches
and fainting spells. My love for you makes me dizzy and confused I don't know whether I'm
coming or going. Men run when they see the love I have for you and never return. But they
aren't important to me all that's important is that you love me.
If you stay with me, I will worship you daily, I will run miles a day, come rain, snow, bitter cold or
searing heat I will run from the pain and in fright. I will do 1,000 sit ups a day and lie to my family
about what I eat and how I feel. I will stop weeping when I feel your warm arms embrace my
shivering body. I will numb the hunger pains with razor blades and your strength.
Today, I renew our friendship and resolve to be faithful to you year long, life long. I begin each
year with a 3 day fast in honor of you. If you give me the strength to fade away I will love you and
worship you forever.
When I'm finally faded to nothing, when you've given me the gift of ending this torturous life. I will
float on to the next world and be thin and beautiful payment for my undying love for you in this
world.
I ask only one more thing you, please Ana, remove me from this hell, from this world ASAP.
Please take away this hatred for my pain and allow me to be free and light.
Love Always,
(Insert Name Here)
Sources.. 1, 2
based on it. Fellow Prothinspoer's I know how you feel when people judge you. I just wanted to
say, belief what you want to belief and follow your dreams.. On this planet, you can be whatever
religion you want to be! I surfed the web and found some more info I thought you would like to
read.
Pro-Ana prays to anorexia.
Reality: There is reference to a religion of sorts that exsists on pro-ana websites, with several
referrals of the name "Ana" mentioned. But people, mainly the media and anti's get confused
and spread the misinformation that Ana refers to anorexia. The name Ana in the religious
conotation actually is the full name Anamadim, and not some goddess named anorexia. The
orgin of Anamadim was the creation of a site by the name of Underground Grotto, where there is
even a summoning spell to invoke Anamadim. However there is an extremely slim (no pun
intended) minority of those on pro-ana sites that partake in this religious style activity. This also
has nothing to do with the letters, creeds, commandments, ect. either (see below for that
information). It has nothing to do with the huge majority of pro-ana.
The entire pro-ana religion.
Reality: The pro-ana religion seen on many pro-ana sites was never created by any pro-ana site
at all. All the creeds, letters, comandments are all made by professional psychologists in an
attempt to make the mindset of the anorexic views be seen through their eyes. This was seen as
a powerful message, and to those who are anorexic and wanting to go further into it, seen these
messages as motivation instead of the reverse that it was intended to be. It's funny how those
that hate pro-ana unwittingly gave it a religion isn't it? Not too many want that be known, and no
wonder. Big opps eh? Just so you know, that is their writings if you ever see and/or use it.
SO IF THIS IS YOUR RELIGION OF CHOICE.. CLICK HERE TO READ THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
Myth: Pro-Ana is Pro Death
Reality: If you ever been on a pro-ana forum before, you will notice that alot of the long term
members are of a normal to ever so slightly below normal weight range. There is very few long
termers that are in the medical anorexic weight range. So true they are thin, but in reality terms,
they are in fact normal. In fact many of the extreme thin don't frequent pro-ed forums at all, they
are on support forums instead. Of those that get to an extreme level who post pics and weights,
are replied back with messages of concern and pleas for them to take care of themselves and to
not loose any more weight. Now you have to actually be ON the forums to know this, but those
who cry out the evils do not do very good research into what they are talking about. You could
say that pro-ana is alot more pro-support leaning than it lets on too.
Myth: Pro-Ana is teaching others to become anorexic
Reality: You cannot "become" anorexic, it is not something you choose like a diet, anorexia
chooses you and in the lottery of anorexia winning is loosing more than you know. It's outside
factors in your own enviornment that make one eating disordered, not text and pictures on a
website. To those that think you can become "ana" ... it won't happen. You may skip a few
meals, fast for a few days but that does not make you anorexic at all. Much like a drag queen,
you can look act talk walk and sing every bit like Cher ... but you are not Cher. It's simple as that.
Myth: Pro-Ana encourages you to stay anorexic
Reality: This is the touchy one. We don't encourage you to stay anorexic, but this is the biggest
way in which we differ from the professional and pro-recovery sites. Instead of treating a
disorder itself, pro-ana treats the person. We get to know the individual, what makes them laugh,
smile, cry and scared to see what their world is like through their eyes. See, like I said before,
eating disorders are a deep rooted problem and there is no point trying to get rid of something
that will just come back again instantly. To get rid of this, one must get to the main root and work
from there. Once the root is gone, the consequense of eating disorders are that much easier to
recover from ... and the process will be a lasting one. This is why the most important part of any
ed forum is the journal area.
Ana Creed
I believe in Control, the only force mighty enough to bring order to the chaos that is my world.
I believe that I am the most vile, worthless and useless person ever to have existed on this
planet, and that I am totally unworthy of anyone's time and attention.
I believe that other people who tell me differently must be idiots. If they could see how I really am,
then they would hate me almost as much as I do.
I believe in oughts, musts and shoulds as unbreakable laws to determine my daily behavior.
I believe in perfection and strive to attain it.
I believe in salvation through trying just a bit harder than I did yesterday.
I believe in calorie counters as the inspired word of god, and memorize them accordingly.
I believe in bathroom scales as an indicator of my daily successes and failures
I believe in hell, because I sometimes think that I'm living in it.
I believe in a wholly black and white world, the losing of weight, recrimination for sins, the
abnegation of the body and a life ever fasting.
Ana Psalm
Strict is my diet. I must not want. It maketh me to lie down at night hungry. It leadeth me past the
confectioners. It trieth my willpower. It leadeth me in the paths of alteration for my figure's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the aisles of the pastry department, I will buy no sweet rolls for they
are fattening. The cakes and the pies, they tempt me. Before me is a table set with green beans
and lettuce. I filleth my stomach with liquids, My day's quota runneth over. Surely calorie and
weight charts will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the fear of the scales forever.
Ana Commandments
1. If you aren't thin you aren't attractive.
2. Being thin is more important than being healthy.
3. You must buy clothes, style your hair, take laxatives, starve yourself, do anything to make
yourself look thinner.
4. Thou shall not eat without feeling guilty.
5. Thou shall not eat fattening food without punishing oneself afterwards.
6. Thou shall count calories and restrict intake accordingly.
7. What the scale says is the most important thing.
8. Losing weight is good/gaining weight is bad.
9. You can never be too thin.
10. Being thin and not eating are signs of true will power and success.
Letter From Ana:
Allow me to introduce myself. My name, or as I am called by so called "doctors", is Anorexia.
Anorexia Nervosa is my full name, but you may call me Ana. Hopefully we can become great
partners. In the coming time, I will invest a lot of time in you, and I expect the same from you. In
the past you have heard all of your teachers and parents talk about you. You are "so mature",
"intelligent", "14 going on 45", and you possess "so much potential". Where has that gotten you,
may I ask? Absolutely no where! You are not perfect, you do not try hard enough, further more
you waste your time on thinking and talking with friends and drawing! Such acts of indulgence
shall not be allowed in the future.
Your friends do not understand you. They are not truthful. In the past, when the insecurity has
quietly gnawed away at your mind, and you asked them, "Do I look....fat?" and they answered
"Oh no, of course not" you knew they were lying! Only I tell the truth. Your parents, let's not even
go there! You know that they love you, and care for you, but part of that is just that they are
your parents and are obligated to do so. I shall tell you a secret now: deep down inside
themselves, they are disappointed with you. Their daughter, the one with so much potential, has
turned into a fat, lazy, and undeserving girl.
But I am about to change all that. I will expect you to drop your calorie intake and up your
exercise. I will push you to the limit. You must take it because you cannot defy me! I am
beginning to imbed myself into you. Pretty soon, I am with you always. I am there when you wake
up in the morning and run to the scale. The numbers become both friend and enemy, and the
frenzied thoughts pray for them to be lower than yesterday, last night, etc. You look into the
mirror with dismay. You prod and poke at the fat that is there, and smile when you come across
bone. I am there when you figure out the plan for the day: 400 calories, 2 hours exercise. I am
the one figuring this out, because by now my thoughts and your thoughts are blurred together
as one. I follow you throughout the day. In school, when your mind wanders I give you something
to think about. Recount the calories for the day. It's too much. I fill your mind with thoughts of
food, weight, calories, and things that are safe to think about. Because now, I am already inside
of you. I am in your head, your heart, and your soul. The hunger pains you pretend not to feel is
me, inside of you.
Pretty soon I am telling you not only what to do with food, but what to do ALL of the time. Smile
and nod. Present yourself well. Suck in that fat stomach, dammit! God, you are such a fat
cow!!!! When mealtimes come around I tell you what to do. I make a plate of lettuce seem like a
feast fit for a king. Push the food around. Make it look like you've eaten something. No piece of
anything...if you eat, all the control will be broken...do you WANT that?? To revert back to the fat
COW you once were?? I force you to stare at magazine models. Those perfect skinned, white
teethed, waifish models of perfection staring out at you from those glossy pages. I make you
realize that you could never be them. You will always be fat and never will you be as beautiful as
they are. When you look in the mirror, I will distort the image. I will show you obesity and
hideousness. I will show you a sumo wrestler where in reality there is a starving child. But you
must not know this, because if you knew the truth, you might start to eat again and our
relationship would come crashing down.
Sometimes you will rebel. Hopefully not often though. You will recognize the small rebellious fiber
left in your body and will venture down to the dark kitchen. The cupboard door will slowly open,
creaking softly. Your eyes will move over the food that I have kept at a safe distance from you.
You will find your hands reaching out, lethargically, like a nightmare, through the darkness to the
box of crackers. You shove them in, mechanically, not really tasting but simply relishing in the
fact that you are going against me. You reach for another box, then another, then another. Your
stomach will become bloated and grotesque, but you will not stop yet. And all the time I am
screaming at you to stop, you fat cow, you really have no self control, you are going to get fat.
When it is over you will cling to me again, ask me for advice because you really do not want to
get fat. You broke a cardinal rule and ate, and now you want me back. I'll force you into the
bathroom, onto your knees, staring into the void of the toilet bowl. Your fingers will be inserted
into your throat, and, not without a great deal of pain, your food binge will come up. Over and
over this is to be repeated, until you spit up blood and water and you know it is all gone. When
you stand up, you will feel dizzy. Don't pass out. Stand up right now. You fat cow you deserve to
be in pain! Maybe the choice of getting rid of the guilt is different. Maybe I chose to make you
take laxatives, where you sit on the toilet until the wee hours of the morning, feeling your insides
cringe. Or perhaps I just make you hurt yourself, bang your head into the wall until you receive a
throbbing headache. Cutting is also effective. I want you to see your blood, to see it fall down
your arm, and in that split second you will realize you deserve whatever pain I give you. You are
depressed, obsessed, in pain, hurting, reaching out but no one will listen? Who cares!! You are
deserving; you brought this upon yourself.
Oh, is this harsh? Do you not want this to happen to you? Am I unfair? I do do things that will
help you. I make it possible for you to stop thinking of emotions that cause you stress. Thoughts
of anger, sadness, desperation, and loneliness can cease because I take them away and fill
your head with the methodic calorie counting. I take away your struggle to fit in with kids your
age, the struggle of trying to please everyone as well. Because now, I am your only friend, and I
am the only one you need to please. I have a weak spot. But we must not tell anyone. If you
decide to fight back, to reach out to someone and tell them about how I make you live, all hell will
break lose. No one must find out, no one can crack this shell that I have covered you with. I have
created you, this thin, perfect, achieving child. You are mine and mine alone. Without me, you
are nothing. So do not fight back. When others comment, ignore them. Take it into stride, forget
about them, forget about everyone that tries to take me away. I am your greatest asset, and I
intend to keep it that way.
Sincerely,
Ana
Dear Ana:
I offer you my soul, my heart and my bodily functions. I give you all my earthly possessions.
I seek your wisdom, your faith and your feather weight. I pledge to obtain the ability to float, to
lower my weight to the single digits, I pledge to stare into space, to fear food, and to see obese
images in the mirror. I will worship you and pledge to be a faithful servant until death does us
part.
If I cheat on you and procreate with Ronald McDonald, Dave Thomas, the colonel or that cute
little dog. I will kneel over my toilet and thrust my fingers deep in my throat and pray for your
forgiveness.
Please Ana, don't give up on me. I'm so weak, I know, but only you with your strength inside me
will I become a woman worthy of love and respect. I'm begging for you not to give up, I'm
pleading with my shallow breathes and my pale skin. I bleed for you, suffer leg pains, headaches
and fainting spells. My love for you makes me dizzy and confused I don't know whether I'm
coming or going. Men run when they see the love I have for you and never return. But they
aren't important to me all that's important is that you love me.
If you stay with me, I will worship you daily, I will run miles a day, come rain, snow, bitter cold or
searing heat I will run from the pain and in fright. I will do 1,000 sit ups a day and lie to my family
about what I eat and how I feel. I will stop weeping when I feel your warm arms embrace my
shivering body. I will numb the hunger pains with razor blades and your strength.
Today, I renew our friendship and resolve to be faithful to you year long, life long. I begin each
year with a 3 day fast in honor of you. If you give me the strength to fade away I will love you and
worship you forever.
When I'm finally faded to nothing, when you've given me the gift of ending this torturous life. I will
float on to the next world and be thin and beautiful payment for my undying love for you in this
world.
I ask only one more thing you, please Ana, remove me from this hell, from this world ASAP.
Please take away this hatred for my pain and allow me to be free and light.
Love Always,
(Insert Name Here)
Sources.. 1, 2
Pro-Ana Acronyms, ect.
Ana: Anorexia Nervosa
Mia: Bulimia Nervosa
Coe: Compulsive Over-eating disorder
Ednos: Eating disorder not otherwise specified
BED: Binge eating disorder.
ED: Eating disorder
SI: Self injury
MiAna: Having both anorexia and bulimia (this term is what I came up with for my
first website, and since has been used on the net a lot ... I have never seen the term
used before until my first site went on the net.)
Pro-ana: This term infers being pro-active in the ED community, usually online. It
does not mean promote ED's in any way, shape or form.
Thinspiration: Collection of thin looking peoples pictures, used to inspire those with
ana/mia.
Anorectic: One who has anorexia.
Ana Buddy: An online friendship between pro-ana individuals. Ana buddies guide
one another toward recovery or are penpals, sometimes becoming real life friends.
Fasting Buddy: An online friend (or friends) who compete in weight loss
competitions and attempt to keep one another motivated to lose more weight.
Wannarexic: Someone who wants to develop an eating disorder, usually under
some confusion about the consequences. Wannarexics are USUALLY unwanted at
most websites aimed at sufferers, including pro-ana websites.
Wannarexia: The act of wanting to develop an eating disorder. Wannarexia is
USUALLY discouraged at most websites aimed at sufferers, including pro-ana
websites.
CW: Current weight.
HW: Highest weight.
LW: Lowest weight.
GW: Goal Weight.
STGW: Short term goal weight.
LTGW: Long term goal weight.
FGW: Final goal weight.
IP: In patient.
BMI: Body Mass Index.
What is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa is a serious, often chronic, and life-threatening eating disorder
defined by a refusal to maintain minimal body weight within 15 percent of an
individual's normal weight. Other essential features of this disorder include an
intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and amenorrhea (absence of
at least three consecutive menstrual cycles when they are otherwise expected to
occur). In addition to the classic pattern of restrictive eating, some people will also
engage in recurrent binge eating and purging episodes. Starvation, weight loss, and
related medical complications are quite serious and can result in death. People who
have an ongoing preoccupation with food and weight even when they are thin would
benefit from exploring their thoughts and relationships with a therapist. The term
anorexia literally means loss of appetite, but this is a misnomer. In fact, people with
anorexia nervosa ignore hunger and thus control their desire to eat. This desire is
frequently sublimated through cooking for others or hiding food that they will not eat
in their personal space. Obsessive exercise may accompany the starving behavior
and cause others to assume the person must be healthy.
Who develops anorexia nervosa?
Like all eating disorders, anorexia nervosa tends to occur in pre- or post-puberty, but
can develop at any major life change. Anorexia nervosa predominately affects
adolescent girls and young adult women, although it also occurs in men and older
women. One reason younger women are particularly vulnerable to eating disorders is
their tendency to go on strict diets to achieve an "ideal" figure. This obsessive dieting
behavior reflects today's societal pressure to be thin, which is seen in advertising
and the media. Others especially at risk for eating disorders include athletes, actors,
dancers, models, and TV personalities for whom thinness has become a professional
requirement. For the person with anorexia nervosa, the satisfaction of control
achieved over weight and food becomes very important if the rest of their life is
chaotic and emotionally painful.
How many people suffer from anorexia nervosa?
Conservative estimates suggest that one-half to one percent of females in the U.S.
develop anorexia nervosa. Because more than 90 percent of all those who are
affected are adolescent and young women, the disorder has been been
characterized as primarily a woman's illness. It should be noted, however, that males
and children as young as seven years old have been diagnosed; and women 50, 60,
70, and even 80 years of age have fit the diagnosis.
How is the weight lost?
People with anorexia nervosa usually lose weight by reducing their total food intake
and exercising excessively. Many persons with this disorder restrict their intake to
fewer than 1,000 calories per day. Most avoid fattening, high-calorie foods and
eliminate meats. The diet of persons with anorexia nervosa may consist almost
completely of low-calorie vegetables like lettuce and carrots, or popcorn.
What are the common signs of anorexia nervosa?
The hallmark of anorexia nervosa is a preoccupation with food and a refusal to
maintain minimally normal body weight. One of the most frightening aspects of the
disorder is that people with anorexia nervosa continue to think they look fat even
when they are bone-thin. Their nails and hair become brittle, and their skin may
become dry and yellow. Depression is common in patients suffering from this
disorder. People with anorexia nervosa often complain of feeling cold (hypothermia)
because their body temperature drops. They may develop lanugo (a term used to
describe the fine hair on a new born) on their body.
Persons with anorexia nervosa develop strange eating habits such as cutting their
food into tiny pieces, refusing to eat in front of others, or fixing elaborate meals for
others that they themselves don't eat. Food and weight become obsessions as
people with this disorder constantly think about their next encounter with food.
Generally, if a person fears he or she has anorexia nervosa, a doctor knowledgeable
about eating disorders should make a diagnosis and rule out other physical
disorders. Other psychiatric disorders can occur together with anorexia nervosa,
such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
What are the causes of anorexia nervosa?
Knowledge about the causes of anorexia nervosa is inconclusive, and the causes
may be varied. In an attempt to understand and uncover the origins of eating
disorders, scientists have studied the personalities, genetics, environments, and
biochemistry of people with these illnesses. Certain personality traits common in
persons with anorexia nervosa are low self-esteem, social isolation (which usually
occurs after the behavior associated with anorexia nervosa begins), and
perfectionism. These people tend to be good students and excellent athletes. It does
seem clear (although this may not be recognized by the patient), that focusing on
weight loss and food allows the person to ignore problems that are too painful or
seem irresolvable.
Eating disorders also tend to run in families, with female relatives most often
affected. A girl has a 10 to 20 times higher risk of developing anorexia nervosa, for
instance, if she has a sibling with the disease. This finding suggests that genetic
factors may predispose some people to eating disorders. Behavioral and
environmental influences may also play a role. Stressful events are likely to increase
the risk of eating disorders as well. In studies of the biochemical functions of people
with eating disorders, scientists have found that the neurotransmitters serotonin and
nor epinephrine are decreased in those with anorexia, which links them with patients
suffering from depression. People with anorexia nervosa also tend to have higher
than normal levels of cortisol (a brain hormone released in response to stress) and
vasopressin (a brain chemical found to be abnormal in patients with
obsessive-compulsive disorder).
Are there medical complications?
The starvation experienced by persons with anorexia nervosa can cause damage to
vital organs such as the heart and brain. Pulse rate and blood pressure drop, and
people suffering from this illness may experience irregular heart rhythms or heart
failure. Nutritional deprivation causes calcium loss from bones, which can become
brittle and prone to breakage. In the worst-case scenario, people with anorexia can
starve themselves to death. Anorexia nervosa is among the psychiatric conditions
having the highest mortality rates, killing up to six percent of its victims.
Is treatment available?
Luckily, most of the complications experienced by persons with anorexia nervosa are
reversible when they restore weight. People with this disorder should be diagnosed
and treated as soon as possible because eating disorders are most successfully
treated when diagnosed early. Some patients can be treated as outpatients, but
some may need hospitalization to stabilize their dangerously low weight. Weight gain
of one to three pounds per week is considered safe and desirable. The most
effective strategies for treating a patient have been weight restoration within ten
percent of normal, and individual, family, and group therapies.
To help people with anorexia nervosa overcome their disorder, a variety of
approaches are used. Some form of psychotherapy is needed to deal with underlying
emotional issues. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is sometimes used to change
abnormal thoughts and behaviors. Group therapy is often advised so people can
share their experiences with others. Family therapy is important particularly if the
individual is living at home and is a young adolescent. A physician or
advanced-practice nurse is needed to prescribe medications that may be useful in
treating the disorder. Finally, a nutritionist may be necessary to advise the patient
about proper diet and eating regimens. Where support groups are available, they
can be beneficial to both patients and families.
What about prevention?
New research findings are showing that some of the "traits" in individuals who
develop anorexia nervosa are actual "risk factors" that might be treated early on. For
example, low self esteem, body dissatisfaction, and dieting may be identified and
interventions instituted before an eating disorder develops. Advocacy groups have
also been effective in reducing dangerous media stories, such as teen magazine
articles on "being thin" that may glamorize such risk factors as dieting.
Ana: Anorexia Nervosa
Mia: Bulimia Nervosa
Coe: Compulsive Over-eating disorder
Ednos: Eating disorder not otherwise specified
BED: Binge eating disorder.
ED: Eating disorder
SI: Self injury
MiAna: Having both anorexia and bulimia (this term is what I came up with for my
first website, and since has been used on the net a lot ... I have never seen the term
used before until my first site went on the net.)
Pro-ana: This term infers being pro-active in the ED community, usually online. It
does not mean promote ED's in any way, shape or form.
Thinspiration: Collection of thin looking peoples pictures, used to inspire those with
ana/mia.
Anorectic: One who has anorexia.
Ana Buddy: An online friendship between pro-ana individuals. Ana buddies guide
one another toward recovery or are penpals, sometimes becoming real life friends.
Fasting Buddy: An online friend (or friends) who compete in weight loss
competitions and attempt to keep one another motivated to lose more weight.
Wannarexic: Someone who wants to develop an eating disorder, usually under
some confusion about the consequences. Wannarexics are USUALLY unwanted at
most websites aimed at sufferers, including pro-ana websites.
Wannarexia: The act of wanting to develop an eating disorder. Wannarexia is
USUALLY discouraged at most websites aimed at sufferers, including pro-ana
websites.
CW: Current weight.
HW: Highest weight.
LW: Lowest weight.
GW: Goal Weight.
STGW: Short term goal weight.
LTGW: Long term goal weight.
FGW: Final goal weight.
IP: In patient.
BMI: Body Mass Index.
What is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa is a serious, often chronic, and life-threatening eating disorder
defined by a refusal to maintain minimal body weight within 15 percent of an
individual's normal weight. Other essential features of this disorder include an
intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and amenorrhea (absence of
at least three consecutive menstrual cycles when they are otherwise expected to
occur). In addition to the classic pattern of restrictive eating, some people will also
engage in recurrent binge eating and purging episodes. Starvation, weight loss, and
related medical complications are quite serious and can result in death. People who
have an ongoing preoccupation with food and weight even when they are thin would
benefit from exploring their thoughts and relationships with a therapist. The term
anorexia literally means loss of appetite, but this is a misnomer. In fact, people with
anorexia nervosa ignore hunger and thus control their desire to eat. This desire is
frequently sublimated through cooking for others or hiding food that they will not eat
in their personal space. Obsessive exercise may accompany the starving behavior
and cause others to assume the person must be healthy.
Who develops anorexia nervosa?
Like all eating disorders, anorexia nervosa tends to occur in pre- or post-puberty, but
can develop at any major life change. Anorexia nervosa predominately affects
adolescent girls and young adult women, although it also occurs in men and older
women. One reason younger women are particularly vulnerable to eating disorders is
their tendency to go on strict diets to achieve an "ideal" figure. This obsessive dieting
behavior reflects today's societal pressure to be thin, which is seen in advertising
and the media. Others especially at risk for eating disorders include athletes, actors,
dancers, models, and TV personalities for whom thinness has become a professional
requirement. For the person with anorexia nervosa, the satisfaction of control
achieved over weight and food becomes very important if the rest of their life is
chaotic and emotionally painful.
How many people suffer from anorexia nervosa?
Conservative estimates suggest that one-half to one percent of females in the U.S.
develop anorexia nervosa. Because more than 90 percent of all those who are
affected are adolescent and young women, the disorder has been been
characterized as primarily a woman's illness. It should be noted, however, that males
and children as young as seven years old have been diagnosed; and women 50, 60,
70, and even 80 years of age have fit the diagnosis.
How is the weight lost?
People with anorexia nervosa usually lose weight by reducing their total food intake
and exercising excessively. Many persons with this disorder restrict their intake to
fewer than 1,000 calories per day. Most avoid fattening, high-calorie foods and
eliminate meats. The diet of persons with anorexia nervosa may consist almost
completely of low-calorie vegetables like lettuce and carrots, or popcorn.
What are the common signs of anorexia nervosa?
The hallmark of anorexia nervosa is a preoccupation with food and a refusal to
maintain minimally normal body weight. One of the most frightening aspects of the
disorder is that people with anorexia nervosa continue to think they look fat even
when they are bone-thin. Their nails and hair become brittle, and their skin may
become dry and yellow. Depression is common in patients suffering from this
disorder. People with anorexia nervosa often complain of feeling cold (hypothermia)
because their body temperature drops. They may develop lanugo (a term used to
describe the fine hair on a new born) on their body.
Persons with anorexia nervosa develop strange eating habits such as cutting their
food into tiny pieces, refusing to eat in front of others, or fixing elaborate meals for
others that they themselves don't eat. Food and weight become obsessions as
people with this disorder constantly think about their next encounter with food.
Generally, if a person fears he or she has anorexia nervosa, a doctor knowledgeable
about eating disorders should make a diagnosis and rule out other physical
disorders. Other psychiatric disorders can occur together with anorexia nervosa,
such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
What are the causes of anorexia nervosa?
Knowledge about the causes of anorexia nervosa is inconclusive, and the causes
may be varied. In an attempt to understand and uncover the origins of eating
disorders, scientists have studied the personalities, genetics, environments, and
biochemistry of people with these illnesses. Certain personality traits common in
persons with anorexia nervosa are low self-esteem, social isolation (which usually
occurs after the behavior associated with anorexia nervosa begins), and
perfectionism. These people tend to be good students and excellent athletes. It does
seem clear (although this may not be recognized by the patient), that focusing on
weight loss and food allows the person to ignore problems that are too painful or
seem irresolvable.
Eating disorders also tend to run in families, with female relatives most often
affected. A girl has a 10 to 20 times higher risk of developing anorexia nervosa, for
instance, if she has a sibling with the disease. This finding suggests that genetic
factors may predispose some people to eating disorders. Behavioral and
environmental influences may also play a role. Stressful events are likely to increase
the risk of eating disorders as well. In studies of the biochemical functions of people
with eating disorders, scientists have found that the neurotransmitters serotonin and
nor epinephrine are decreased in those with anorexia, which links them with patients
suffering from depression. People with anorexia nervosa also tend to have higher
than normal levels of cortisol (a brain hormone released in response to stress) and
vasopressin (a brain chemical found to be abnormal in patients with
obsessive-compulsive disorder).
Are there medical complications?
The starvation experienced by persons with anorexia nervosa can cause damage to
vital organs such as the heart and brain. Pulse rate and blood pressure drop, and
people suffering from this illness may experience irregular heart rhythms or heart
failure. Nutritional deprivation causes calcium loss from bones, which can become
brittle and prone to breakage. In the worst-case scenario, people with anorexia can
starve themselves to death. Anorexia nervosa is among the psychiatric conditions
having the highest mortality rates, killing up to six percent of its victims.
Is treatment available?
Luckily, most of the complications experienced by persons with anorexia nervosa are
reversible when they restore weight. People with this disorder should be diagnosed
and treated as soon as possible because eating disorders are most successfully
treated when diagnosed early. Some patients can be treated as outpatients, but
some may need hospitalization to stabilize their dangerously low weight. Weight gain
of one to three pounds per week is considered safe and desirable. The most
effective strategies for treating a patient have been weight restoration within ten
percent of normal, and individual, family, and group therapies.
To help people with anorexia nervosa overcome their disorder, a variety of
approaches are used. Some form of psychotherapy is needed to deal with underlying
emotional issues. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is sometimes used to change
abnormal thoughts and behaviors. Group therapy is often advised so people can
share their experiences with others. Family therapy is important particularly if the
individual is living at home and is a young adolescent. A physician or
advanced-practice nurse is needed to prescribe medications that may be useful in
treating the disorder. Finally, a nutritionist may be necessary to advise the patient
about proper diet and eating regimens. Where support groups are available, they
can be beneficial to both patients and families.
What about prevention?
New research findings are showing that some of the "traits" in individuals who
develop anorexia nervosa are actual "risk factors" that might be treated early on. For
example, low self esteem, body dissatisfaction, and dieting may be identified and
interventions instituted before an eating disorder develops. Advocacy groups have
also been effective in reducing dangerous media stories, such as teen magazine
articles on "being thin" that may glamorize such risk factors as dieting.
What is bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder marked by a destructive pattern of binge-
eating and recurrent inappropriate behavior to control one's weight. It can occur together
with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder,
substance dependence, or self-injurious behavior. Binge eating is defined as the
consumption of excessively large amounts of food within a short period of time. The food is
often sweet, high in calories, and has a texture that makes it easy to eat fast. "Inappropriate
compensatory behavior" to control one's weight may include purging behaviors (such as
self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas) or non-purging behaviors
(such as fasting or excessive exercise). For those who binge eat, sometimes any amount of
food, even a salad or half an apple, is perceived as a binge and is vomited.
People with bulimia nervosa often feel a lack of control during their eating binges. Their
food is usually eaten secretly and gobbled down rapidly with little chewing. A binge is
usually ended by abdominal discomfort. When the binge is over, the person with bulimia
feels guilty and purges to rid his or her body of the excess calories. To be diagnosed with
bulimia, a person must have had, on average, a minimum of two binge-eating episodes a
week for at least three months. The first problem with any eating disorder is constant
concern with food and weight to the exclusion of almost all other personal concerns.
Who develops bulimia?
Bulimia nervosa typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood. Like anorexia nervosa,
bulimia mainly affects females. Only ten percent to 15 percent of affected individuals are
male. An estimated two percent to three percent of young women develop bulimia,
compared with the one-half to one percent that is estimated to suffer from anorexia. Studies
indicate that about 50 percent of those who begin an eating disorder with anorexia nervosa
later become bulimic.
It is believed that more than five million individuals experience an eating disorder (bulimia
nervosa or anorexia nervosa) in this country alone. It is ten times more common in women
than men, with greatest prevalence occurring in adolescents and college-age young adults.
This indicates a need for concern and preventive measures on college campuses across
the country, especially for female students.
How do people with bulimia control their weight?
People with bulimia are overly concerned with body shape and weight. They make repeated
attempts to control their weight by fasting and dieting, vomiting, using drugs to stimulate
bowel movements and urination, and exercising excessively. Weight fluctuations are
common because of alternating binges and fasts. Unlike people with anorexia, people with
bulimia are usually within a normal weight range. However, many heavy people who lose
weight begin vomiting to maintain the weight loss.
What are the common signs of bulimia?
Constant concern about food and weight is a primary sign of bulimia. Common indicators
that suggest the self-induced vomiting that persons with bulimia experience are the erosion
of dental enamel (due to the acid in the vomit) and scarring on the backs of the hands (due
to repeatedly pushing fingers down the throat to induce vomiting).
A small percentage of people with bulimia show swelling of the glands near the cheeks
called parotid glands. People with bulimia may also experience irregular menstrual periods
and a decrease in sexual interest. A depressed mood is also commonly observed as are
frequent complaints of sore throats and abdominal pain. Despite these telltale signs, bulimia
nervosa is difficult to catch early. Binge eating and purging are often done in secret and
can be easily concealed by a normal-weight person who is ashamed of his or her behavior,
but compelled to continue it because he or she believes it controls weight.
Characteristically, these individuals have many rules about food -- e.g. good foods, bad
foods -- and can be entrenched in these rules and particular thinking patterns. This
preoccupation and these behaviors allow the person to shift their focus from painful feelings
and reduce tension and anxiety perpetuating the need for these behaviors.
Are there any serious medical complications?
Persons with bulimia -- even those of normal weight -- can severely damage their bodies by
frequent binging and purging. Electrolyte imbalance and dehydration can occur and may
cause cardiac complications and, occasionally, sudden death. In rare instances, binge
eating can cause the stomach to rupture, and purging can result in heart failure due to the
loss of vital minerals like potassium.
Do we know what causes bulimia?
The current obsession with thinness in our culture certainly has a large influence. There is
some evidence that obesity in adolescence or familial tendency toward obesity predisposes
an individual to the development of the disorder. Parents’ anxiety over a chubby child can
perhaps also be a contributor. Some individuals with bulimia report feeling a "kind of high"
when they vomit. People with bulimia are often compulsive and may also abuse alcohol and
drugs. Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia tend to run in families, and girls are most
susceptible. Recently, scientists have found certain neurotransmitters (serotonin and
norepinephrine) to be decreased in some persons with bulimia. Most likely, it is a
combination of environmental and biological factors that contribute to the development and
expression of this disorder. During the early 1970s, before the prevalence of bulimia was
more widely recognized, almost all persons with an eating disorder believed they had
invented the behaviors and that no one else had such a problem. As in anorexia nervosa,
the behaviors associated with bulimia provide temporary relief from tension and allow ill
persons to focus less on problems perceived as irresolvable and to instead focus on body
weight and food.
Is treatment available for persons with bulimia?
Most people with bulimia can be treated through individual outpatient therapy because they
aren't in danger of starving themselves as are persons with anorexia. However, if the
bulimia is out of control, admission to an eating disorders treatment program may help the
individual let go of their behaviors so they can concentrate on treatment.
Group therapy is especially effective for college-aged and young adult women because of
the understanding of the group members. In group therapy they can talk with peers who
have similar experiences. Additionally, support groups can be helpful as they can be
attended for as long as necessary, have flexible schedules, and generally have no charge.
Support groups, however, do not take the place of treatment. Sometimes a person with an
eating disorder is unable to benefit from group therapy or support groups without the
encouragement of a personal therapist.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, either in a group setting or individual therapy session, has
been shown to benefit many persons with bulimia. It focuses on self-monitoring of eating
and purging behaviors as well as changing the distorted thinking patterns associated with
the disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is often combined with nutritional counseling
and/or antidepressant medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac).
Treatment plans should be adjusted to meet the needs of the individual concerned, but
usually a comprehensive treatment plan involving a variety of experts and approaches is
best. It is important to take an approach that involves developing support for the person
with an eating disorder from the family environment or within the patient’s community
environment (support groups or other socially supportive environments).
What about prevention?
Prevention research is increasing as scientists study the known "risk factors" to these
disorders. Given that bulimia and other eating disorders are multi-determined and affect
young women, there is preliminary information on the role and extent such factors as self
esteem, resilience, family interactions, peer pressure, the media and dieting might play in its
development. Advocacy groups are also engaged in prevention through efforts such as
removing damaging articles from teen magazines on "dieting" and the importance of "being
thin."
Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder marked by a destructive pattern of binge-
eating and recurrent inappropriate behavior to control one's weight. It can occur together
with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder,
substance dependence, or self-injurious behavior. Binge eating is defined as the
consumption of excessively large amounts of food within a short period of time. The food is
often sweet, high in calories, and has a texture that makes it easy to eat fast. "Inappropriate
compensatory behavior" to control one's weight may include purging behaviors (such as
self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas) or non-purging behaviors
(such as fasting or excessive exercise). For those who binge eat, sometimes any amount of
food, even a salad or half an apple, is perceived as a binge and is vomited.
People with bulimia nervosa often feel a lack of control during their eating binges. Their
food is usually eaten secretly and gobbled down rapidly with little chewing. A binge is
usually ended by abdominal discomfort. When the binge is over, the person with bulimia
feels guilty and purges to rid his or her body of the excess calories. To be diagnosed with
bulimia, a person must have had, on average, a minimum of two binge-eating episodes a
week for at least three months. The first problem with any eating disorder is constant
concern with food and weight to the exclusion of almost all other personal concerns.
Who develops bulimia?
Bulimia nervosa typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood. Like anorexia nervosa,
bulimia mainly affects females. Only ten percent to 15 percent of affected individuals are
male. An estimated two percent to three percent of young women develop bulimia,
compared with the one-half to one percent that is estimated to suffer from anorexia. Studies
indicate that about 50 percent of those who begin an eating disorder with anorexia nervosa
later become bulimic.
It is believed that more than five million individuals experience an eating disorder (bulimia
nervosa or anorexia nervosa) in this country alone. It is ten times more common in women
than men, with greatest prevalence occurring in adolescents and college-age young adults.
This indicates a need for concern and preventive measures on college campuses across
the country, especially for female students.
How do people with bulimia control their weight?
People with bulimia are overly concerned with body shape and weight. They make repeated
attempts to control their weight by fasting and dieting, vomiting, using drugs to stimulate
bowel movements and urination, and exercising excessively. Weight fluctuations are
common because of alternating binges and fasts. Unlike people with anorexia, people with
bulimia are usually within a normal weight range. However, many heavy people who lose
weight begin vomiting to maintain the weight loss.
What are the common signs of bulimia?
Constant concern about food and weight is a primary sign of bulimia. Common indicators
that suggest the self-induced vomiting that persons with bulimia experience are the erosion
of dental enamel (due to the acid in the vomit) and scarring on the backs of the hands (due
to repeatedly pushing fingers down the throat to induce vomiting).
A small percentage of people with bulimia show swelling of the glands near the cheeks
called parotid glands. People with bulimia may also experience irregular menstrual periods
and a decrease in sexual interest. A depressed mood is also commonly observed as are
frequent complaints of sore throats and abdominal pain. Despite these telltale signs, bulimia
nervosa is difficult to catch early. Binge eating and purging are often done in secret and
can be easily concealed by a normal-weight person who is ashamed of his or her behavior,
but compelled to continue it because he or she believes it controls weight.
Characteristically, these individuals have many rules about food -- e.g. good foods, bad
foods -- and can be entrenched in these rules and particular thinking patterns. This
preoccupation and these behaviors allow the person to shift their focus from painful feelings
and reduce tension and anxiety perpetuating the need for these behaviors.
Are there any serious medical complications?
Persons with bulimia -- even those of normal weight -- can severely damage their bodies by
frequent binging and purging. Electrolyte imbalance and dehydration can occur and may
cause cardiac complications and, occasionally, sudden death. In rare instances, binge
eating can cause the stomach to rupture, and purging can result in heart failure due to the
loss of vital minerals like potassium.
Do we know what causes bulimia?
The current obsession with thinness in our culture certainly has a large influence. There is
some evidence that obesity in adolescence or familial tendency toward obesity predisposes
an individual to the development of the disorder. Parents’ anxiety over a chubby child can
perhaps also be a contributor. Some individuals with bulimia report feeling a "kind of high"
when they vomit. People with bulimia are often compulsive and may also abuse alcohol and
drugs. Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia tend to run in families, and girls are most
susceptible. Recently, scientists have found certain neurotransmitters (serotonin and
norepinephrine) to be decreased in some persons with bulimia. Most likely, it is a
combination of environmental and biological factors that contribute to the development and
expression of this disorder. During the early 1970s, before the prevalence of bulimia was
more widely recognized, almost all persons with an eating disorder believed they had
invented the behaviors and that no one else had such a problem. As in anorexia nervosa,
the behaviors associated with bulimia provide temporary relief from tension and allow ill
persons to focus less on problems perceived as irresolvable and to instead focus on body
weight and food.
Is treatment available for persons with bulimia?
Most people with bulimia can be treated through individual outpatient therapy because they
aren't in danger of starving themselves as are persons with anorexia. However, if the
bulimia is out of control, admission to an eating disorders treatment program may help the
individual let go of their behaviors so they can concentrate on treatment.
Group therapy is especially effective for college-aged and young adult women because of
the understanding of the group members. In group therapy they can talk with peers who
have similar experiences. Additionally, support groups can be helpful as they can be
attended for as long as necessary, have flexible schedules, and generally have no charge.
Support groups, however, do not take the place of treatment. Sometimes a person with an
eating disorder is unable to benefit from group therapy or support groups without the
encouragement of a personal therapist.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, either in a group setting or individual therapy session, has
been shown to benefit many persons with bulimia. It focuses on self-monitoring of eating
and purging behaviors as well as changing the distorted thinking patterns associated with
the disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is often combined with nutritional counseling
and/or antidepressant medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac).
Treatment plans should be adjusted to meet the needs of the individual concerned, but
usually a comprehensive treatment plan involving a variety of experts and approaches is
best. It is important to take an approach that involves developing support for the person
with an eating disorder from the family environment or within the patient’s community
environment (support groups or other socially supportive environments).
What about prevention?
Prevention research is increasing as scientists study the known "risk factors" to these
disorders. Given that bulimia and other eating disorders are multi-determined and affect
young women, there is preliminary information on the role and extent such factors as self
esteem, resilience, family interactions, peer pressure, the media and dieting might play in its
development. Advocacy groups are also engaged in prevention through efforts such as
removing damaging articles from teen magazines on "dieting" and the importance of "being
thin."
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Pro-ana refers to the promotion of anorexia nervosa as a lifestyle choice rather than
an eating disorder. It is often referred to simply as "ana" and is sometimes
affectionately personified by anorexics as a girl named Ana.[1]
SOURCE.Pro-ana is not an organized social movement, but a loosely descriptive term
that encompasses a wide range of views. Many pro-ana organizations state that they
do not promote anorexia and that they instead exist mainly to give anorexics a place to
turn to discuss their illness in a non-judgmental environment. Some promote recovery
while still supporting those who choose to defer or refuse medical or psychological
treatment. Others go further, disputing the prevailing psychological and medical
consensus that treats anorexia nervosa as a mental illness rather than a "lifestyle
choice" that should be respected by doctors and family.[1]
The lesser-used term pro-mia refers likewise to bulimia nervosa[2] and is sometimes
used interchangeably with pro-ana.
Pro-ana - The anorexic underground
In some circles of the pro-ana movement, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are
personified as women named Ana (for anorexia; hence the pro-ana movement) and
Bella or Mia (for bulimia). Members use this to illustrate the anorexic's loneliness: "Ana"
is the anorexic's only reliable friend whom they can rely on when everything else feels
out of control. Pro-ana sites involve anorexics coming together to talk about their
experiences with their shared "best friend".
Many anorexics consider the pro-ana or anorexic "community" to be a type of secret
society called the "anorexic underground", whose members are able to identify each
other at first glance. This has led to people who identify as pro-ana wearing colour-
coded bracelets to signify their disease. The colours for each disorder vary, but they
are generally considered to be:
red (less commonly blue): anorexia nervosa
purple: bulimia nervosa
green: binge-eating
black: self-harm or depression
yellow: strength and hope
orange: recovery
The most popular maker of these bracelets is BlueDragonfly. Some anorexics make
their own bracelets or buy normal bracelets that happen to be in those colours.
PRO ANA RELIGIOUS BELIEFS MAKE THE NEWS.
The Associated Press’s national health desk writer Martha Irving is the latest journalist
to journey into the world of pro-ana. She finds it a cult-like, almost supernatural place
where “Ana” is anthropomorphized as a wispy, blue-eyed blond who is worshipped by
her bracelet-wearing minions.
Like any AP journalist worth her salt, Martha has anonymous sources. Sara, who
recently entered treatment for her eating disorder, provides this comment: “People
pray to Ana to make them skinny.” Sara was the president of “the official Ana sorority,”
Beta Sigma Kappa. She eventually realized she was “helping girls kill themselves,” and
broke free.
A 19-year-old South Dakotan woman had trouble finding a counselor who would take
her seriously: “I’d tell them about Ana and how she’s a real person to me. And they’d
just look at me like I’m nuts.”
MORE ON THE RELIGIOUS ASPECTS OF PRO ANA..
Pro ana is and isn’t and a defense of the sites. One even offers a point-by-point
thorough rebuttal of recent sensationalistic media pieces on pro-ana sites. One
particularly influential site draws a parallel between their fight for pro-ana rights and
the gay rights movement. One site also features the battle cry, “Vive la evolution!” in
reference to the evolution of pro-anorexia over the past six to seven years. The tone
of these sites – offering detailed explanations of their beliefs and calls for a revival of
pro-ana into a new, cleaner pro-ana 2.0 – is not unlike some religious leaders’ calls for
a religious re-birth or re-awakening. In a comparison with some Christian sects’
webpages, the same components of a FAQ, explanation of beliefs, and call for unity
and progress are common to both. I do not believe that this is coincidental. The
Effects of these Religious Aspects The combination of these religious aspects and the
aforementioned chat/forum functions of the pro-ana sites allow for two effects: identity
formation and the generation of emotional energy. The communicative network
provided by the forums and chat functions is essential to the pro-ana movement (and
is, in fact, its entire basis) because it allows the pro-ana people to both form and re-
form an identity and gain the emotional energy necessary for continued participation
in the websites and disease. These websites then serve as means to form a cyber
and real-life identity and gain/interact with the emotional energy necessary to continue
with their lifestyle. These people have a purpose, they assiduously maintain a social
network with religious overtones that allows them to communicate and facilitate
information and emotional Maloney 12
Formal Prayers and Bracelets The “Ten Commandments of Ana,” “Ana’s Psalm,” and
“Ana’s Creed” (mentioned above) follow the same construction and language
of the traditional Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments, Psalm 23, and the
Nicene Creed, but this movement has other characteristics that point to its
religious nature. As mentioned above, some websites do refer to pro-anorexics as
the “CHOSEN ones,” not unlike the way the Jewish people are sometimes
referred to as “God’s Chosen People.” Also, like Christians of the early 1 st and 2 nd
century A.D. who drew fish on dusty roads, adherents use a secret symbol to identify
each other: a red bracelet or a red T-shirt on Mondays. One website suggests,
“anytime you see someone wearing a red beaded bracelet, capture their eye contact
and point to your bracelet, and if they return the same point to theirs ... then they are
ED friendly. If not, then its [sic] just someone whom [sic] is wearing one.” This website
has an entire section devoted to Ana’s “religion” directly next to its “Tips and Tricks”
section, placing similar importance on each. Historically, some Christian saints fasted
to provoke visions, so an intermingling of self-induced starvation and religion is not
foreign to Christian culture. The Summoning of Anamadim In response to medical
and academic professionals noting their use of “Ana’s Creed” and “Commandments,”
some members of one pro-ana site created a god called “Anamadim, the Guardian
Servitor of the Anorectic Praxis,” and write that “the name Ana in the religious
conotation (sic) actually is the full name Anamadim, and not some goddess named
anorexia.” The words “ana” and “mia” are clear in the construction of this name. They
also created an elaborate summoning ritual 3 for this god that requires candles,
incense, sacred numbers, 3 Available upon author request. Maloney 10
Power of the Religious Sect..
sequor (łac.) - to follow; secare (łac.) - to separate
The term „sect” is usually used to describe religion-based communities. Some people
use it when talking about group of people following radical rules, which are against
accepted regulations and standards. There is no strict definition of this term, however
we can define some characteristic attributes of the sect:
isolation – division of the people for „us” - members of the sect, and „them” - all the
others,
rules and rituals, breaking existing social norms,
destructive influence on family members remaining outside the sect,
hierarchy among members, very strong position of the leader,
controlling all possible aspects of members lives;
psycho manipulation is intentionally used to recruit new members, usually to make
them act against their own good.
Is pro ana a sect? Pro ana has no hierarchy of members, there is no leader with strong
position. Sure all Internet communities has their privileged group of members such as
admins or moderators. You can also observe some of community members play the
roles of authorities. However these kind of hierarchy is not global, and its character is
completely different from sect hierarchy. So from this point of view pro ana is not a sect.
Let's take a closer look at all the other characteristics I mentioned above:
isolation – creating closed communities, accepting only selected people as initiates,
feeling alienation, or stating that only other pro ana members are able to understand
problems and dilemmas involved with pro ana style, sometimes sens of superiority
additionally appears – describing non-members as jealous, or too weak to pursue
perfection;
rules and rituals – typical elements of pro ana sites are “Thin Commandments” and
“Reasons to be Thin”, many of the rules presented there are against social and
cultural norms, like “Being thin is more important than being healthy.”, food as evil, or
being thin as the only one determinant of success; there is also a list of things to do
when you are hungry, how to pretend you eat, physical exercises, and motivations
such as fitting too small/too big clothes, checking weight and measuring wrists, thighs,
waist every day; all that activities are in fact rituals;
destructing family – parents forcing their daughters to eat are viewed as enemies, not
people caring for their children, pro ana as life style should be kept in secret, and the
consequences are lies,
control – pro ana controls only one aspect of life – eating, but eating is so important for
pro anas, that all other aspects of life are controlled through dieting,
psycho manipulation – pro anas declare they don't want to recruit new members, from
the other hand all their slogans like: perfection, control, strength, beauty sounds like
advertisement for weak, unhappy, shy and unsure people looking for meaning of their
lives. In pro ana they find a way to live, very destructive way of searching purpose of
life. In my opinion such slogans are psycho manipulation, however I find it hard to
believe that this effect was achieved on purpose. I suspect that pro anas try to
convince themselves about pro ana being the best and the only way to achieve
success.
As I mentioned above – the term sect is used to describe religious based movements.
Let's take a look at pro ana from this side:
personification of the desease – anorexia or Ana – friend, spiritual guide, companion,
pro anas write a letter for her, they sound a lot like a prayers, if they haven't
experienced Ana's presence yet, that's their ultimate goal and dream;
thinspirations – pro ana sites are full of pictures of thin beauties – models, actresses,
but also real girls, these pictures are suppose to inspire an encourage further starving,
they remind slavish alters glorying anorectic ideal of beauty;
rules presented as Decalogue – all religions are based on dogmas, unchallengeable
rules, pro anas trust their scales without any doubts, and basic rules present as
Decalogue, twisting the bible sense and calling them Thin Commandments. There is
more Bible motives used by pro anas, like Ana Psalm, based on Bible Psalm 23
describing God as protector and provider.
good and evil ideology – food as pure evil, starving as a way of purification,
symbols of the membership – famous red bracelets, used by anorexics as recognition
sign, pro anas encourage to wear them, so they could recognize each other in the
crowd. source.
What is your opinion>? please tell me.
Jump to: navigation, search
Pro-ana refers to the promotion of anorexia nervosa as a lifestyle choice rather than
an eating disorder. It is often referred to simply as "ana" and is sometimes
affectionately personified by anorexics as a girl named Ana.[1]
SOURCE.Pro-ana is not an organized social movement, but a loosely descriptive term
that encompasses a wide range of views. Many pro-ana organizations state that they
do not promote anorexia and that they instead exist mainly to give anorexics a place to
turn to discuss their illness in a non-judgmental environment. Some promote recovery
while still supporting those who choose to defer or refuse medical or psychological
treatment. Others go further, disputing the prevailing psychological and medical
consensus that treats anorexia nervosa as a mental illness rather than a "lifestyle
choice" that should be respected by doctors and family.[1]
The lesser-used term pro-mia refers likewise to bulimia nervosa[2] and is sometimes
used interchangeably with pro-ana.
Pro-ana - The anorexic underground
In some circles of the pro-ana movement, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are
personified as women named Ana (for anorexia; hence the pro-ana movement) and
Bella or Mia (for bulimia). Members use this to illustrate the anorexic's loneliness: "Ana"
is the anorexic's only reliable friend whom they can rely on when everything else feels
out of control. Pro-ana sites involve anorexics coming together to talk about their
experiences with their shared "best friend".
Many anorexics consider the pro-ana or anorexic "community" to be a type of secret
society called the "anorexic underground", whose members are able to identify each
other at first glance. This has led to people who identify as pro-ana wearing colour-
coded bracelets to signify their disease. The colours for each disorder vary, but they
are generally considered to be:
red (less commonly blue): anorexia nervosa
purple: bulimia nervosa
green: binge-eating
black: self-harm or depression
yellow: strength and hope
orange: recovery
The most popular maker of these bracelets is BlueDragonfly. Some anorexics make
their own bracelets or buy normal bracelets that happen to be in those colours.
PRO ANA RELIGIOUS BELIEFS MAKE THE NEWS.
The Associated Press’s national health desk writer Martha Irving is the latest journalist
to journey into the world of pro-ana. She finds it a cult-like, almost supernatural place
where “Ana” is anthropomorphized as a wispy, blue-eyed blond who is worshipped by
her bracelet-wearing minions.
Like any AP journalist worth her salt, Martha has anonymous sources. Sara, who
recently entered treatment for her eating disorder, provides this comment: “People
pray to Ana to make them skinny.” Sara was the president of “the official Ana sorority,”
Beta Sigma Kappa. She eventually realized she was “helping girls kill themselves,” and
broke free.
A 19-year-old South Dakotan woman had trouble finding a counselor who would take
her seriously: “I’d tell them about Ana and how she’s a real person to me. And they’d
just look at me like I’m nuts.”
MORE ON THE RELIGIOUS ASPECTS OF PRO ANA..
Pro ana is and isn’t and a defense of the sites. One even offers a point-by-point
thorough rebuttal of recent sensationalistic media pieces on pro-ana sites. One
particularly influential site draws a parallel between their fight for pro-ana rights and
the gay rights movement. One site also features the battle cry, “Vive la evolution!” in
reference to the evolution of pro-anorexia over the past six to seven years. The tone
of these sites – offering detailed explanations of their beliefs and calls for a revival of
pro-ana into a new, cleaner pro-ana 2.0 – is not unlike some religious leaders’ calls for
a religious re-birth or re-awakening. In a comparison with some Christian sects’
webpages, the same components of a FAQ, explanation of beliefs, and call for unity
and progress are common to both. I do not believe that this is coincidental. The
Effects of these Religious Aspects The combination of these religious aspects and the
aforementioned chat/forum functions of the pro-ana sites allow for two effects: identity
formation and the generation of emotional energy. The communicative network
provided by the forums and chat functions is essential to the pro-ana movement (and
is, in fact, its entire basis) because it allows the pro-ana people to both form and re-
form an identity and gain the emotional energy necessary for continued participation
in the websites and disease. These websites then serve as means to form a cyber
and real-life identity and gain/interact with the emotional energy necessary to continue
with their lifestyle. These people have a purpose, they assiduously maintain a social
network with religious overtones that allows them to communicate and facilitate
information and emotional Maloney 12
Formal Prayers and Bracelets The “Ten Commandments of Ana,” “Ana’s Psalm,” and
“Ana’s Creed” (mentioned above) follow the same construction and language
of the traditional Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments, Psalm 23, and the
Nicene Creed, but this movement has other characteristics that point to its
religious nature. As mentioned above, some websites do refer to pro-anorexics as
the “CHOSEN ones,” not unlike the way the Jewish people are sometimes
referred to as “God’s Chosen People.” Also, like Christians of the early 1 st and 2 nd
century A.D. who drew fish on dusty roads, adherents use a secret symbol to identify
each other: a red bracelet or a red T-shirt on Mondays. One website suggests,
“anytime you see someone wearing a red beaded bracelet, capture their eye contact
and point to your bracelet, and if they return the same point to theirs ... then they are
ED friendly. If not, then its [sic] just someone whom [sic] is wearing one.” This website
has an entire section devoted to Ana’s “religion” directly next to its “Tips and Tricks”
section, placing similar importance on each. Historically, some Christian saints fasted
to provoke visions, so an intermingling of self-induced starvation and religion is not
foreign to Christian culture. The Summoning of Anamadim In response to medical
and academic professionals noting their use of “Ana’s Creed” and “Commandments,”
some members of one pro-ana site created a god called “Anamadim, the Guardian
Servitor of the Anorectic Praxis,” and write that “the name Ana in the religious
conotation (sic) actually is the full name Anamadim, and not some goddess named
anorexia.” The words “ana” and “mia” are clear in the construction of this name. They
also created an elaborate summoning ritual 3 for this god that requires candles,
incense, sacred numbers, 3 Available upon author request. Maloney 10
Power of the Religious Sect..
sequor (łac.) - to follow; secare (łac.) - to separate
The term „sect” is usually used to describe religion-based communities. Some people
use it when talking about group of people following radical rules, which are against
accepted regulations and standards. There is no strict definition of this term, however
we can define some characteristic attributes of the sect:
isolation – division of the people for „us” - members of the sect, and „them” - all the
others,
rules and rituals, breaking existing social norms,
destructive influence on family members remaining outside the sect,
hierarchy among members, very strong position of the leader,
controlling all possible aspects of members lives;
psycho manipulation is intentionally used to recruit new members, usually to make
them act against their own good.
Is pro ana a sect? Pro ana has no hierarchy of members, there is no leader with strong
position. Sure all Internet communities has their privileged group of members such as
admins or moderators. You can also observe some of community members play the
roles of authorities. However these kind of hierarchy is not global, and its character is
completely different from sect hierarchy. So from this point of view pro ana is not a sect.
Let's take a closer look at all the other characteristics I mentioned above:
isolation – creating closed communities, accepting only selected people as initiates,
feeling alienation, or stating that only other pro ana members are able to understand
problems and dilemmas involved with pro ana style, sometimes sens of superiority
additionally appears – describing non-members as jealous, or too weak to pursue
perfection;
rules and rituals – typical elements of pro ana sites are “Thin Commandments” and
“Reasons to be Thin”, many of the rules presented there are against social and
cultural norms, like “Being thin is more important than being healthy.”, food as evil, or
being thin as the only one determinant of success; there is also a list of things to do
when you are hungry, how to pretend you eat, physical exercises, and motivations
such as fitting too small/too big clothes, checking weight and measuring wrists, thighs,
waist every day; all that activities are in fact rituals;
destructing family – parents forcing their daughters to eat are viewed as enemies, not
people caring for their children, pro ana as life style should be kept in secret, and the
consequences are lies,
control – pro ana controls only one aspect of life – eating, but eating is so important for
pro anas, that all other aspects of life are controlled through dieting,
psycho manipulation – pro anas declare they don't want to recruit new members, from
the other hand all their slogans like: perfection, control, strength, beauty sounds like
advertisement for weak, unhappy, shy and unsure people looking for meaning of their
lives. In pro ana they find a way to live, very destructive way of searching purpose of
life. In my opinion such slogans are psycho manipulation, however I find it hard to
believe that this effect was achieved on purpose. I suspect that pro anas try to
convince themselves about pro ana being the best and the only way to achieve
success.
As I mentioned above – the term sect is used to describe religious based movements.
Let's take a look at pro ana from this side:
personification of the desease – anorexia or Ana – friend, spiritual guide, companion,
pro anas write a letter for her, they sound a lot like a prayers, if they haven't
experienced Ana's presence yet, that's their ultimate goal and dream;
thinspirations – pro ana sites are full of pictures of thin beauties – models, actresses,
but also real girls, these pictures are suppose to inspire an encourage further starving,
they remind slavish alters glorying anorectic ideal of beauty;
rules presented as Decalogue – all religions are based on dogmas, unchallengeable
rules, pro anas trust their scales without any doubts, and basic rules present as
Decalogue, twisting the bible sense and calling them Thin Commandments. There is
more Bible motives used by pro anas, like Ana Psalm, based on Bible Psalm 23
describing God as protector and provider.
good and evil ideology – food as pure evil, starving as a way of purification,
symbols of the membership – famous red bracelets, used by anorexics as recognition
sign, pro anas encourage to wear them, so they could recognize each other in the
crowd. source.
What is your opinion>? please tell me.
