Understanding Anorexia (Day 5)
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Can you think of any factors that may influence the probability of someone developing Anorexia? If you deal with this disorder, then what factors may have influenced your Anorexia?
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@Emily619
i don't personally deal with anorexia, but i feel like the environment someone lives in could be a big factor. for example, if many people around a particular person are very conscious about their appearance, very against some body types or putting one body type above all others, then it would be easier for someone to develop anorexia in order to be accepted into society. of course i'm sure there are many other ways, factors and reasons one could develop anorexia but this is just one i came up with
@viictoriia ...
Correct there ARE many factors. and one is definitely environment. But I thought you were going to say in another way. Like it could be environment at home - abuse of any sort, or how mother and father relate, how they speak to each other and to you, etc etc.
Another factor I am aware of is genes. Genetics have a factor in whether a person develops an ED or not - but I don't know how. I mean I don't think it's as 'simple' as Brown eye color (dominant) and blue eye color (recessive) .... anyway ....
I'm sure I could think of more ... but it's late - snack and bedtime! ~ Platy
@cyanPlatypus6370
those are definitely some good points. as i said before i don't personally deal with anorexia, so i don't have as much experience or knowledge as those who do (: but thank you for sharing, every response helps me learn a little more!
@viictoriia
You're so right and correct! There can be so many things within someone's environment to trigger an eating disorder or any mental health issue for that matter, and there's so many things within their environment as well such as their classmates, family, neighbors, and so on. You've brought up a wonderful point, thank you!
@Emily619
As it got to me in my sister few years ago i think it was because of the bullies. Everyday going to school in fear of being bullied because of our weight. But i guess i more took it like a challenge to show others how much different i can get. So they wouldnt make fun of us with sister. But yeah somehow it drove us, me, out of control. And yeah as a person commented before that it can me genetic.. well maybe? who knows, my whole family suffered from anorexia so i guess? well. i don't know for sure.
@Pizzare
Bullies can definitely be a huge issue, unfortunately 
I haven't heard of eating disorders being linked to genetics before but that does bring up a great point that it could definitely be in some instances! Although it must've not felt that good that your sister had anorexia as well, it may have been a blessing in disguise in the part that she was able to handle and go through something you currently were ad well, and you were able to support each other through your recoveries. If you haven't reached your recovery point, remember that's alright because everyone has a different time they begin to recover. When you do, though, that's such a great support system to have as your family and I know they'll be able to guide you every step of the way in the right direction
For me it started as a coping mechanism for my depression. I had to hide my mental illnesses for a long time and there was no other way for me to deal with how i was feeling. Environment also played a HUGE part as well. The food at my university cafeteria made it easier for me to stop eating and form rules around food. I had no way to change my environment so I couldn't stop going deeper into my ED and other issues. Comparison is also a dangerous habit and can encourage eating disorder behaviours. It is important to surround yourself with supportive people who dont focus on looks but focus on just being there for you during recovery. I think everyone is different and no eating disorder is the same but it is important to have discussions like this to become more aware of how we are not the ones to blame for having this disease.
@Sammie1997
Eating Disorders can have all sorts of different starts and I'm sure they're all different for each different person like you said! I like how you provided an example of how your environment affected you, I'm sure environmental factors can be huge for a good amount of eating disorders as well. Comparison can definitely be a huge part, and lead to body shaming unfortunately When we body shame ourselves, we tend to change our eating and exercise habits to drastically unhealthy levels as time goes on. However, I know there can also be a positive comparison too 
When someone goes through a highly traumatic event, for example, they can often develop PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). However, some people have the opposite and instead of developing PTSD, they have post traumatic growth. In these cases, they take the traumatic event they went through and grow from it 
I think the similar can be said of an eating disorder too and with body shaming/comparing, that instead of comparing ourselves negatively we can go for the positive. Not necessairly by putting the other person we're comparing ourself too, but rather finding positive things we have in common. For example, we both have nice clothes on, we both have the same cool hairstyle, etc. With a positive mindset, you can conquer anything!
For me it has alot to do about control. I'm a control freak. My parents are perfectionists and I am kinda that way too. I couldn't control alot of things in my family and things got really bad but I could control eating and exercise. I also use it to cope with bad feelings because it's hard for me to identify or say what i am feeling. I tell people what I think they want to hear. My anorexia is alot about depression, anxiety, ocd, and control.
