What is "normal" dieting?

Until recently, I believe I was in the dark about what constitutes normal dieting. Because I have had much experience with unhealthy diets, I was surprised when I joined Pinterest and discovered what individuals considered "normal" dieting. Many of my peers have special boards dedicated to weight loss and health, and to my surprise, many of the things they repinned seemed oddly familiar because I have seen them on pro-anorexia type sites, as well as engaged in many of the behaviors myself. This realization saddened me, but helped me better understand the reality of society and eating disorder recovery. Recovery from any addiction is extremely difficult, but recovery in a society that praises sickness is so much more difficult. I believe that recovery does not just pertain to people with eating disorders, but rather to all of society. So many people have disordered thoughts about food and their bodies that treating only those diagnosed would be like putting a bandaid on a bullet wound. I believe that "treatment" starts at home with parents. They have more influence usually than they realize, and often their influence stems from what they do, not what they say. I challenge everyone to start questioning these unhealthy ideas about food and body image!

Thoughts on Addiction

Ever since I can remember, I have always been addicted to something. Whether it was music, food, exercise, studying, watching tv or whatever else, I have always felt I needed something. This need has caused me to go to great lengths and do many things that probably seem outlandish or crazy. Unfortunately, the need is driven by a feeling of emptiness which is all encompassing at times. This emptiness has devoured me time and time again, until I become obsessed with finding my next "fix". Part of the obsession is the delusion that once I find the perfect fix, my thoughts will stop racing, the world will seem right again, and the hole inside me will fill up so I can feel complete. This quiet desperation has driven me to lie, cheat, steal and seclude myself from others.

I have often heard others discussing how sad the life of an addict must be. They pity them because they are controlled by an addiction greater then their own will. What many of them fail to understand is that addiction provides a level of comfort that the real world often cannot. Addiction is predictable and explainable. Most do not realize that real life can be so much more terrifying than living in addiction. This is why addicts must work hard to step out of their comfort zones and into the real world. This is something I am currently working on and often struggle with.