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I survived pretty well, actually. Ever since recovery, holidays freak me out a lot less. Of course, there was some anxiety after I put on a pound or two, but I survived. And I have several resolutions. Get good grades, lose a little weight, publish some books...etc.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Psycho-social effects on young girls from the influence of “pro-ana” sites
Psycho-social effects on young girls from the influence of “pro-ana” sites
In the world today, anorexia is not only a disease. “Pro Ana” websites make it into a cult-like experience, with “Ana” a shortened name for Anorexia, as the deity. While there has been some effort to close down these websites, more just keep popping up. This report is to discover what psychological and social influences these websites have.
Pro Ana communities pop up in many forms: Blogs, individual websites, and social networking communities. Websites such as Facebook have hundreds of pro Ana girls, who all friend each other and are found by their names, typically including the words “pro Ana”, “thin”, or “perfection”. Free websites, which are recognized by the host name in the address, (www.pro-ana.website-host.com) are typically shut down if there are enough complaints from community members. However, Individual websites, where the owner pays for the domain name, are free to stay up.
Most Pro-Ana girls will argue that these communities offer them support, so they don’t feel so alone. These communities, to them are a safe haven where no one is “Attacking or trying to change” them. In a recent article, one woman states “Sometimes the support can be harmful, but more often than not, it can also be beneficial. This particular site, like many I’ve seen, also includes a forum for those seeking recovery. And in disorder-specific forums, members often post on the negative aspects and dangers of the disease, with others posting words of encouragement or understanding.”[1]
However, such websites also offer a platform for “wannarexics,” or, people who want an eating disorder but don’t have one naturally. Wannarexics are very widely frowned upon and receive many comments of disdain from those with “real” eating disorders.
But what are the psychological effects that these websites have? The cult-like experience, along with personifying “Ana” not only gives the disordered person a reason to believe they are not sick, but excuses them from responsibility for disordered thoughts. By turning the disordered thoughts into “messages from Ana”, the affected young woman can argue that nothing is wrong, that this is a lifestyle, that her ‘religion’ is her business. There are three common things found on pro ana sites: a letter from Ana, Ana’s creed, and the ‘thin commandments’.
The letter from Ana introduces Ana as a friend who believes in tough love. She only wants for you to be perfect, and she will do anything for you to make that happen. She is your life coach. The letter, which I will print out and have available should you ask, emphasizes the point of secrecy, and of straying away from your friends and family. It warns that nothing will ever be good enough, and you will never be thin enough. Ana’s parting words are “You are mine and mine alone. Without me, you are nothing. So do not fight back. When others comment, ignore them. Take it into stride, forget about them, and forget about everyone that tries to take me away. I am your greatest asset, and I intend to keep it that way.”
Ana’s creed is a seemingly less intense piece of writing. It is the sum of promises that you should keep as a faithful follower of the Great Goddess Ana. The text includes statements such as “I believe in perfection and strive to attain it. I believe in salvation through trying just a bit harder than I did yesterday. I believe in calorie counters as the inspired word of god, and memorize them accordingly. I believe in bathroom scales as an indicator of my daily successes and failures.” While this does give some insight as to what an eating disordered person thinks like, it gives ammo for those infamous wannarexics who don’t know what they’re getting into.
Finally, the thin commandments include “If you aren’t thin you aren’t attractive” and “Being thin is more important than being healthy.” These phrases have a way of playing themselves on repeat in the disordered mind, pushing the victim further past the point of no return.
We explored the good and bad sides of pro-Ana websites, and found several interesting things. Socially, Pro Ana sites provide a sanctuary of support for those who have pulled away from their real life friends and family, while at the same time excusing the behavior and encouraging it. Psychologically, however, Pro-Ana sites understate the horrific aspects of the disease, and create a glamorous religion, or cult, surrounding starvation.
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