No More Silence ... It's Time to Talk

February is National Eating Disorders Awareness Month and it's time to talk about it.

Many people may think eating disorders are a phase — an attempt to look like a supermodel that quickly fades away. For some, this may in fact be true. But for most, eating disorders are life-threatening illnesses battled for a number of years and a number of reasons that may not be so clear.

The National Eating Disorders Association reports that in the U.S., as many as 10 million females and one million men are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder. You may also be surprised to know that in our country, eating disorders are more common than Alzheimer's disease which affects approximately four million Americans.

So when will light truly be shed on these disorders that have the highest premature mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder, yet get an average of only $1.20 in research dollars per affected individual?

I was hesitant to write this, but anyone who knows me knows this is a subject I am very passionate about. I think eating disorders are so often viewed in such a negative way that the people who struggle may feel ashamed to talk about it or to get help.

When individuals have an upset stomach, chest pains, headaches, etc. they typically go to the doctor who then may prescribe a medication or a course of treatment. For those with diabetes, daily insulin shots may have to be given and a diet may need to be implemented. And for these individuals there is a wealth of information and support available. There are events and product sales all over the country to raise awareness about cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and more.
Yet, your next door neighbor may be fighting for his or her life and may be completely alone. His or her doctor may be undereducated about eating disorders and the only treatment available is more than an hour away in Cincinnati. This is a real issue. This is a serious issue. This is an issue that must be talked about.

And I'm going to be one to talk (I can hear my coworkers snickering now because they know I'm definitely good at talking). I'm proudly wearing purple, as usual, to help raise awareness and I'd ask for you to do the same.

No, I don't mean you should deck yourself out from head-to-toe and wear a big NEDAW sign on your chest (even though I'm certain that would grab someone's attention). Rather, just toss on that purple shirt that's hanging in your closet or cut a piece of purple ribbon and pin it on your lapel. If you like butterflies, wear a butterfly pin to signify transformation and recovery. It's not about what you do; it's that you do something.

Too many people live in silence because they feel ashamed to be struggling with an eating disorder. Too many are embarrassed because they are overweight and too many can't see when they've gone beyond the realm of being thin. As humans, we are all different. We battle a range of issues and illnesses all unique to our particular life and self. But there is far more to eating disorders than a number on the scale.

If you are a local health professional, I beg you — if you haven't done so already — to venture into the darkness and learn about eating disorders. This will help those here in Highland and the surrounding counties not have to travel to Cincinnati or Dayton in a desperate search to find someone who understands and can help. It will also help shed that light on the growing epidemic of eating disorders from which our rural community is not exempt.

If you are a parent, I encourage you to become aware of eating disorders and to join myself and others in talking about these real illnesses.

And if you have an eating disorder, I promise you are not alone and that there is a path to recovery. Stand tall and fight back.

For everyone else ... It's simply time to talk about it.