Spring Break
Student helps herself, others by writing an eating disorder blog
Julie Stagis
Issue date: 2/9/09 Section: News
Walk around any residence or dining hall on campus and, chances are, you'll hear girls complimenting each other on their appearances, or complaining about how "fat" they are.
In a culture so obsessed with dieting and being thin, it's become the norm to dwell on food and looks, setting unreal standards and going to extremes to look a certain way.
In fact, "an estimated 19 to 30 percent of college females are diagnosed with an eating disorder," according to "Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention."
"There's this obsession with being thin instead of being healthy," said Laura Carr, a 2nd-semester exploratory major. "People should be learning to love themselves."
Carr, 18, is recovering from anorexia. To help herself, and others with similar struggles, she blogs about her life with "Ed" - an insider nickname for "eating disorder" that Carr says comes from the book "Life Without Ed" by Jenni Schaefer.
Carr's blog, called "Learning to Love," is a journal of sorts. In it, she recounts the events of her day, even sometimes writing about boys she likes and her job at Panera Bread back home in Cumberland, R.I.
However, this is not just some teenager's LiveJournal. Carr takes pictures of new foods she tries (most notably, the many varieties of protein bars she loves), talks about how she's feeling and analyzes things that are bothering her. Sometimes, she even tries exercises in dealing with "Ed", such as personifying her eating disorder and distinguishing between "Laura's Ed" and "Laura" - two completely different people.
"It makes it more clear to us what (thoughts) are healthy thoughts and what are not healthy thoughts," Carr said, explaining the benefit of personifying her eating disorder.
Carr's blog is also much more than her own therapeutic outlet. She has an entire community of followers, many with blogs of their own, which Carr reads, too.
"I'm trying to gain weight. Seeing other people trying to gain weight helps," she said. "Trying something new can be a big deal for someone with an eating disorder. Sharing it with them gives me encouragement."
In a culture so obsessed with dieting and being thin, it's become the norm to dwell on food and looks, setting unreal standards and going to extremes to look a certain way.
In fact, "an estimated 19 to 30 percent of college females are diagnosed with an eating disorder," according to "Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention."
"There's this obsession with being thin instead of being healthy," said Laura Carr, a 2nd-semester exploratory major. "People should be learning to love themselves."
Carr, 18, is recovering from anorexia. To help herself, and others with similar struggles, she blogs about her life with "Ed" - an insider nickname for "eating disorder" that Carr says comes from the book "Life Without Ed" by Jenni Schaefer.
Carr's blog, called "Learning to Love," is a journal of sorts. In it, she recounts the events of her day, even sometimes writing about boys she likes and her job at Panera Bread back home in Cumberland, R.I.
However, this is not just some teenager's LiveJournal. Carr takes pictures of new foods she tries (most notably, the many varieties of protein bars she loves), talks about how she's feeling and analyzes things that are bothering her. Sometimes, she even tries exercises in dealing with "Ed", such as personifying her eating disorder and distinguishing between "Laura's Ed" and "Laura" - two completely different people.
"It makes it more clear to us what (thoughts) are healthy thoughts and what are not healthy thoughts," Carr said, explaining the benefit of personifying her eating disorder.
Carr's blog is also much more than her own therapeutic outlet. She has an entire community of followers, many with blogs of their own, which Carr reads, too.
"I'm trying to gain weight. Seeing other people trying to gain weight helps," she said. "Trying something new can be a big deal for someone with an eating disorder. Sharing it with them gives me encouragement."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Elaina
posted 2/19/09 @ 5:50 AM EST
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. (Continued…)
Alanna
posted 3/23/09 @ 7:49 AM EST
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. (Continued…)
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