Support groups (continued)
Yeah, I know! But the support group thing can be seen in two totally different ways. On one hand, it’s terrible that they exist. Anorexia is not something anyone should be helped with. But on the other hand, is it better for these girls that they’re not going through it alone? Wouldn’t it be a lot harder for them emotionally if they had to hide it from everyone, and then not have anyone to turn to?
And these girls are so caught in this mindset that they’re fat, ugly people that they would keep going with the eating disorder even if they didn’t have support.
I mean, I agree with Devika completely that it’s terrifying that girls are being told by other girls that anorexia is okay, but a common theme that I’ve seen on several xangas is something along the lines of, “K, if you’re ana, then I’ve got awesome tips for you. But if you’re not, you probably shouldn’t start,” or something like that. So I guess in their own little messed up way, they’re trying to discourage others? I don’t know.
But ALSO (this is turning out to be really long, I’m sorry), I get the feeling that lots of these girls really want attention. If you’re anorexic, your self-esteem has got to be pretty low already; I mean, the disease makes you think you’re fat even if you look like a skeleton. The communities let them think, “Oh, other people are going through this too, and they support me. I have people I can turn to for help.”
The only problem is that they’re being supported for the wrong reasons.
— Michelle Gao