How many anorexics and bulimics were there in the “old days”?
You know, I’ve always wondered about the days before Ana and Mia were openly discussed. Obviously, people suffered from eating disorders, but no one called them EDs or even addressed them the way we do now.
I’ve been trying to figure out how to determine how many anorexics and bulimics there were in the “good old days”, but there aren’t any solid stats that I’ve been able to find. So I’m turning to you, the fabulous Breaking the Mirror community!
My question for today is simply: “Do you know of anyone from your family tree who probably suffered from an ED? Anyone who reportedly never ate or threw up regularly?”
It’s not exactly scientific, I know, but at least it’ll give us a starting point. When I look through my lineage, I can’t find any examples of anorexia, bulimia or binge eating. You?
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OH MY GOODNESS.
GOOD LUCK!
Tags: Ana, Anorexia, BED, binge eating disorder, Breaking the Mirror, breakingthemirror, Bulimia, eating-disorders, EDs, family tree, Mia, suffering from eating disorders, the old days
5 opinions for How many anorexics and bulimics were there in the “old days”?
Erin
Jul 10, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I’ve wondered about that myself. Especially since it appears to be something I share with a sibling. How much of this is…maybe genetic? Not sure. Maybe it’s not. But I know my mother has eating disordered behaviors and thoughts but she wouldn’t technically be considered anorexic. And coming out to my cousin…well she sort of confessed that it’s something that her mother struggles with as well.
And I’m not sure how much this is related…but we have people on both sides of the family tree who battled with alcoholism. I didn’t learn about it until I started treatment because people just “didn’t talk about it back then.”
Go figure.
Erika
Jul 10, 2008 at 2:14 pm
My little sis has bulimia. My Mom? From the time I can remember she was on one diet or another. Her Mom? Had that machine in the basement that supposedly ‘jiggled’ all the fat away. They were both depressed and anxious throughout their lives.
It was an unwritten rule that as a woman, you hate your body. You suffer, you hurt, you do whatever means are necessary to change it to fit that perfect woman who resided your imagination.
My Dad is a recovered alcoholic, and it ran in his family. I believe ed’s are addicitions, b/c they are coping mechanisms just as dangerous if not more than any street drug or alcohol.
I think ‘in the old days’, psychological ills were not spoken of as much. Women were not to cry out, for fear of appearing weak. So they kept this stuff inside, and didn’t dare see a therapist or tell their family dr. The shame of it all!
Jenna
Jul 10, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Here’s one. She was a Pre-Raphaelite model in London in the 1800’s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Siddal
angelique
Jul 10, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Erin & Erika:
It sounds like what we’re seeing here is maybe not so much a trend of eating disorders, but of mental illnesses (or compulsiveness?) I definitely see that on both sides of my family tree. Perhaps in some of us OCD turns into Ana or Mia.
angelique
Jul 10, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Jenna:
Awesome reference. As a person with a degree in English/Art History, I’m shocked I hadn’t heard of her.
I think she’s worth a post unto herself! Thanks for turning me on to her fascinating (and sad) story!
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