051 SelfWork: The Silent Agony of Staying Thin

For many women, being thin is worshipped like no other physical attribute. Not your hair, not your muscles, not your voice. The greatest compliment a woman can hear (at least according to some)? “You look like you’ve lost weight…”.

For girls or women with anorexia, staying thin becomes an addictive compulsion. Every waking minute they’re thinking about what they will eat, or what they won’t eat. Sidestepping concerned friends or family, avoiding questions about their vanishing body — a body that they constantly evaluate and distort its reality. Scheming about how they can stay in ultimate control of their weight, thereby proving their own worth.

In today’s podcast, I’ll share with you the story of a very courageous woman who came forward, wanting to talk about her lifelong battle with anorexia — a battle that, at the age of 61, she’s still fighting. Her truthfulness is her winning at least a part of that battle.

The listener email for this week is about parenting, and coping with regret or shame over mistakes that you either made, or are making, and what to do about it.

You can hear more about mental health and many other topics by listening to my podcast, SelfWork with Dr. Margaret Rutherford. Subscribe to my website and receive one weekly newsletter including my weekly blog post and podcast! If you’d like to join my FaceBook closed group, then click here and answer the membership questions! Welcome!

My new book entitled Perfectly Hidden Depression has arrived and you can order here! Its message is specifically for those with a struggle with strong perfectionism which acts to mask underlying emotional pain. But the many self-help techniques described can be used by everyone who chooses to begin to address emotions long hidden away that are clouding and sabotaging your current life.

And there’s a new way to send me a message! You can record by clicking below and ask your question or make a comment. You’ll have 90 seconds to do so and that time goes quickly. By recording, you’re giving SelfWork (and me) permission to use your voice on the podcast. I’ll look forward to hearing from you!