21st February 2011 - Day 1

Well Here We are... Eating Disorder Awareness Week has started.

What happened today? Well I woke up early and abused @nickinoxford a bit as he was up at stupid o'clock to go off and do some radio interviews. I went to work (in London and then back to home office) and then finished at just before 4 pm for a psychology appointment.

Just like a top athlete going to physio before a big race.. I go to psych before a big week.. Am feeling very very motivated for the week ahead.

So, major news for the day I would say is the Media Report that b-eat (Twitter: @BeatED Web: http://www.b-eat.co.uk/)

You can find there report from their home site for EDAW11 here:

http://www.b-eat.co.uk/Events/EDAW2011

I think at this time I should state.

I LOVE THIS INITIATIVE

For my very own personal reasons when I have ever done media interviews, I have not ever talked about my weight - be it now, or then - I just do not think it is helpful. Mentioning figures or showing pictures only gives sufferers a target (a dangerous target) to aim for.

In the report there was also two things that really struck me:

• Over 80% of people with an Eating Disorder are overweight.
• Anorexia is the rarest Eating Disorder (10% of cases)

Why is it then that, just like I am guilty of too, does Anorexia get all the press? Are we, by raising awareness of Eating Disorders by talking about our struggles with Anorexia - the more socially understood ED, stopping other people getting through and getting their other stories out? Are we - excuse the pun - starving other Eating Disorders of their vital awareness needs?

There is still place for us to talk and raise awareness of Anorexia, but maybe we need to re-think the way we do it and to do it in a more general way.

While I write this, I am helping a Binge Eater write a blog about her struggles. The way she has described her Binge Eating Disorder is exactly the same as how my Anorexia made me feel, it caused the majority of similar psychological outcomes. (http://bingeed.tumblr.com/aboutlisa)

Maybe if, as b-eat says, we can stop focusing on the headline of weight and death and disaster and start talking about actually the way the ED made us feel (nothing to triggering) Actually talk about the ED not the symptoms. We will go a long way to making people who are lucky enough to no to, understand them more.

Just a thought.

So what else has gone on today?

Well a little bit early as it came through last night. Men Get Eating Disorders Too (Twitter: @MGEDT Web: http://www.mengetedstoo.co.uk/ ) launched a membership scheme a vital part to any national charity to raising funds and also in obtaining steering in their direction.

@ilonacatherine kicked off her EDAW blogging with a heartfelt and emotional blog ( http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/02/20/my-names-ilona-and-im-an-anorexic/)

#learningtolaugh is starting to gain some momentum with 22 likes on our facebook page and quite a few comments and sharing of information. If you haven't found us yet, we are here: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Learning-to-Laugh/203227313024056

What a 24 hours it has been. only 96hours left!!

Keep up the good work.