Dear Friends,

We want to welcome the new members of EDSA and to please be yourself. If
everyone could tell something about themselves I believe it will help break the
ice and also help this Support Group be more supportive. We have always
wanted to get an Online chat going at least once per week for an hour so if
anyone has any suggestions I/we would really like to hear them.

The following is just some information on eating disorders and the different
types. You do not have to look emaciated to have an eating disorder you can
be normal weight and that is how Bulimia is missed. Here are the following
types of eating disorders and some basic explanations. There is always a
root cause/reason as to why you are someone you know is struggling with
eating disorder (ED or e/d) and the most common is childhood sexual abuse or
sexual trauma. As I always say to people, "No one ever wakes up one day and
says
to themselves, "Gee, I think it would be cool to have an eating disorder."
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please let me and/or Lynda
know.

1) Anorexia - Self explanatory

2) Bulimia - Self explanatory

3) Bulimirexic - I will try to explain this down where EN-DOS is listed.

4) Compulsive Eating - Self explanatory

5) Binge Eating - Self explanatory

6) Exercise Addiction/Compulsive Exercising - Self explanatory

(Just because I state that it is "self explanatory" does not necessarily
mean that everyone understands so please let me know anything I try to educate.
I ask for your understanding and forgiveness that I am assuming that
something might be self explanatory if something is not. Since I want everyone
to
be honest with each other and I/we wish to be honest with you I do best to
explain/educate using my voice (via telephone) than typing. I am a very vocal
person.)

7) Pica.- Chewing. licking, and/or eating non-food items or foods containing
no nutrition. For example, chalk, sand, pant chips, rust, cigarette ashes,
glue, coffee grounds, etc. Pica can be associated with, developmental delays,
mental deficiencies or family history of this disorder. It can also be
found in low income families with little to no love or support. Pica is
common
with pregnant women and when the child is born symptoms usually disappear.
Complications of pica can include lead poisoning, malnutrition, abdominal
problems, intestinal obstruction, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, mercury poisoning,
phosphorus intoxication, and dental injury.

8) Prader-Willi Syndrome - Prader-Willi Syndrome is a congenital conditional
(at birth) and is believed to be caused be an abnormality in genes
(statistically it does not seem to run in families). Children who have this
Syndrome
may have severe learning difficulities, i.e., mental and/or behavioral
difficulties. Those who have this Syndrome have an insatiable appetite. This
continuous appetite is caused by a defect in the hypothalamus -- a part of the
brain that regulates hunger -- that causes the person to never actually feel
full. Those of have this Syndrome can have a high threshold for pain, rage,
can pick at skin, etc. Parder-Willi Syndrome is a rare disease but it is very
important as in all diseases to get a proper diagnoses so you and your family
can better understand and learn ways to cope. It is still considered the
most misunderstood condition.


9) Night Eating Syndrome
Here's the Merck Manual definition and conclusion about treatment. (1982
ed.) p.917:
"Night Eating Syndrome consists of morning anorexia, evening hyperphagia
(abnormally increased appetite for consumption of food frequently associated
with injury to the hypothalamus) and insomnia. Attempts at weight reduction in
these 2 conditions, (referring to bulimia as well), are usually unsuccessful
and may cause the patient unnecessary distress."
The authors call both syndromes, "deviant eating patterns apparently based
on stress and emotional disturbance..."
Episodes of Anorexia and Insomnia can begin at an early age, usually in
children who are overweight, and are sometimes accompanied by joint paint. It
is
interesting to note what the parent of a now 24 year old daughter had to
say...
"I've always had the feeling that much of the stress and emotional
disturbances my daughter has suffered have been the result of social rejection
and
discrimination rather than the cause of her eating disorder ... more so as she
got older. She started out as an intelligent, outgoing, cheerful human being.
There is a line in our culture where a marginally acceptable "chubby" child
becomes a miserable adolescent and then a depressed adult."
People with Night-eating syndrome are characterized as people that put off
eating until late in the day, who binge on food in the evenings and who
experience problems with falling asleep and/or staying asleep.
"People who exhibit NES don't eat a lot at one sitting, often skip
breakfast, and don't start eating until noon," says psychiatrist Albert
Stunkard, an
obesity researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. "They will over eat the
rest of the day, and eat frequently. They also have difficulty falling asleep
or staying asleep."
Sleep Eating Disorder - People with this disorder tend to be overweight. It
is considered to be a sleep disorder. Basically, they will consume large
volume of foods which are high in sugar and in fat. They do not remember what
they have done or are doing. It is similar to sleep walking.
10 ) Body Dysmorphic Disorder - BDD or Body Dysmorphic Disorder is an
obsession or preoccupation on the way that they look. They believe that they
are
ugly when nothing is wrong with them. If they have a slight imperfection, a
wondering eye, freckles, acne, blotchy skin, a large nose, etc., it can be
devastating for them to go through life. Often times attempting suicide.
Those
who struggle with BDD often have low self esteem, and/or fears of rejection
due to their perceived ugliness.
Treatment with this disorder is very difficult because they believe that
they are so ugly that they usually do not go out of their home for fear of what
others are thinking about them. I once saw an episode on Oprah years ago,
and she had a young man who was very good looking and he believed he was ugly
and couldn't even look into a mirror. Through therapy this man was reversing
his negative view of himself.
11) EN-DOS - Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (ED-DOS) can mean a
number of things. If you are Anorexic you may still get your period. They can
still mean that they are at their average healthy weight. This is where the
term Bulimirexic is used.
(I was Bulmirexic.)
Furthermore friends,
Please understand that it is very important to know that doctors do make
mistakes and that every person should be diagnosed on a case by case basis. No
one fits into this nice little box or diagnoses. Often times we may fit in
many of these boxes or diagnoses.
Please know that I/we are always here/hear for you and/your family as they
too are struggling just in a different way. I hope that this was helpful. I
thank everyone for taking the time out of their busy schedules to read it and
I hope that you will share it with others. The only way that eating
disorders (ED's or e/d) are going to be eradicated is through education and
everyone
of us has the power to make a difference.
"Unite we stand, divided we fall!"
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
If you have any questions, comments, and/or concerns, please feel free to
ask. You may use the toll-free telephone number if you want to talk, feel
stressed, feel like giving up, just need to vent, etc.

If you happen to know of other people (females and males, all ages, all
types of ED's) who need a place that are "safe" please tell them about EDSA at
AOL Groups and SATY & EDSA web site. There more people the merrier.

I also wanted to introduce myself to all of the new members You may also
want to look at my AOL Member Profile using this Screen Name: Assertivewoman1
because it tells you a bit more about me. I call it my mini Resume. LOL

If you ever find anything I or we send you or ask you, etc., upsetting all
I/we ask is that you will please let me and/or us know because upsetting
people is not my and/or our intentions. OK?

I thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read this
e-mail. Please do not be a stranger or shy about contacting me and/or us.

If you do call using the toll-free telephone number and you happen to get
the voice mail, please feel free to leave a message, with a return telephone
number, and the best time to return your telephone call. I am very easier to
talk/chat with. I also really do understand what it is like to struggle with
ED's. My mother, Lynda, is also very easier to talk/chat with too. We both
sincerely care. I just find it much easier to communicate via the telephone
vs. the computer, but I know that you and other people have to feel
comfortable. We believe in honestly and confidentially and take both 110%
seriously,
so whatever is said or sent to me/or us will stay just between me/us.


Thank you. Take care. Peace.

With Continued Support Always,

Erika Stewart, Founder, EDSA (Eating Disorders Support for All) at AOL
Groups and Co-administrator, SATY & EDSA web site (Silent All These Years &
Eating
Disorders Support for All web site)



_Assertivewoman1@..._ (mailto:Assertivewoman1@...) (Primary)

_freedomisntfree2003@..._ (mailto:freedomisntfree2003@...)

and

Lynda Lutz, RN, Co-Founder and Nurse Consultant EDSA (Eating Disorders
Support for All at AOL Groups and Co-administrator, SATY & EDSA web site
(Silent
All These Years & Eating Disorders Support for All web site)

_Fenderstratg1968@..._ (mailto:Fenderstratg1968@...) (Primary)

_Fenderstratg1968@..._ (mailto:Fenderstratg1968@...)



1-866-840-3391 -Toll Free
Please feel free to leave a message if you happen to get the voice mail.
One or both of us will respond to your telephone calls just as quickly as we
are able. Do not ever feel like you are bothering me/us.













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