just out of interest

[roxie_09]

how many of you would class eating disorders as a mental illness? or think those that suffer with it bring it on themselves? xx

[roxie_09]

lol, just re-read my post haha i see what you mean, sorry, i'll try and re-word it, some people are obese because they use food as a coping strategy, therefore should be treated for the underlying issue before the eating. other people do just eat crappy foods. i hope that makes a bit more sense x

[joeluke]

Then that's crazy, masking one problem but creating another

[wolf63]

I think it would depend upon what you would consider to be a mental illness.

I am 20 stone and can't work for health reasons. People sometimes assume that my weight is the reason that I don't work - but it isn't. Obese people are generally treated with scorn and loathing.

I am fat for many reasons - my nature, my 24 career as a desk-bound civil servant, insulin related problems, obsessive personality and mental illness.

We are all the sum total of many things - there is never 'one' reason that a person becomes an alcoholic, drug addict or chocoholic.

roxie - mental health nursing would be a very trying area to work in. I am bipolar and have generally found the medical staff to be very helpful and respectful - not talking down to me - and mental health issues are beginning to be accepted as just another illness. I openly talk about my illness - explaining what goes on in my head would be impossible - and have found that this helps others to open up too.

I can also see the funny side of almost any situation and this also helps.

Susan

[4getmenot]

it is a mental illness, its an obssesive disorder

[roxie_09]

yes it is joe!. but i guess the benefits have to be measured against to cons. x

[roxie_09]

Thanks wolf53, I have worked as a nursing assistant throughout my training so far, and yes while it is trying it is very rewarding at the end of it. Seeing people get well etc. I think there is a lot of intolerance (if thats the right word to use) towards people who are obese etc without understanding the reasoning behind it, as wolf53 has said there are so many factors that make up a person that to narrow down to one thing is difficult xx

[wolf63]

roxie - you've just upset a fat lady. wolf63 - born in 1963 - you called me wolf53 - much older. You have scarred me for life! ;-)

[roxie_09]

aww im sorry :( look at it in a better way ha you could have been 63 but i made you 53?? lmao am i just digging myself deeper into the hole? ha sorry though! :D xx

[roxie_09]

hah oh dear, ive scarred you even more ha my maths isnt that great lmao, i shall shut up now ;) xx

[Eve]

As someone who suffered with one for a long time and know others who have it is difficult to compartmentalise as I believe there are many different factors and often differing associated problems and behaviours such as self harming, OCD and depression. All hallmarks of mental illness.

For me a lot of it was control, nothing to do with being slim and looking good - eating disorders are certainly not attractive. I can trace back hiding food and certain other behaviours as far back as infants and junior school. Others picked up on it a long time before I did and it was a big shock to be told I was being referred to an eating disorder specialist when I was about 16.

It's a very destructive mentality, for me almost like a phobia of having anything in my system at all. It takes over and controls you and it's not easy to get that control back (or to want to). I still don't understand some of the things I thought and things I did in the bad times of it - I have more of an understanding of it now but find it difficult to reconcile a lot of things with myself when thinking rationally as it was anything but rational.

I also can't say that issues relating to my weight and such haven't contributed or triggered certain espisodes and I have to be very careful around anything connected to that as it can get out of control very quickly. I assume because it mimics some eating disorder behaviour and triggers the mindset.

I had a clinical diagnosis and don't understand it properly and I know sufferers who are affected by different triggers and it manifests in different ways. Overall from what I've experienced and seen others go through including a friend who nearly died through hers, it's way too complex and destructive to be anything but a mental illness.

[vodkancoke]

I suffered from bulimia for 15 years. My doctor sent me to The Priory when I was 18 where I did cognitive therapy with my eating disorder specialist. The Priory class bulimia and anorexia as mental disorders.

[roxie_09]

Thank you Jenna and Vodkancoke, i can't imagine what it would feel like being in that situation and I really wouldn't wish it on anyone, I hope everything stays well for you both :) xx

[ChocolatChip]

Yes, anorexia and bulimia are classed as mental illness or behavioural disorders, in some cases it can be assumed to be part of an obsessive complusive disorder, depending on the symptoms and behaviour.
As someone said before, anorexia is often more related towards the ability to control the body or take some kind of control in their life where it may not be possible in other areas, compared with a true wish to lose weight.
It really depends on what school of psychology you're from depending on why people develop eating disorders (Bulimia, Anorexia and EDNOS) whether it is related to their biological genetics. They are predispositioned to become anorexic, however this school of thought suggests that you do need some kind of trigger to actually develop the illness.
I don't believe all the bull about the media and a relationship to eating disorders and that of 'pro-ana' websites, not as a trigger anyway. I can see that it does not help the people already falling into the trap of eating disorders.
From experience (I suffered from anorexia as a teenager) I believe that it is a real mental illness, and once it takes over. It is very hard to break the cycle, you become very paranoid and think that everyone wants you to put on weight, which only exsabates the situation. Almost like split personality disorder; there is two sides of you.
By the way, joeluke doesn't believe in mental illness. Make what you will of that.

[ChocolatChip]

ahhh I realise I've basically said the same thing as Jenna, sorry! :)

[whiskeysheri]

100% mental illness.

[roxie_09]

I really do feel for people that have had to suffer such awful illnesses, I've been lucky and never gone through it, but working with people and seeing what it does to them and their families is heart breaking, and I really do thanks those that are willing to talk about their experiences :) xx

[ChocolatChip]

What is your opinion on eating disorders roxie?
It is a very sad situation, and we are some of the lucky few who got help and managed to 'escape' the illness, although I wouldn't class myself as 'free'.
And joeluke and the conversation about benefits, I starved myself everyday till I was bed bound, I had to be carried up and downstairs I was so weak and was completely unable to work for many months. The Government told me I was entitled to nothing, so much for doing it for the benefits huh?

[roxie_09]

i believe that it is a mix of many things, a very complex illness. As I am doing mental health am still learning the extent of the complexities especially as every persons illness is different. I try to keep an open mind and talk to people that have suffered in order to widen my understanding, so in the future when I qualify I am able to help. As I am in Wales there are no NHS eating disorder specialist units, which is awful, so I believe that generic wards should be better trained for them. xx

[ChocolatChip]

Oh gosh, that is terrible! Why on earth would they not have specialist wards!? Such illnesses need wards and fully trained people on these wards. I would imagine it is terrifying for a young individual with an eating disorder, yet otherwise mentally stable to be admitted onto a Psych ward.

I am a psychology student at university, so I think we have an interest in common :)

[roxie_09]

yes it is terrible, having worked with a select few people suffering with anorexia, they need a lot of time and attention (not in an attention seeking way) but in general, like any ill person, however, with the wards not catered for their needs and with mentally ill people often taking up time, they are not receiving the time and care that they need, especially with the lack of staff as well. The people that really do need the specialist care get sent to places in england, which i cant imagine helps when trying to overcome such an illness. And yes we do :D xx