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Wednesday May 9, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER B3 Teen reached turning point at OTMH ( C o n tin u e d fr o m p a g e B 1 ) "After a certain point, I found being around other anorexic girls w asn't helping me. We were actually labeled `anorexic' and this gave our `cause' more strength. Our own sick little world," explained Amie. "O ur disorder became a competition am ongst us. Who was the sickest? W ho had the strongest willpower? Who could fight off food the longest? We made each other worse." she said. "Death was our victory," continued Amie. "Even now when I see a picture o f an anorexic person, part of me feels like a failure, for not being strong enough to stick it out." At this point Amie realized that she had outgrown the pro gram at the Hospital For Sick Children. She and her family were also finding it difficult to go in and out of Toronto twice a week for counseling. A m ie's paediatrician at Sick Kids, informed her about the Eating Disorders Program at the Oakville site o f Halton Healthcare Services (HHS), which was then in its second year o f operation. Amie transferred to the program at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) in the summer o f 2000 and by Christmas o f that year, she Facts about nervosa Eating D isord er Profile Genetic disposition, family dynamics, stressful events and certain personalities make some people more likely to develop an eating disorder. Individuals with low self-esteem living in families that emphasize high expectations, per fection. eating patterns and physical appear ances have a greater chance o f developing the disease. These individuals focus on their body image as a way to gain control. Paradoxically, individuals often feel that they are gaining control as they manipulate their body size, when in actual fact their lives are spinning out o f control. Fact Sheet Anorexia and Bulimia are both psychiatric disorders that are defined by a specific set of criteria. A norexia Nervosa 15% or more below desirable body weight fear of weight gain altered body image three or more missed menstrual periods Anorexia nervosa is an illness in which people restrict their intake of food to the point where their body weight is less than 85% of what their normal weight should be. It affects about 1% of the population and is life threat ening. The mortality rate is 25%. B ulim ia Nervosa binge eat twice a week for three months feel a lack o f control over binging purging behaviour feel concern over body image Bulimia nervosa involves more than just restricting food. Patients gorge themselves with food, and then purge their digestive sys tems by vomiting or using laxatives. Patients are obsessed with their body image and may use diet pills or obsessively over exercise to restrict their intake of calories and avoid weight gain. Often the two eating disorders can co-exist, with anorexia leading to bulimia. Both condi tions focus on body image and bodyweight to the exclusion of personality or internal charac teristics o f the individual. "An important part o f the treatment is to shift this focus back to the individual's non physical attributes like personality traits and attributes," explains Dr. Jane Gilbert. Eating disorders, like anorexia or bulim ia nervosa, afflict men and women. The male population is still largely under-identified. Eating disorders are not restricted to any age group. Seniors and older adults can suffer from the illness, especially if the disorder is not identified and treated in the early stages. Early detection and intervention o f the illness increases the rate of recovery. Eating disorders are caused by an inter action of biological, psychological and cultur al influences and are often associated with other disorders like depression and obsessive compulsive behavior There is no shame in asking for help at any age if you are suffering from an eating disorder. An Outpatient Eating Disorders Program is available at the OTMH site. Patients must access the program through a physician refer ral. For more information call 905-337-2190. from the HHS Eating get it back, but it is still both reached a turning point. `T h e Disorders Program. I am deal painful and disturbing." said program here works on an ing with the psychological Amie. outpatient basis and it is pain that I was numbing by "I no longer feel that I geared towards young adults. starving myself. I now realize have control and for me that's They work with you one on that the model-type body I very scary. At times, I still one, so you have role models was so desperately who have healthy " After a certain point, I found being around striving for is very attitudes, not unhealthy and skewed ones." said other anorexic girls wasn' t helping me. We totally unrealistic. Amie. were actually labeled \anorexic' and this gave It's w hat's inside "The program our 'cause' more strength. Our own sick lit that counts." isn't authoritarian, As she becomes tle world. Our disorder became a competition so I feel free to more active, Amie express myself. amongst us. Who was the sickest? Who had is reaching out to Once I realized that the strongest willpower? Who could fight o ff both friends and 1 had choices it was food the longest? We made each other worse. " family. She is very em powering." learning to focus Amie now sees a on her strengths physician, a nutrition and on the positive things like think i f only I had worked ist. a psychiatrist and an occu her art, schoolwork and rela harder at it,' but I know it's pational therapist on a regular tionships. just the mindset of the dis basis. This multi-disciplinary "I am finally doing things team can call in any'health ease. 1 have learned to recog on my terms. I am taking nize the voice of the eating professional, which may be of baby steps, but I am celebrat disorder and I can now muster assistance as needed. ing each one. I am determined the strength to reject it, but I "I feel comfortable with to make this work. I want my the program and I feel that I am still constantly having to life back." am developing good solid Fight m yself just to eat." Zita Taksas-Raponi is a relationships with these pro While Amie is not totally Public Relations Associate recovered, she is well on her fessionals. with Halton Healthcare "I had literally lost my per way. sonality and I'm working to Services. "With counseling and help 7liottmsville Half-Off Bec^Bedding M a y 5 th -3 1 s t Tihe 1NV1DIATA TEAM R F /M B K PRESEN TS 1 / THE INVIDIATA TEAM RUNNING ROOM NEW BALANCE OAKVILLE BEAVER OAKVILLE SHIATSU . PURE WATER MONASTERY BAKERY LONCOS FANTASY FRUIT MARKET FRANK'S FOOD BASICS · PERSONAL SERVICE COFFEE SID'S TROPHIES MOTTS GLAXOSMITHKLINE HEALTHCARE1 LEXMARK TO0|AN SPORTS MARKETING LEPAGE'S GLUE DR. 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