Anorexia is a condition that causes one to have a deformed image of themselves and forces themselves to starve even if their body weight is already too low. Extreme weight loss and believing that one is fat despite excessive thinness are main features of anorexia. Those who suffer from this eating disorder normally don't eat in front of people, they exercise excessively or compulsively, hate every part of their body and cannot feel good about themselves unless they are thin, etc. People strive for perfection, and today perfection cannot be reached without suffering. Adolescents spend many of their teenage years trying to fit in, trying to attain this perfect look; this "perfect look" is putting women in danger. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Is starving yourself to death really worth being satisfied with your body on the outside?
On the other hand, anorexia is not just caused by pop culture and their unfair "normal," it is also caused by low self-esteem. Low self-esteem is normally caused by early relationships within one's family. These early relationships teach someone how much they mean to people and their self worth. Someone who suffers from anorexia has difficulty accepting themselves for who they are; this leads to depending on the acceptance of others. This low self-esteem leads to never thinking you're good enough and that you will never be able live up to anyone' or society's expectations. These people then have to resort to the expectations of society to be thin. After entering this repeating cycle it is a cruel mind game; in the mind of one who suffers from anorexia there is never "thin enough" and in reality becoming extremely thing will not boost their low levels of self-esteem.
Anorexia creates an impossible life for those who suffer from this depressing mental disorder. Every second of every day is focused on the little flaws that prevent them from reaching the unattainable image they desire for their body. These ill people sometimes die while striving for perfection. Everyone has their flaws, but flaws are what make people beautifully unique. Never create a "normal" image for people in our society because you never know the measures people can take to reach this image.
Anorexia creates an impossible life for those who suffer from this depressing mental disorder. Every second of every day is focused on the little flaws that prevent them from reaching the unattainable image they desire for their body. These ill people sometimes die while striving for perfection. Everyone has their flaws, but flaws are what make people beautifully unique. Never create a "normal" image for people in our society because you never know the measures people can take to reach this image.
Thank you Sara for addressing this very serious issue - one especially relevant for your age group. Regretfully, I have learned a lot about anorexia during my time teaching. I would add, based on research papers that I've read, that eating disorders can also develop in girls and boys who feel like they lack control in their lives - usually in their family lives. Honestly, the majority of eating disorder cases I have seen personally develop in teenagers who come from oppressive households. I think the theory is that teenagers with dominant parents struggle to retain control over their own lives. The only thing that an individual can control is what he/she eats. Therefore, this is what they try to control - often to their own detriment. It is sad.
ReplyDeleteOverall, you write fairly well. However, you do make several errors with pronouns and antecedents. Here are only two examples: "one to have a deformed image of themselves" and "someone how much they". You have a bad habit of using plural pronouns to replace singular antecedents. You really need to be more careful about this.
Other than this though, you write well. I appreciate that you are one of the few students in your class to use semi-colons correctly. Thanks.