part of aorexia recovery--desensitizing the self to MIRRORS!!

Okay, so I read from a study about a successful ED recovery program that implemented mirror looking time, because often times people think that gaining weight solves the problem, and cures the ED but it doesn't. there is an underlying disapproval and hatred of the self usually and this can be diminished at least partially by having mirror time. here are some findings...

by Jenny Bryan

Looking at themselves in a full-length mirror for increasing amounts of time each week can help young women who are recovering from anorexia to improve their body image. Results of a small study recently carried out at St George's NHS Trust, in London, showed that women who included the mirror treatment in their body image programme felt better about their body six months later, while those who didn't have the mirror treatment felt no better about themselves.

so while weight gain may decrease the physical ailment of the disease, it is important to tackle the underlying feelings as well. i used to avoid mirrors like the plague, and every now again i'll stare at myself in the mirror and try to find something that i actually like. yesterday i was in my undies because i was sleeping and it was hot so when i got up to use the restroom i passed a full length mirror and i stopped in front of it and turned sideways to look at my previously saggy and flat butt from all of the lost ED weight, it was firm and lifted and though not as big as i'd like, it was quite nice. i think that anyone recovering should try this. at first it will seem that all you see are the imperfections looking back at you but overcome that inclination to pick on yourself and instead find something positive. it's okay to love yourself!! just thought i'd share that :)

Im going to try this more often. It's so funny though cos I do the same when I look in the mirror, I look for the good flaws, like saggy skin and no boobs etc etc. I know it definitly helps my frame of mind.

That is exactly the opposite of how looking in a mirror makes me feel. I start with good intentions, but the longer I look...the fatter I appear to myself. Double butt shows up, saggy skin pops out, a single dimple turns into 100! I do it to myself every day.

Whoever came up with this therapy was dealing with someone in a far recovered state, not someone in the process. It's BDD that plagues most ED sufferers. So, looking in a mirror for extended periods of time seems somewhat cruel.

While the findings were a load of poo for my situation, I would hope others could benefit from this type of self-affirmation.

Just my opinion on how this relates to my ED mind.

In one of my inpatients we had to do something similar. There were words on a piece of paper and you had to stand in the mirror and put them where you felt and explain why. It helped to see possible reasons one felt the way they did but also to see the positives in themselves as well. For me when I am in weight gain and this sounds so stupid but it helps I try to focus on what I do like so for some it may be there hair or eyes so on and then really do that up nice. So put on nice make up or style your hair in a new way. It makes one feel better about the whole you

the point is not that it is easy, for most anorexia patients this is very hard, and it's those who go through this treatment while recovering who have long lasting recovery because they learn to accept their body along the process. just because it's hard initially doesn't mean it will always be hard. it's about growing to accept yourself and if you can't look in a mirror, gaining any amount of weight hasn't addressed the underlying insecurity. it's not about looking in the mirror and loving what you see, but accepting it and realizing that your reality about your body might be a bit distorted. i think it is a very positive component of treatment that gets at something deeper than making the scale move towards healthy, its making the mind move along with it.

Yeah, I totally understand. It just sounds so easy in that article.

The article does seem to make it sound easy, but those patients worked closely with their doctors, so they had a lot of support. I'm in recovery from a combination of EDs and I truly believe I will always be. And while my self-image is still slightly distorted, it has gotten to be MUCH better. I don't look hard at my reflection EVERY day, but at least once a week I'll go into the bathroom and stand there to look for something that I notice has changed. It's been a long process, but I actually have the inclination to purchase a full-length mirror for the first time next pay day =] 

It's a long road, but it's worth it. Are you being treated by a specialist or are you working on your own?

I have never seen a therapist or specialist and probably wouldn't unless my weight loss was extreme. I always seem to keep myself away from too much. To be completely honest, I would rather not be titled with anything either. I would hate to think I was being monitored because of it. I don't think there's anything wrong with striving to be better. I'm not ready to give that mentality up yet. ED extremes were the answer in the past, but I think the behavior I once practiced is in the past (for the most part).

I also know what I do physically isn't so extreme. It's along the lines of any athlete. I do under consume calories at times and that's just part of the daily battle with convincing myself I'm not gonna gain just from consuming enough. I still have days where I splurge too. I feel great though and aside from lack of sleep due to baby; feel refreshed every day. I know my body is capable of more and I am simply pushing until it gets there. I'm a perfectionist in that aspect, because it's one thing I have control over.

this certainly doesn't help me at all, maybe when I'm weight restored and focussing on psychological restoration it will help? I dunno


I think what is strange is that my Ed didn't start as a body image thing, but started off more as a part of my 'perfectionistic' attitude, and high levels of stress and anxiety. Slowly I became more and more malnourished and underweight, and thats when the whole BDD thing came in. My psychological and emotional issues got worse as my weight dropped.

skippinggirl that is exactly like my story!!

Teck, it's nice to know someone else is going through something similar to me [even if Eds are horrible]

I hate how everyone has this idea that all people with anorexia are foolish teenage girls [even though I am a teenage girl] who are so easily influenced by the media and stick thin models that they see on tv and in magazines. I know that the media, peer pressure etc. sure doesn't help, but it isn' the cause of everyones eating disorder.

[sorry about my slighty off topic rant]

Lol, I am recovered but I don’t particularly like my body so I don’t look in the mirror if I don’t have to.

It is just a vanity thing; I looked better slightly thinner, have gained 1 - 3 lbs lately through eating out of boredom, so I am not going to go looking in the mirror analyzing my body if I simply do not like it.

It is not a big deal to me, I am the happiest I have ever been, I just do not like my body. It does not upset me, it is just my physical preference; I looked better thinner and I do not like my body as much now, so I don’t go analyzing it.

I have many good qualities and I do not feel the need to have to find them in my appearance. I am not attractive, and looking in the mirror and trying to pick good things about the way I look would be a waste of my time; I don’t hate my body or my face, I am simply not attractive so I do not want to waste time looking at myself. It is what it is.

At times I can have clear/nice skin and when any one comments on it I will take a look in a mirror and feel good about it. If there is a reason to check my face out I will, but if there is not then spending time looking at it in a mirror trying to find good parts is just…. Pointless to me personally. It is great if it helps other people though!

the point is that often anorexia recoverers relapse because they have an underlying distorted body image and it's about coming to terms with their body, regardless of whether or not it is "attractive" "thin" "perfect" or what have you. if they can accept their body as it is changing and accept the final product than relapse is less likely. it is not about learning to love every part of you, but accept it and see it as it is instead of retaining the distorted image. 

Oh I get it now. I do accept my body - I just don’t like how it looks lol.

I am happy enough that my two legs both work, and I am also grateful that I do not have any burns or disfiguring condition on my face and/or body therefore despite not liking my appearance, I am still happy with it

I can see how people who are struggling to accept their new weight could benefit from trying to concentrate on the things they like!