Why do you like to read ED books?

[specialfishy]

You know, I have thought a lot about this question. Now that I am in recovery each time that I go to a bookstore anywhere I have to go to the psychology section and look at books that are eating disordered. I have always done this even when I was very sick with anorexia and bulimia. Everyone that I know says "Why don't you look at something else?" Even though now I want to look at recovery books instead of just ED books for helping me with my disease..I think its very helpful to me to look at them..although others that I am around with would not agree to this. I guess I just wanted to find a book that could "magically cure" me from all of the stuff that I deal with because of ED. I just want to know what other people think about this question and what should I do if this happens again? What would you do if you were faced with this situation?

Specialfishy

[Hart]

(((Specialfishy)))

I don't browse at the bookstore, but I do browse online at some ED books. I buy them (when I am feeling positive) because I want to see if one does say something, giving me a different perspective that will enable me to fight my ED. I also give them to my T afterward, as she discounts my therapy costs and that can help build her library. I think it's natural to be curious as long as one stays away from books that are triggering, or if finds that they are, stops reading them.

[paintbox]

I don't read a whole lot of ED-related books, but I like reading them for the following reasons :

:arrow i can gain insight into my own behaviours and thought processes
:arrow It's reassuring to know that I'm not alone in my struggle
:arrow I can understand EDs better
:arrow I like reading personalized narratives

I'm sure there are other reasons too ...

[SnowButton]

Same here,
I constantly go to the self-help etc. section at Borders or wherever.
I do it because
A. I want to learn more about tyhe disease
B. I'm in recovery, too and I want to see what others insight on the experience was - especially authors who've been hospitilized with their ED and/or were very young. (i started my ED when I was twelve and am now nearly thirteen and a half)
C. I want to become a pyscologist for EDs when I'm older and perhaps found my own little inpatient clinic. kinda corny I know but hey. lol

[elzbeth]

Sometimes my reasons are different:
When I am in a "good spot", I open up more of the recovery-oriented books in hopes that I will be inspired to take more steps to enhance my life with positive action.
When I am in a lonely spot, or am feeling blue, I tend to pick up more of the triggering "memoirs" that I know are not helpful because they urge me to fantasize about a life I used to live. I used to read them in order to get new tips -- even though I know that is not what they are written for -- and to feel validated that my behaviors were not terribly abnormal.

[annebear]

Specialfishy,

I also enjoy reading books about eating disorders. I usually read to know:

:bounce that I am not alone

:bounce that others have also struggled

:bounce how/what steps others have taken to recover

:bounce to remind myself recovery is possible

:bounce to learn more about the medical complications from my ED

:bounce to try a new workbook that others have found helpful or insightful to help guide
me in thinking deeper or in new ways which may be insightful to my recovery

:bounce to inspire me to want recovery

:bounce to read positive affirmations, new ideas or ways to journal (SARK),etc..

I do not read books about eating disorders to :

:zoinks trigger myself

:zoinks to encourage me to not recover

:zoinks learn new techniques to help keep me in my eating disorder

Thank you for asking. Take care.
Hugs,
annebear

[amethyst_eighteen]

I used to be really obsessed with reading ED recovery books. They were taking up all of my time. For me, it just acted as another distraction from my life. I had chosen to recover but i didn't feel ready to face the world just yet so i replaced some of my more unhealthy habits with obsessing over ED books.

Many months down the line now, i am much less obsessed with them. They don't take up my whole evening anymore. I think this is due to me being more focused on living now rather than ED, i am more prepared to face life and the problems.

However, i did learn a lot of useful information from the books and their is no denying that bingeing, purging and restricting are far unhealthier ways to distract myself from life than reading ED books. They have helped me to imagine a life without my ED, and also through reading biographies i have come to identify similar feelings and thoughts, which kind of comforts me because it shows i am not entirely insane and alone!

I think i like to read them because everything seems to perfect in them. I like to fantasise about the idea that i would find an ED book, follow all the advice, never slip up and recover in the set time it guesses it might take you. I like to imagaine i would be perfect at it.

Unfortuanately my recovery has been quite the opposite. Countless slips and turns off whatever particular recovery book i was focusing on at the time. I haven't managed to stick with one particular programme yet, and follow it right through till the end.

However, there is no denying either that even though i didn't follow one strict pathway to recovery, all the information in all the books i have read has contributed to the stage i am at now in some way. Somehow, somewhere along the line, the advice and guidance given has sunk in and had an effect on what actions i take.

ED books for me became an obsession and at times, a life reducer. But they were also very much a life saver in the long run

XxX