Comments on: The Happiness of Beating Bulimia For Good

By: Caroline Miller

Caroline Miller — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:20:54 +0000

That’s definitely a piece of what drives some people to have eating disorders, but it’s a very complicated stew of family history, genetics, depression, situational issues like athletics, and much more. I’m definitely appreciative of my recovery, given the complexity of the issue, that is now hurting many, many age groups, and has reached its highest level in colleges ever.

Thanks for your post.

By: Jeff dustin

Jeff dustin — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:02:05 +0000

Caroline,
You know, I was skimming your article on bulimia and I would say, although I am not one struggling with that disorder, I can see how tough hating your body could be.

I think a big piece of bulimic motivation comes from a desire for sexual approval. Women and men dealing with body dismorphic problems want to feel sexually appealling to others. Evolution probably plays a decisive role in maintaining these kinds of disorders and certainly the weight-loss industry has a hand manipulating people to hate their appearance.

Remember Marilyn Monroe? Today on the red carpet she would be called a “fat ass”. She’s under the moo-moo term Big, Bold & Beautiful instead of just beautiful. In other words, she would be in a minority of beauty, not the mainstream beautiful.

Why don’t we just foot-bind women, make them bust out their teeth and insert ceramic plates and otherwise torture them for the sake of looking sexy? My hope is that the world can get beyond that level of superficiality. I believe that bulimia will diminish drastically when we do.

By: Caroline Miller

Caroline Miller — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:24:35 +0000

Yes, but there’s always hope. WHen you have hope, a few role models, and a sincere desire to keep moving forward, anything is possible. I truly wish you well!

Caroline

By: Tessa

Tessa — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:21:17 +0000

I read your article and was momentarily inspired. I have had so many ups and downs. So many days planned that have not worked out. I feel like I have tried everything to no avail. Did you feel like this?

By: Caroline Miller

Caroline Miller — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:36:45 +0000

Thank you! I believe that the next wave in the eating disorder world HAS TO BE role models who have a lot of recovery — not just a little. Now that I know more about role models and self-efficacy and hope theory, I can see how incredibly critical it is to have lots of people like me out there, talking honestly, about the fact that people do go on to have healthy, happy, addiction-free lives, and that an eating disorder is not a lifetime sentence of waiting for the Sword of Damocles to fall.

Best,
Caroline

By: Senia

Senia — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 03:14:15 +0000

Caroline,
You have no idea how many people I have referred to this article - men and women in their 20’s through 40’s, and moms of teen girls. Thank you!
Senia

By: The Happiness of Beating Bulimia For Good by depression.vahalo.com

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:18:47 +0000

[…] Posted by as Uncategorized Research shows that striving for “look at me” goals is correlated with depression, and many eating disorders are born from this value. I began to volunteer within the support group so that I felt more connected to others. … article continues at Caroline Miller brought to you by Depression and Clinical Trials […]

By: Lola Rokni

Lola Rokni — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 03:09:00 +0000

Inspiring!
Thanks!
Lola.

By: University Update - Florida State University - The Happiness of Beating Bulimia For Good

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:55:04 +0000

[…] Wake Forest University Link to Article florida state university The Happiness of Beating Bulimia For Good » Posted at Positive Psychology News Daily on Monday, July 09, 2007 By Caroline Miller [ Caroline Miller] Caroline Adams Miller, MAPP, ACC is a performance coach, author and motivational speaker who specializes in helping people design and achieve their life goals. Caroline’s bio. Caroline writes on the 9th of each month, and her past articles are here View Entire Article » […]

By: Senia

Senia — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 21:08:37 +0000

Caroline,

I love how you adapt so many and such varied positive psychology principles. I especially am in awe of the facts that you’ve eliminated gossipy people from your life (that is sometimes difficult to do when you’ve made the cahnce and people around you haven’t yet) and that you haven’t weighed yourself in 20 years!

You have so many tips and suggestions:
* I love your tips about self-regulation and small goals.
* I didn’t know that look-at-me goals were correlated with depression.
* I’m a big fan of your flow-in-hobbies goal and of your energetic, honest, healthy, and kind goals.

MUCH KUDOS! And a fascinating and compelling use of positive psychology.

I’m so glad you’re taking a stand against the this-can’t-be-overcome kind of media towards bullemia!

My best,
S.