From the Desk of Shannon Smith, M.A., L.P.C.,N.C.C, D.R.C.C.
Eating Disorder Therapist.
Have you ever stopped yourself and thought, “What is this eating disorder really doing for me?” Hundreds of times I’m sure. Stepping on the scale to determine what type of day it will be, not wanting to feel upset or disappointed and knowing your eating disorder will be right there waiting to help you make it go away.
If you’ve thought about it, it promises some pretty amazing things – “perfect” body, improved social life and relationships, control, happiness, etc. But have you ever really checked in with yourself about the validity of these claims? What would happen if you did?
The patients at our Eating Disorder Program here at Robert Wood Johnson Somerset were recently asked to take an honest look at their eating disorder’s promises versus what they have actually experienced in their own lives thanks to the eating disorder. With paper folded in half, each patient was asked to list individually what their eating disorder promises them on one side, and what their eating disorder actually gives them on the other side.
Once finished, I asked that the group shout out their answers and wrote each one on the board so that others could jot down anything relatable. Additional thoughts and ideas flowed and were added to the board as conversation continued. The board got pretty crowded, as the above photograph shows. Once finished, the group sat and processed their thoughts about what was in front of them.
Are there other things in your life where the Promises and Gives might not be exactly the same? Are we getting manipulated by the excitement of the promises, and are we sometimes blind to the actual gives? Something to think about.