To many, this week is just another ordinary week of classes, homework, and social activities. For me, it is a celebration of how far I have come in my personal journey with anorexia nervosa. Feb. 26 through March 4 is National Eating Disorders Awareness (NEDA) Week, which aims to educate the community about eating disorders and other mental illnesses. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses, and since about 20 percent of college students report having or previously having an eating disorder, this is a critical topic to address.
I believe that teaching people how to love themselves and embrace their bodies are important components, not only in batting mental illnesses, but for people in general to live happier lives. Though 30 million people in the U.S. suffer from eating disorders, just about everyone has had negative thoughts about their appearance or wish they could change certain aspects of themselves.
Everyone has their own idea of what the “perfect” person should be, and that if you somehow attain “perfection”, all of your problems will be solved. “If you could just lose a little more weight you’ll be happy,” is what I used to tell myself. The problem was, the more weight I lost, the more unsatisfied and unhappy I became.
After taking time away from school to heal, I have come to appreciate my body and all that it does for me. I think everyone can benefit from self-love, so this NEDA Week I want to share some simple steps that I believe can spark a positive change within ourselves and within one another.
Offer compliments that go beyond the surface. Complimenting a person solely on their appearance is nice but can reinforce the idea of needing to look a certain way. I was complimented on my appearance more when I was struggling with my eating disorder than at any other point in my life. I was incredibly sick, but since there is a positive association with weight loss, I received more praise than concern. Instead of complimenting your friend on something superficial, try saying something like “You are such a good listener,” or “I’m so glad we’re friends.” This way you are complimenting the core of the person, which I think is more meaningful.
Change your way of thinking. Despite what the media and health industries want us to believe, there are no such things as “good” or “bad” foods. The carbohydrates in a banana are the exact same carbohydrates that are in a piece of cake, and if I choose to eat cake over a banana that does not mean I have failed as a person. Instead of assigning foods a moral value and feeling guilt or shame after eating, fuel your body with a variety of foods that you enjoy. I know that I need protein, starches and lipids, and my body doesn’t care if I get those from a salad with chicken and nuts or from frozen yogurt with chocolate sauce.
Self-care is an important aspect that many people tend to neglect. Be mindful and set aside time to focus on you. Paint your nails, take a hot bath or shower, read a book, or watch a favorite TV show. Taking a break from your busy schedule and doing something relaxing can help reduce anxiety and stress.
Most importantly, love and nurture your body. It is your home, allowing you to do the things you love. I hated my body and tried to change it as much as I could through intense restriction and exercise. Only when my body started to fail me did I realize how much I took it for granted.
If you notice a change in yourself or in a friend such as depression, unusual eating habits, excessive exercise, and brittle skin, nails and hair, the NC State Counseling Center has a wide variety of resources and can give you more information on the subject.
Gaining an appreciation for my body was one of the best things I could have ever done, and I’m slowly working to get back the strength that I lost. Our bodies are amazing, so next time you look in the mirror, instead of critiquing your body, celebrate it. Notice all the things you love and embrace them. We need to start building ourselves up, not tearing ourselves down.
This NEDA Week, I challenge you to try and do one or more of the suggestions above as well as check out the events happening on campus. It’s on us to change how we view our bodies, and I think it’s high time we start to love and cherish them.
