Topic : 03/15 Starving for Perfection

to me it seemed like jennifer, the younger of the two, was letting the disorder take its course, it was like she wanted control so much over everything around her that her body was one thing she absolutely had to have her own way..if nothing else.

with darlene, i was so surprised to see how far she pushes herself, and its all just too achieve the "perfect" weight. she is so afraid of failing that she doesnt even want to try to get healthy again. she was told she couldnt do things, or she was getting fat, and she felt like a failure growing up, and that is probably the worst feeling out there, to think you've let your parents down, yet again. but now, there is just darlene and her sister, and is she goes and tries to get help with her eating disorder, and is successful, then she will knows she really can do anything, but if she fails, she will know that she atleast tried. she will know she gave it her all, and there is nothing more that can be done.

i just want to say good luck to darlene, and as long as you try, you are not failing

Most insurance companies have a certain mental health benefit which renews each year.

 

If a disease is classified as mental health than it would come under mental health benefits but any medical problems arisinfg from the mental illness should and will be covered by medical benefits.  If one has a claim which has been denied than he or she should look at the bill and see what the diagnosis was on it.  Obviously if the physician is a psychiatrist than it will most likely be mental illness,  If the claim was submitted with a mental healthdianosis but was in fact for a mental problem than ask the health care provider to resubmit a corrected bill and if denied again, call the insurance and demand the new corrected bill is carefully revieded as it is a corrected bill not duplicate bill which computers tend to deny.  If need be send in a complaint, asked for medical review and/or call the insurance comissioner if it is an insurance plan, if you don't know send it anyways as you have nothing to lose.

 

However, even if a person has anorexia but is admitted to a hospitaly  for heart problems even though a direct link is the anorexia, that hospitalization unless in a psy hospital

should be covered under medical as the patient should be in a general hospital.

 

There are states that consider mental illness as any other illness and insurances are not allowed to have different benefits. 

 

There are also health plans which are not insurance but health plans an employer creates for his or her employees.  Often these give more benefits than insurance but not always.  A company sponsored health plan does not falls under the guidelines of the state's insurance commissioners and the commissioner can do nothing about complainst.

 

One things employees should keep in mind when selecting their insurance for the following year,  if you have any illness or medical condition which has what is called a lifetime maximum (often invitro fertilization comes under this) and you have reached or nearly reached it than if your employer offers another plan, switch to it for the benefits previously paid by the old plan have no bearrng on the new one.  You can switch back and forth between companies as each new enrollment is treated as a new plan.  There is no preexisting as long as one has had continual health coverage. 

 

Help yourself by making your health plan work for you.  It's your money and your benefits.

Didn't Darlene say she was on disability?  If she had stated she was on disability due to her anorexia disease, that would be believable - but didn't she claim she was on disability because of a knee injury?

 

Tell me - who can be on disability for a knee problem and walk 20 miles a day, and do 500 crunches and 1200 leg lifts, as well?  Anyone who can do that should be able to go to work! 

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a psychological disease characterized with an obsession of perceived flaws in the sufferer's appearance. In reality these flaws are minimal or nonexistent, yet to the sufferer they are very real and can create extreme anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and compulsive behaviors.  Some of my favorite reads that provide a great introduction and insight into the subject are: 

 

 

The Broken Mirror:  Understanding and Treating Body Dysmorphic Disorder by Katharine Phillips

 

Eating Disorders by Pamela Keel

 

A Bright Red Scream:  Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain by Marilee Strong

 

 

Because the perceived physical defect in BDD isn't apparent to others, BDD can be a difficult disease to understand, accept, seek help and treat.  The late Princess Diana, also suffered from the eating disorders that characterize between 35 to 80 percent of all cutters. 

 

Hope it helps!

 

I wonder how these ladies are doing now.

I don't buy the idea that you can just start eating and get well. Years ago before we knew the term "anorexia" I had a friend who had a negative body image. She was stick thin and always talked about being fat. We just couldn't figure out what was going on. I never saw her eat anything. Later on she became bulimic. Her mother told me that they would go out to eat and my friend would eat a ton of stuff and then excuse herself and go to the bathroom and throw up. Then she would return to the table eat some more. We didn't know it had a name back then. Later on she became an alchoholic and died.

My friend I spoke of in my previous post DID get help for her eating disorders. She spent time off and on in a local mental facility. As I said later in life she became an alchoholic. I don't know if she still had eating disorders because we kind of lost touch through the years. Her mother told me about the alchoholism.

I saw this program when it first aired.  I was shocked then and am fearful now.  I can only hope that the woman featured in this program, being rail thin and never wanting to eat, has received some type of help.  Seeing her on screen simply made me think that she was on the verge of death.  I cannot recall exactly what help she agreed to receive and will be watching the program when it airs again this week.

 

I have the opposite problem.  After losing almost 100 pounds (only a portion of what I needed to lose) it was determined that I had a tumor which required immediate surgery.  Since the surgery (a hysterectomy) my body has developed an Incisional Hernia which has brought me to regain the 100 lbs, plus some.  I have no intention of attempting to go it alone to lose this weight.

 

I truly hope that those who cannot accept their figure as it is, will use a healthy means to lose/gain the weight needed and not just go at it on their own.  Maintaining a healthy weight is not easy for anyone who has lived for years being either overweight or underweight.  Ask any of us, we know!

What's up with all the repeats, have the number of people wanting to be guests dwindled to nothing ?

If these were updates, that would be great, I hope these two women got the help they needed to get well.

I still don't understand how at 60lbs and no eating she would have the energy to walk 20 miles a day, much less do 500 crunches and 1200 leg lifts but then again this is what consumed (?) her life, and being on disability, hmmm, if you can exercise like that well you can work.

That 22 year old, I really hope her parents decided to take control, and decide THEMSELVES what they will and won't buy or bring into the house, but at her age she has so much life ahead of her, her poor parents having to watch her kill herself, but only she can control her recovery and only if she chose (?) to.

But at the risk of sounding mean here, does anyone else wonder whay these eating disorders aren't a problem for the third world ?  Is it maybe because they might APPRECIATE having one meal, much less having food always availiable to them ?

I have a girlfriend I've known since the fifth grade.  She has a daughter that is around 40 years old.  Since she has been in her teens she has been anorexic, bypolar, and an alcoholic.  She has been on the wagon for over 25 years now as far as the alcohol goes.  However, she is still bypolar and anorexic.  For quite a while she was maintaining a weight of around 100 lbs at 5' 6". She is married, no children, but her husband loves her very much.  Lately, (the last year or so) she has been getting progressively thinner and more gaunt looking.  Her mother holds her breath every time she sees her.  She is currently seeing a doctor at McClain Hospital in MA but no improvement.  We don't know how much longer she will last or who to talk to any more.  My girlfriend and her family are at their wits' end.  I told her she should contact you but I think she is beginning to give up on getting any help at all.  I don't know if there is anything you can do or say to her daughter to make a difference but I figured it was worth a shot.  I hope for my girlfriend's sake there is still some ray of hope left.  I pray you will respond positively and she will be OK eventually.  Thank you for your patience in reading this long disertation but we're desperate!