Recovering From Anorexia And Bulimia One Byte At A Time

It is a well-known fact that both anorexia and bulimia are on the rise in societies that measure success and sexiness by physical body proportions.

Both as a publisher/professional writer and certified hypnotherapist actively participating in Arizona’s Professional Hypnosis organization, I’ve collected a number of stories about eating addictions and disorders that will one day be compiled into a book.

I’m also encouraging others to send me their own stories about creating and recovering from that downward spiral of feeling (not good enough, ignored, rejected, unattractive, etc.).

Self-discovery and recovery are twin souls

A young woman (Katie) from a rural Midwestern community, married (Chris) shortly after she graduated from college. The marriage required forfeiting of a scholarship to one of the finest art institutes in the world.

Immediately Katie was thrust into a “Palm Beach” social life that required designer gowns and a heavily booked schedule of events with people who had little understanding or appreciation for art.

Katie was bored by small talk and privately resented foolish comments about art and artists that often flew her way either accidentally or sometimes on purpose. Her new husband had been one of the most eligible bachelors in the Social Register. “Why had he chosen a dairy queen?” wondered jealous females-in-waiting.

Chris had chosen Katie because he was fascinated by her freshness and sparkle; they’d met at a friend’s summer cottage and the romance had blossomed into a marriage proposal. Although he didn’t know much about art, Chris loved her passion for painting and understood passion; he had his own passion for sailing.

Katie married Chris because he had promised her he would open an art gallery for her in Palm Beach and find buyers and patrons, get other museum and gallery shows for her, etc.

Deep down, this “free ride to fame” made Katie feel guilty. Did she really love Chris or his money and social position?

They were so busy with social life in New York and Palm Beach… and then there were business trips, long holiday weekends and cruises… One of these days, children might start coming along; family required obligations. Katie did not want to be an absentee mother.

According to the doctor’s charts, Katie’s weight was normal for a person with her bone structure. Society women fashioned their bodies after runway models, since those were the gowns and other outfits they would most likely purchase for the next Palm Beach Event.

Katie’s mirror declared she was obese. As soon as the parties began and Katie sized herself up against her new debutante “girlfriends,” she started to believe she had a weight problem. Many of these girls were twigs compared to her. Several had modeled designer clothing in fashionable magazines that took advantage of the double dip of Society & Fashion to increase their sales.

Katie told herself she didn’t qualify. She was a country bumpkin; they were right. The anorexia and bulimia syndrome started gradually and soon became a habit. Katie would seem to eat normally like everyone else, but in the privacy of her home, when no one was looking…

Ask and it will be given

Chris had an older sister, Tamar, who had always danced to a different drummer. Tamar had chosen to become a hypnotherapist and soon she had a thriving Manhattan practice. Although Tamar knew better than to talk publicly about mind-body breakthroughs with chronic and acute illnesses, she had in fact, helped many of her clients heal themselves and their lives... and get off the meds. In her practice she also dealt with anorexia and bulimia, substance abuse, pain management, weight management and relationship issues.

Tamar loved Katie; they became true sisters as soon as they met. Tamar perceived that although her brother really did adore Katie, he was clueless about what really made his wife happy.

When Katie started to look too thin and she started to pass up almost all food at social events, Tamar, home for the holidays, picked up the signals. Then Katie, already frail and afraid to eat during pregnancy, miscarried. Tamar invited Katie to visit her for a weekend.

Counseling accompanied by hypnotherapy with Katie’s permission brought forth Katie’s feelings of insecurity, anger and resentment. The two also discussed Katie’s goals and her passion for painting—how the marriage had been obstructing this basic need for self-expression.

The marriage did not survive, although Tamar and Katie’s friendship did. Today, Katie is an award-winning artist, happily married with two children—and she is also a health and fitness enthusiast.

If you are a therapist, please send me your breakthrough recovery stories. Or perhaps you would like to work with me to develop your own book. These stories are so important and I’m here to help you—help us--get the message out that we don’t have to be sick or experience feelings of lack, loneliness, despair… you know the list!