This article hit me on two different levels.

1- In our struggles with insurance companies I often find myself wondering how they fail to realize that investing in solid treatment will not only lead to lowering the suffering of the individual we are working with, but also in the long run save insurance companies money in the long term health problems which result from eating disorder behaviors.

2-This study states “that obesity prevention programs that stigmatize obesity or create a sense of blame can actually contribute to eating disorders.” Goes along with awareness of weight bias.

First of all, Michael was in the public eye from the age of 5. He was abused physically and emotionally by his father throughout his childhood. Make no mistake — emotional abuse can be just as horrible as physical abuse. Physical abuse has a stopping point — a slap or a spanking, and it’s done for the time being. But emotional abuse is like water dripping on a stone. Self-esteem never gets a chance to develop when a person is severely emotionally abused.

Michael’s father telling him what an ugly nose he had over and over was one of the precipitants for Michael’s body-dysmorphic disorder.

Michael was depressed, had anxiety, was extremely thin, and had maturity fears. He didn’t want to be fat. His appearance was of primary importance to him.

If we look at the symptoms of anorexia nervosa, we find that depression and anxiety are usually high, weight is low — a BMI of 15.6 in Michael’s case — and certainly maturity fears. This explains Michael’s comfort in being with children. He had a soft, childlike nature. It is often said that a person stops growing emotionally at the exact age when the disorder starts — whether it’s an eating disorder or substance abuse. The drug use is another matter. 40-50% of people with eating disorders can have substance abuse issues. With anorexia, as others have commented, drugs will definitely dampen the appetite.

Too often in our culture, people say, “Oh, he didn’t have an eating disorder. He was just thin.” Michael had too many etiological factors in his history for him to be “just thin.” Many more people are anorexic besides those who look “just thin.” It is so sad that Michael wasn’t able to get the help that might have changed his life.

There are a number of strategies that can help prevent relapse, but one of the most successful is to develop a spiritual practice. Spiritual practice can provide a rock-solid foundation for recovery. 

In order to make a change completely and forever in our lives, we need to practice and practice for the change to happen.  Developing a strong sense of spirituality involves not just having an idea or belief of what that spirituality might be, but experiencing in your everyday life a way of being and an inner activity that helps you connect with you higher self.  Having a spiritual practice gives us an experience of peace and connection.

There are many ways to develop a spiritual practice.  It can be through prayer, attending church, meditation, yoga, singing, writing poetry, walking in nature, or studying with a master.  It’s about space, stillness, and developing our own divine nature.  We learn to let go of thoughts, relationships, and beliefs that are no longer of use to us.  We recognize others on a spiritual path and appreciate our interconnectedness within the universe.

Through spiritual practice we arrive at the place where our bodies, our hearts, and our minds become infinitely precious to us.  We have something much more powerful than an eating disorder to help us live life.