THE NOTEBOOK. Writings on Eating Disorders By: Amanda Sears

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1 THE NOTEBOOK Writings on Eating Disorders By: Amanda Sears

2 Notebook #1. 8 February 2017

3 Below is a poster commissioned by the National Eating Disorder Association to raise awareness toward the fact that eating disorders can affect any type of person. It is not always the stereotypical thin, teenage girl who wants fit into a size zero dress for prom, but can also be a 32 year old male father who loves food but wants to watch his weight. It could be anybody. This billboard shows the meaning behind the secret illness. It is a widespread illness that many people believe to be a rarity. However, everyone knows someone who is currently or has suffered from an eating disorder. This photo is aimed more towards those with the eating disorder anorexia. Watching every calorie, measuring every bite. They eat little to no food in hopes of being as thin as they believe they need to be. Anorexia is the eating disorder that has been the most stereotyped towards young females, however anorexia too can, and does affect all different demographics.

4 The symbolism of the inner voice for one who is suffering from an eating disorder is depicted in this photo. Although this photo is once again aimed towards a woman with anorexia, there are inner voices in the heads of all who suffer from any eating disorder. A scale is a prominent object in the lives of all with an eating disorder. This particular picture of a scale is very powerful. The scale is registering under zero, a size that is physically impossible to achieve as long as a person is living. This photo also ties in the worldly view that everybody needs to be the size of a Barbie doll, but a Barbie doll would not register on a scale. It s a pursuit of the impossible.

5 Notebook #2. 14 February 2017

6 I used Facebook to pose questions concerning common misconceptions many people have regarding eating disorders. Such as, if eating disorders are, or are not considered a mental health disorder, if they are a phase used just for attention, and whether eating disorders are a lifestyle choice. I was surprised to get such positive feedback, and so quickly; every comment was based around #pro-recovery, and #NEDAwarness. The most common comments were filled with quotes and words of encouragement. Many shared their thoughts in reference to the questions I asked saying, eating disorders are not a phase, a joke, a trend, or a diet, and they are not a choice. Two people messaged me directly to share their own personal eating disorder story. There was a particular person who shared his personal passion towards the stereotypes that go hand in hand with the word eating disorder. Even though the world is still full of stereotypes and misconceptions concerning eating disorders, it is becoming more educated. More and more celebrities are speaking out against the ideals of beauty posed by the media that feed eating disorders. Each day, more and more people are becoming educated on eating disorders, of their true dangers, and that getting help is just as serious as it would be for any other mental disorder. #pro-recovery #NEDAwareness

7 Notebook #3. 3 March 2017

8 Do Not Think You Are Not Thin Enough Do Not Think You Are Not Good Enough Do Not Think You Are Not Pretty Enough You Are Enough But There Is Not Enough of You Please Eat You re Fading Away...

9 Notebook #4. 14 March 2017

10 Mascarelli, Amanda Leigh. "Eating disorders: The brain's foul trickery." Science News for Students. Mascarelli incorporated many useful and savvy strategies into her project that I would like to incorporate into my report. The first being her big, bold header. It grabs the reader's attention and lets them know right away what they will be reading about as a whole. The second strategy is the use of headings and subheadings within her project. The use of those breaks down the paper into material that appears to be easier to read. Her format of a newspaper article is also another aspect of her project that I would like to incorporate into mine, that makes it look more aesthetically pleasing to the audience. Examples of these strategies in my writing I. INTRODUCTION In this report, I intend to focus on the psychopathology of the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, with my main points on the subject being, the physical differences within the body, the mental and emotional differences within the body, what may make someone more susceptible to having this eating disorder, and warning signs one should look for in family, friends, and themselves. II. PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES There are four confirmed regions in the brain that are different in a person with anorexia nervosa from a person who is healthy (see figure 2). The main area being the orbitofrontal cortex, this is involved in the control of sensory integration, and in decision-making and expectation.

11 Notebook #5. 23 March 2017

12 Infographic The activities that affected me the most during this project was actually researching and compiling the information on the topic of Anorexia. The numbers and statistics on how many people are anorexic, and how many people are almost anorexia are shocking and horrific. One in two hundred people are anorexic, and one in twenty are almost anorexic. When I went deeper into my research, I found that the line between anorexic and almost anorexic is very thin, and both are extremely serious and should be treated as such. The other activity that was deeply moving was actually putting the information I gathered into my project and the way I chose to do so. Putting the words on a figure bring the reality of the disease to the forefront and I hope will make people more aware of the importance of seeking professional help.

13 Notebook #6. 7 April 2017

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15 Notebook #7. 2 May 2017

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17 Notebook #8. 22 May 2017

18 Book review: 'Unbearable Lightness' by Portia de Rossi May 22, 2017 By Amanda Sears "Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain," is an account of the toll a tyrannical body image can create. Portia De Rossi speaks thoroughly on three themes; the impact of a loving, but lonely childhood, the effects of her constant doubts about her appearance and the internal struggle over her sexuality. Many of the passages that stay with the reader involve an inner voice she calls "the drill sergeant," which continually overwhelmed her with thoughts of everything she ate. It was the first thing she would hear when she woke up in the morning: "What did you eat last night?" The pressures of being a celebrity also created many opportunities for the drill sergeant. Costume fittings were a particular torment, and the actress recalls one morning in particular when she had beaten herself up all the way to the set because she imagined she'd found a wrinkle of fat on her stomach. Once she arrived at the set, the yells of the harsh drill sergeant had driven the successful actress to a dangerous point. "I would've done anything to run out of the makeup trailer, to my car, and out of this ugly studio with its square buildings and it's one-way windows," she writes. "I would go home and pack my suitcases and take my car to the airport, get on a plane, go back to Melbourne, Australia, and just start the whole damn thing over. Start the whole damn life over." Because De Rossi's story is told without self-pity, her uplifting conclusion which includes the acceptance of her natural beauty, peace with her sexual identity and a happy marriage to comedian Ellen DeGeneres is one that the reader has been routing for the entirety of the novel. This is an unusually raw and beautiful memoir that will hopefully evoke change in the lives of those who struggled with the same disease as De Rossi.