Dealing with body image issues?

[lovedance4ever]

As some of you may know, I was a dancer for 12 years, and during that time, I guess I was pretty thin…but not thin enough. I’m 5’11" and for a girl, ESPECIALLY a ballet dancer, that’s too tall. I decided to compensate by losing as much weight as I could, so I stopped eating, and did some other things I am embarrassed to talk about. I lost 20 more pounds, but was eventually caught when I passed out in class one day. My dance instructor was none too pleased with my behaviors.

When I was 16, I fractured my spine and that was basically the end of my life as a dancer, as I knew it; that summer, I was supposed to attend a very prestigious ballet academy that trains dancers to be professionals. Needless to say, I was devastated.

Then I started to gain weight due to inactivity; I was NOT overeating, but it’s like the sudden shock to my body packed on the pounds. I had been dancing 6 days a week for 20 (sometimes more) hours, year round and not including the added hours for Nutcracker rehearsals every September through to December.

So now, here I am, still overweight and extremely depressed. I hate my body and myself for looking this way. My mom says I see myself as much larger than I actually am, but all I know is, when I look in the mirror, I see a horribly large and ugly girl.

The back pain along with other physical problems (which resulted from the years of dancing) makes it difficult to exercise on a regular basis, though I really want to.

I still struggle with eating at times. There are days when I don’t eat, or when I’m afraid to eat, or when I am extremely tempted to go into the bathroom after a meal…It’s making me miserable.

Please pray for me. And if you have any advice about how to deal with this, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Christa

 

[Xantippe]

I know doctors often really like Weight Watchers. When you have a little extra money, that might be a good place to invest it.

Also, your campus may have an eating disorder support group and/or a knowledgeable nutritionist and/or psychologist or psychiatrist.

Good luck!

 

[shainski]

I know that I am not qualified to give you advice - and that you will need to seek professional help to deal with this.

You probably already know that days of not eating will not give you results you desire. Your body will change with age - and it is hard to give up your 16 year old body. So you have to figure out a way to embrace the changes as natural and beautiful. But that isn’t easy in a world that defines beautiful as anorexic.

You realize that you have a problem - and that, itself, is a huge step. It’s nearly impossible to convince someone who doesn’t realize that.

But I went online to see what suggestions were out there - and this made sense to me:

from helpguide.org/mental/eating_disorder_self_help.htm

Aside from offering support, the most important thing you can do for a person with an eating disorder is to encourage treatment. The longer an eating disorder remains undiagnosed and untreated, the harder it is on the body and the more difficult to overcome, so urge your loved one to see a doctor right away.

A doctor can assess your loved one’s symptoms, provide an accurate diagnosis, and screen for medical problems that might be involved. The doctor can also determine whether there are any co-existing conditions that require treatment, such as depression, substance abuse, or an anxiety disorder.

If your friend or family member is hesitant to see a doctor, ask him or her to get a physical just to put your worries to rest. It may help if you offer to make the appointment or go along on the first visit.

my prayers are with you.

 

[EmeraldOak]

I pray that you would see yourself as God sees you - His beautiful child.

Having non-eating days will only fuel an eating disorder. Try to eat at least a little something each day even if you don’t want to or or not hungry. You don’t want to starve your body because the next calories you give it it will hold onto, some type of starvation coping mechanism that a professional would be able to explain better than I.

I’m sorry you can’t dance anymore. I pray God heals you physically & emotionally from the loss. I am so sorry for what you are going through.

 

[nickybr38]

I also think you should seek some professional help.

The fact that your mother says you see yourself as larger than you hints that you may be suffering from some form of body dysmorphic disorder. Seeking professional help will allow you to figure out if there are underlying issues while also providing you with some solid advice on how to lose the weight (if you need to lose weight).

Best of luck.

 

[tawny]

As some of you may know, I was a dancer for 12 years, and during that time, I guess I was pretty thin…but not thin enough. I’m 5’11" and for a girl, ESPECIALLY a ballet dancer, that’s too tall. I decided to compensate by losing as much weight as I could, so I stopped eating, and did some other things I am embarrassed to talk about. I lost 20 more pounds, but was eventually caught when I passed out in class one day. My dance instructor was none too pleased with my behaviors.

When I was 16, I fractured my spine and that was basically the end of my life as a dancer, as I knew it; that summer, I was supposed to attend a very prestigious ballet academy that trains dancers to be professionals. Needless to say, I was devastated.

Then I started to gain weight due to inactivity; I was NOT overeating, but it’s like the sudden shock to my body packed on the pounds. I had been dancing 6 days a week for 20 (sometimes more) hours, year round and not including the added hours for Nutcracker rehearsals every September through to December.

So now, here I am, still overweight and extremely depressed. I hate my body and myself for looking this way. My mom says I see myself as much larger than I actually am, but all I know is, when I look in the mirror, I see a horribly large and ugly girl.

The back pain along with other physical problems (which resulted from the years of dancing) makes it difficult to exercise on a regular basis, though I really want to.

I still struggle with eating at times. There are days when I don’t eat, or when I’m afraid to eat, or when I am extremely tempted to go into the bathroom after a meal…It’s making me miserable.

Please pray for me. And if you have any advice about how to deal with this, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Christa

Praying for your intentions.

 

[E_7]

You reminded me of the music video Lift Me Up by The Afters. Youtube it, I hope you learn something from it. Besides that, I don’t know what to say, but be careful with vanity, greed and envy. I would say try another dance that helps your body and back. Since I started bellydancing, my posture got better and my scoliosis of 8 grades is no more, plus it keeps me on my normal weight and it is fun.

 

[grasscutter]

Definitely talk to your doctor about this and perhaps getting a referral to the program and/or counseling that would be right for you.

And, time in front of the Blessed Sacrament as often as possible.