Farwell Blog

Well this is the last blog of the quarter and although I’m relieved that I won’t have to rush before the 5pm deadline blogs are due I’m kind of sad that the class is ending. Coming into the class a few weeks late I missed out on a few topics but the time I was in enrolled in the class was phenomenal. I learned so much from this course about different issues ranging from plastic surgery, to the different types of addiction, to eating disorders. The material we covered correlated very well with each topic we discussed and I really enjoyed the films we watched (I’m more of a visual learner). The Kilborne video was my favorite because of the issues she went over and just because it is an interesting topic in general to discuss. Other things I liked about the course were the open discussions we had in class. This gave me insight into what others were thinking and how they related to a specific issue. Also the Carmen discussion board was great, it gave us a place to be less formal and vent on different topics that we discovered. It was interesting to see some of the things my classmates had found and their reactions.
Although the digital scrap book was A LOT of work it encouraged me to think on my own and to research different topic from a different perspective that we briefly went over in class. The research for the digital scrapbook also taught me so much about things that I absolutely had no idea about (i.e. the fact that the ink in tattoo’s can be poisonous). An issue that I wish we could have talked about more is shopping addiction, however there isn’t much publicized about it because I tried to do some outside research myself for a blog idea. I liked how you tried to prepare the class for the digital scrapbook throughout the whole course, giving us examples in class and scheduling a workshop day to brainstorm for our blogs.
During our last class today you read a piece from a book that I wanted to make a comment about. It talked about if you have an addiction to do it with a partner and at first it sounded really shocking to hear someone advise this but as you continued on I understood the point she was trying to reach and that was that a person that has an addiction is less likely to act out in front of people or when people are present and I find this very true. While you were reading I began to think about the compulsive behaviors I exhibit in my daily life and my weakness is shopping. Whenever I go shopping I never want to go with people I feel comfortable when I’m by myself. That might be due to the fact that I overspend and overbuy and don’t want to be criticized or made aware that I’m doing this. Well just like you said today you cant unlearn something you already know so for me to come to the realization of this today, in order to keep my compulsive buying under control maybe I should shop with people because I know I won’t have the same shopping behaviors as I would if I was by myself -----just a little self reflection.
Our last topic discussed was that of treatment and recovery of people suffering with an addiction. A comment was made in class that there wasn’t many example of successful treatments and I must abject because I feel that many were present throughout the course starting with Koren. There was Afeni who was addicted to drugs and who is clean now, Jill who came in and gave personal testimony, and others who I’ve mentioned in my digital scrapbook that has successfully complete treatment.
Overall I really enjoyed the class and learned a lot of great things I plan to incorporate in my life.

THANKS

After completing my digital scrap book I realized that I hadn’t incorporated Drug addiction, so I decided with my last blog to discuss how drug addiction is being glorified in rap music, reasons why and if it has an effect or not. There is a common perception that drugs and rap music are inextricably linked, but that wasn't always the case. The fact that rap music didn't always have drug references is compelling because it shows that this type of music didn't always depend on that as an art form. In the becoming of rap music artist like Sugar Hill Gang's, and LL Cool J were more concerned with rhyming over a fresh beat about normal everyday things creating a dance element for listeners The direction of the music seemed to change with the music's growing commercial success and illegal drug use became increasingly linked during this time period to wealth, glamour and social standing, marking a significant change from how it was before. On MedicalNet.com there was an article of Rap Music glorifying Drug Use. In this article it explained a study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, who found a ‘six fold increase in drug references in songs over the past two decades’.

Denise Herd, associate dean of students at the School of Public Health and colleagues analyzed 341 lyrics from the most popular rap songs between 1979 and 1997. Over that time they saw that a more positive attitude about drugs had increased and the consequences about drug use decreased. They found that of the 38 most popular rap songs between 1979 and 1984, only four (11 percent) contained drug references. By the late 1980s, that increased to 19 percent and by 1993, to 69 percent. The up and coming rappers of that time were groups like N.W.A (nigga’s with attitude), Snoop Dogg and Tupac. Interesting that Tupac would be one of the rappers included in rapping about drugs, being that he came from a drug addict mother. We briefly studied a piece on Afeni Shakur and the effects her drug addiction had on tupac and her family. Not trying to create excuses for why rap music has decided to glorify drug abuse but for most of these rappers drug addicts and drug abuse was something these rappers experienced everyday as did Tupac. Being that his own mother was a drug addict it really hit close to home for him and when able to express himself creatively he just expressed what he had witnessed in his home and life. Afeni explains how mothers are somewhat the blame for mishappenings in the black culture in Dyson’s article when saying “if the mother is central in black life, she is also made a scapegoat for the social disintegration of black culture. Single black mothers who are poor have been maligned in the media for cruelly misshaping their offspring, with some critic’s claming they are at least partly responsible for absent fathers (p 22-23)”.

Over the years the types of drugs that were being mentioned in songs have changed also. In the 80’s it was crack, in the 90’s it was marijuana and now it’s everything from cough syrup to pills. In one of Tupac’s classic songs ‘Sr8t Ballin’ some of the lyrics read:

I'm up before the sunrise, first to hit the block.Little bad mothafucka with a pocket full of rocks.And I'm totin' these thangs, get my skinny little ass kicked.And niggas laugh, til' tha first mothafucka got blasted.I put the nigga in his casket,Now they coverin' the bastard in plastic.I smoke blunts on a regular buck when it counts. I'm tryin' to make a million dollars outta quarter ounce.

Not only does this promote the usage and selling of drugs but also an element of violence is present. These positive images are hard to fully conclude why rappers rap about these things. Mother blame can play a role (as we see with Afeni), the environment rappers grow up in, if they lack father figures or not, because this is what has been done before them, or simply because it sells. Whatever the reason be we know that these images drawn by rap music can possibly have a negative affect on the black community and society as a whole as well.

Is tattoo addiction a REAL addiction?

Once thought of as a passing trend and a way to mark slaves, body art such as tattoo’s and body piercing has become more popular than ever. A large part of the consumers are repeat consumers raising the question can body art become addicting? Many people who get tattoo’s say no, because the definition of addiction in Kasl article "Defining Addictiion" states that addiction is a process that involves a slipt in the personality where life-affirming side and the addictive part become increasingly separated (p. 103)" and many people don’t want to think of themselves as conforming to this idea. A blogger on Bot Street Journal didn’t believe that tattoo’s was a form a addiction and said “Most people who get tattoos do so simply because they want them; they do not possess the weakness of character that leads addicts in the position of being compelled to do something”. This can be question because what people don’t know is that getting a tattoo releases endorphins, produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. The effect is similar to taking opiates and the "endorphin rush" produces a sense of well-being. Endorphins work as "natural pain killers." Finding this out was shocking however I could understand why people then would be anticipating the next tattoo before even leaving the tattoo parlor.

Although there are some people who look at the word ‘addiction’ and get completely turned off and does not want to be associated with it, there are others who profit and make the word ‘addiction’ into a positive. Researching this topic with the word ‘addiction’ in the search bar many tattoo parlors came up as a result labeling their establishment with that word in their name. Also from reading blogs many said that tattoo addiction is the ‘healthy addiction’. Here we see how this form of addiction can quickly be incorporated and accepted into our culture as normal when in fact any type of addiction can be harmful in a way. People have also thrown the “at least I’m not addicted to drugs or alcohol” card out placing more emphasis on one addiction and leaving the other (body art addiction) out of the discussion of how harmful it can actually be. Body piercing addiction can act in the same way as tattoo addiction. What's even more common is the side effects these addictions share (kind of similar to sexual anorexia and sex addiction).

Myrna L. Armstrong, a professor at Texas Technical University School of Nursing, has been studying the psychology and social patterns behind the tattoo fetish for the last dozen years. College students, teenagers, military or career women were all surveyed and Armstrong found that about 40 percent had two or more tattoos. Why do some of these people thrive off the idea of getting tattoo’s and body piercing, especially considering the pain that is brought with the art as well as the permanent mark on your body? Some might do it out of impulse and others because this is the new 'hip' thing to do. By now we've already established that celebrities send subliminal messages to the average American, and if their bodies are decorated from head to toe with tattoo’s and body art, its obvious to predict that that’s what others would start to do. In this you tube clip you see many celebrities with tattoos that have graced magazine covers inspiring spectators to imitate. I can remember when the Rap artist EVE first came out and had paw prints on her boobs how every girl in my neighborhood went out and got the same thing. I’m not going to lie I wanted it too, for the first couple of days, and till this day I’m so happy I didn’t impulsively act on this because I believe I’d be sorry today.

The impulsiveness around tattoos is also a big concern. Many get tattoos and in a year or so later wish they never had it. This is also seen with celebrities. Angelina Jolie was once with Billie Bob Thornton and got his name tattooed on her, but now that her career has taken off and now she’s a mother and no longer with him I wonder does she regrets ever getting it? Well I think we can answer this question ourselves because I haven’t seen the tattoo on her body since she was dating Thornton, she more than likely had it removed. This process is very expensive and the average Joe normally can’t afford this procedure. This rapidly growing trend is also perpetuated in popular music. The Rap star Fabo of D4l made a song specifically about tattoos and the sexiness surrounding them. The video takes place in a tattoo parlor and displays women showing off their tattoo. The lyrics and melody of the song is very catchy and could persuade one to in fact go get a tattoo, I know when I heard the song I wanted one (I sustained though).

Viewed as the safe addiction, tattoos can indeed have a negative effect on ones health. Good health is very important, that’s why one should be very careful when deciding to get a tattoo. Tattoo inks are made of dyes created from a range of metals, which are mostly toxic. The most common effects of tattoos are hypersensitivity to the red dyes (cinnabar), and photosensitivity to the yellow pigments (cadmium, which is another toxic metal). I haven't found documentation of anyone getting cancer from tattoos, but dark inks can make melanoma, skin cancer, harder to detect. Another well-known infection from tattoos is Hepatitis. Well-known signs of an infection after getting a tattoo are high fever, puss leaking from the wound, and red streaks extending from the tattoo. Overall getting a tattoo can be a big mistake. You could possibly end up with health problems, such as getting a small innocent infection or even attracting HIV.

Being Geek, Means you Drink Drink Drink

Despite laws in every state that make it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase or possess alcohol, young people report that alcohol is easy to obtain and even more accessible once you come to college. Data from several national surveys indicate that about four in five college students drink and that about half of college student drinkers engage in heavy episodic consumption. Recent concerns have, therefore, often focused on the practice of binge drinking, typically defined as consuming five or more drinks in a row for men, and four or more drinks in a row for women. The operant goal of binge drinking is to get drunk. The effects binge drinking can have on college students are wide ranged and can even lead to death. In this Blog I will be talking about the importance of binge drinking has on college campuses and some of the influences, as well as including some current testimonies of student who have been effected by binge drinking.

In the Eric Digest from George Washington Univ. Washington DC. Graduate School of Education and Human Development told the horrific story of how Massachusetts Institute of Technology student Scott Krueger died in 1997 from alcohol poisoning. The freshman’s blood-alcohol level was five times the drunken driving standard in Massachusetts. He had been discovered unconscious in his room by his fraternity brothers at Phi Gamma Delta, after drinking heavily at a fraternity event. Shortly before midnight, the fraternity called Campus Police, who immediately called 911 to alert Boston Police and then went to the fraternity. Krueger was unresponsive when Boston police, firefighters and paramedics arrived a few minutes later, and was taken by ambulance to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and placed on life support. His fraternity brother reported having seen him consume many drinks in a short period of time. Boston police issued citations to the house for liquor and housing code violations. The fraternity was suspended from conducting social activities pending the results of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. However Scott’s family received $6 million to settle a civil suit filed, from the university. The Krueger family used $1.25 million to create new scholarships for MIT students. Although in the end Krueger’s family was rein burst for the tragic incident of their loved one and they tried to use this experience to promote positivity with creating a scholarship fund there are still escalating numbers of incidents similar to these occurring on college campuses every year.

Recent cases at University of Michigan and University of Colorado, both football crazed schools where weekends of big wins are often dictated by the campus Greek system have also shown that binge drinking may result in death. With these studies we see a continuous pattern and that is the Greek affiliation with binge drinking. Contrary to the ideals and foundations of Greek membership, Greek members living in Greek housing is the strongest single predictor of binge drinking on college campuses. From my personal experience rarely do fraternity and sorority members have a social activity when alcohol is not present. Alcohol plays a large part of the Greek socialization process. Greek members also believe that alcohol facilitates the brotherhood/sisterhood bonding process and enhances social activities. The social norms of Greek membership appear to greatly influence the attitudes and expectations of Greek members regarding alcohol use. I agree with the article when saying “institutions should begin to examine the accountability, or lack thereof, that fraternities and sororities have to their members”.

During the course we discussed binge drinking quite a bit and even read the self testimony of Koren in the book Smashed about her binge drinking episodes during college. She also was into Greek life which isn’t surprising after study the influence Geeks have on college drinking. The article also points to the fact that drinking more than likely began in high school saying, for many Greek students, binge drinking began in high school and continued throughout college. Of Greek men who lived in fraternity housing, 60% considered themselves binge drinkers in high school while only 38% of sorority women living in sorority houses participated in binge drinking in high school. However both genders in Greek organizations out-drank their non-Greek counterparts.

Besides the death that can occur from binge drinking there are less server things that are common such as rapes and sexual assault. Suite101.com states Every year, almost 100,000 U.S. students between the ages of 18-24 are victims of a sexual assault or date rape in which alcohol is involved. Sexual violence is an epidemic on college campuses, and the overuse of alcohol makes sexual assault much more likely. This statistic is part of a larger one--the estimated 700,000 students who are assaulted by another student who has been drinking. Other issues can include academic consequences. It is proven and I have observed that alcohol can play a role in decision making and often times after a night of binge drink one is hung over and don’t get up and go to class which can cause issues with student’s grades. One can also become easily addicted to alcohol. I know for most of my friends if they don’t drink before going out they can’t have fun or enjoy themselves so for them they consume large amounts of alcohol to relive the thrill whenever parting, and depending on how much parting is done a week this can become a dependency. Legal issues can also be a factor, especially considering that the legal age to drink is 21, which most college freshman and sophomores aren’t when they began college. The expense can vary as an issue. For most occasions drinking is provided at a party or social event therefore college students usually don’t come out their pocket to buy drinks. However if you become addicted or are the supplier of the alcohol then this can become an issue. And weight gain, the number one reason that has sustained me from drinking at parties or period. Most people don’t think about how this could effect you in the long run, however when one is binge drinking they are consuming so many calories which more than likely aren’t going to be burned off the next morning (due to sleeping in late because of a terrible hangover). There are many more health complications such as cirrhosis of the liver, vital organs began to fail, and also sexual performance can be negatively effected.

In the video “30 Days: Binge Drinking Mom” we watch in class I was kind of surprised to see little or none of these effects occur with Jessica. She bragged about being a binge drinker and how she could still get up and go to class and maintain her grades. Her weight and size of her body seemed to be fine and she didn’t speak much about hangovers. However for her mom who had decided to go on a 30 day binge drinking project to prove a point to her daughter (which in my opinion didn’t work and just had a negative effect on her youngest son) did suffer from the effects of binge drinking. The stay at home mom had began to slack on her house duties and almost all the time had a hangover and vomited. Although the point she was trying to make wasn’t reached the topic of genetics was sparked. A recent study from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism finds that a link exists between binge drinking and an individual's genetics. Individuals inherit either long or short versions of a specific gene, one from each parent. They can have either one short gene and one long gene, or two of the same length. Researchers discovered that the students carrying two copies of the short version of the gene are more likely to binge drink than others. So although there are issues or environment, Greek influence and peer pressure on college students there is this aspect of genetics that can play a role.

Alcohol-education programs for freshmen are becoming more comprehensive, making sure more students understand the dangers of binge drinking. I know here at The Ohio State University there are what we call “alcohol alternative” programs that R.A.’s and other organizations put on during the weekend to help students stay in the dorms and away from drinking. Besides the role of the universities I strongly feel that parents should educate their students on the effects of binge drinking before entering college, and have an open relationship with them to discuss issues if their child does decide to drink.

The Pressure of Being a HOT Mama

Having a child is one of the most beautiful things a women can experience. Along with the baby brings on new experiences, new challenges and also a new body type. It is often depressing, especially to first time moms, when their bodies do not spring back into pre-pregnancy shape, often leaving them with sagging breasts, stretched abdomens, and an overall out of shape body. Motherhood now has a new shape. Many women, although excited about newfound motherhood, are tramatized with insecurity after childbirth due to excessive weight gain in areas which may not have been troublesome before. Women primarily seek two forms of surgery as postpartum "tune-ups", abdominoplasty, commonly referred to as a tummy tuck, and breast enhancement surgery including breast lift and breast augmentation.

We see the issue of the media again coming into play on women and their body image. It's so amazing how celebrity moms drop all their weight within months even weeks. These pressures are so heavily put on the average post-pregnant mom to get back down to their normal size if not smaller. The difference between the celebrity mom and the average mom is that celebrity moms usually don’t undergo plastic surgery, they just hire the best personal trainer and nutritionist there is, while average moms don’t have those resources nor the time to incorporate that type of living into their new lifestyle so they opt for the surgery. However "Good Morning America" medical correspondent Dr. David Katz says there are dangers to new moms if they lose weight too quickly. Katz also had tips for getting back to a healthy weight after giving birth, recommending weight gain during pregnancy between 15 and 30 pounds. A healthy weight loss after giving birth is one pound per week. The best way to lose is a healthy diet, portion control and moderate exercise. These practices as I said earlier would be very difficult for a new mother to find time to do. Also breastfeeding can burn 500 calories a day and this is something that the average mom as well as the celebrity mom can do to lose weight although losing weight too quickly can dry up breast milk, or compromise the nutrients in the breast milk.

The hype centered around mothers loosing their baby weight has inspired Florida plastic surgeon Michael Salzhauer to author the book My Beautiful Mommy, a book aimed at 4-to-7-year-old kids to help them understand plastic surgery. My Beautiful Mommy tells the story of a little girl whose mother gets a tummy tuck and breast implants (this combination is referred to as ’mommy makeover’) along with a nose job for good measure. Before the woman goes into surgery, she explains to her daughter, "You see, as I got older, my body stretched and I couldn't fit into my clothes anymore. Dr. Michael is going to help fix that and make me feel better." It's unclear why the mother also chooses rhinoplasty, but she does tell her daughter that the nose will appear "different, my dear—prettier!". The publication of "My Beautiful Mommy" shows that plastic surgery belongs on that laundry list of issues (drugs, sex, alcohol) for parents to discuss at the dinner table and also reinforce the rules of women and beauty. There are some mothers who aren’t fans of the children’s book and say they’ll never read it to their children.

Although abdominoplasty and breast augmentations are the most common forms of cosmetic surgery after childbirth one of the least talked about areas of cosmetic plastic surgery is reconstruction of the external genitalia know as labial surgery, labioplasty, labial reduction, vaginal tightening, and vaginoplasty. It’s not uncommon for women who have given birth to suffer from slackness in the pelvic floor and vaginal muscles. Some may even develop incontinence, which can be embarrassing and damage self-confidence. Taking the surgical route has not only boosted sexual pleasure, it has prevented further genital discomfort and embarrassment. During delivery, tearing and stretching of the genitalia may occur resulting in an abnormal or unattractive appearance. Sometimes an episiotomy is performed which heals poorly, distorting the vaginal entrance. Although I understand what Dr. Salzhauer is trying to do with the creation of his children’s book I would be totally appalled if he came out with a book to explain labial surgery or anything of that nature. That’s where the line should be drawn. Its already bad enough that we are enforcing these images of cosmetic surgery at a young age but if there was something explaining why mommy would have surgery on her private area (because that has nothing to do with your body image and how you look, but how sexually pleasing you are) that would send all kind of negative messages to a daughter and how she should be sexually.

After reading the posting on Carmen from the class I have to say I’d agree most with Jamie Doster when saying “I really don’t know what to think about this article. It was shocking to me. I do understand the need for parents to express to their child what they are going through when they have surgery. But overall, I think that children should grow up believing that they are beautiful and that beauty comes from inside. I think this book gives the wrong impressions to kids, and can increase the desire for kids either male or female to want to have “perfect bodies”. I think this could increase the want for plastic surgery in children, and could cause many problems in the future”.

Sexual Anorexia

Many people may be more familiar with the type of anorexia that occurs when a person, obsesses over how to avoid food. Over time, this eating disorder can lead to numerous health concerns and even be fatal. This condition has a parallel known as sexual anorexia. Sexual anorexia occurs when a person , most often a woman fails to possess a healthy, sexual desire. This person will most likely be unaware of the hidden drivers that compel their behaviors. These people can be in loving marriages, but have no interest in expressing any type of sexuality. They will often fail to initiate sexual contact. The couple in the sex addiction therapist, Patrick Carnes article “Sex as Deprivation” struggled with sexual anorexia almost causing their marriage to end. I will be using examples from Shannon and Ben’s situation and quotes from Carnes to illustrate just how troubling this disorder is.

Many of the disorders/addictions discussed during the course consisted of someone overindulging in a substance of some sort but with sexual anorexia it is actually refraining from sex and any type of sexual contact. There are different ways this problem can manifest itself. It can be as extreme as complete avoidance from any type of sexual pleasure including masturbation, or as subtle as limiting sexual expression to sexual encounters. Oftentimes, there is an underlying social phobia or extreme shyness. There could have been a devastating rejection or trauma that resulted in subsequent avoidant behavior. There are many reasons why avoidant behaviors exist, but most often regardless of the original cause, there seems to be a resulting fear of intimacy that lies at the heart of the problem. Sometimes the risk of criticism and rejection is too great to bear, so the individual withdraws in self-imposed exile from people. In “Sex as Deprivation” this theory is again perpetuated saying “ Sexual anorexia usually starts with abandonment or betrayal. Sexual abuse would do it. But so would a profound rejection by a love one - or exploitation by a loved one (p.39)”.

The impact of sexual anorexia on marriage can be profound. This condition can force an unhealthy celibacy onto the spouse, or worse, help lead the spouse to pornography, masturbation, or extramarital sexual involvement. These behaviors, in turn, further hinders intimacy in the relationship and can facilitate a destructive cycle that threatens the marriage. Fortunately for Shannon and Ben this was not an issue. However Shannon’s first marriage ended because of her battle with sexual anorexia. After he divorce Shannon fell into a deep depression. She began to have affairs with married men at work and indulged in heavy drinking and bar hopping. Shannon said “Within three months I was out of control. I was stunned at how fast it went. From not being able to stand the thought of sex, I went to being obsessed with having it. (p.51)”. With this we saw how a sexual anorexic could easy conform to a sex addict. Both sexual anorexics and sex addicts feel powerless. They both end up in despair and with great life damage.

With any form of anorexia, control is a key contributor. With anorexia nervosa we seen how a person could use eating to control a part of their life the same type of thing occurs with sexual anorexia. A quote from Carnes says “for anorexics in this mode, the denial of sex is not only about sexual safety. Their internal logic dictates, “if I give in and have sex, nothing else is mine.” part of the terror around sex is that they will be used again. But the deeper terror around sex is that they lose control on the one area in which no one can take control away by force, they cease to be a person (p. 39)”. This way of thinking is very extreme and even questionable. In the quote it said no one can take the control one have’s over their sexual being so what would a sexual anorexic think or how would they feel if they are raped? Would they then feel like they have lost total control of themselves or would it not be considered the same thing because it was taken by force?

Just like any other disorder sexual anorexia can be treated. Treatment will start with counseling to help determine the cause. After determining the cause the patient would need to be willing to open up and give up the sense of placing total control on sex and eliminating self-hatred if present. Molly the women in the story Escape from Intimacy who battled with sexual anorexia in Shaef’s article “Sexual Addiction” was considered a lucky one. “Through her recovery work with her co-dependence she was able to name her addiction and begin a twelve-step program around her “sexual anorexia”(p.18)”. Sexual acting out may be a more serve sexual addiction however sexual anorexia can have some of the same effects on people and cause harm to the persons life.

*The actual article I used for this blog is on carmen under another class, therefore I was unable to link it to this page. However if you need to review this article I can somehow set up arrangements to get it to you*

The Media is the Culprit!!!!!!

The influence of the media on the exposure of eating disorders cannot be refuted. From an early age we as women are bombarded with messages and images that reinforce the idea to be happy and successful we must be thin. Today, you cannot read a magazine or newspaper, turn on the television, listen to the radio, or shop at the mall without being assaulted with the message that fat is bad and thin is good. The most frightening part is that this destructive message is reaching kids. Adolescents often feel fatally flawed if their weight, hips, and breasts don’t match up to those of models, singers and actors. With the fashion industry seemingly pushing for smaller and skinnier models and the press portraying them as something special, there is plenty of blame for an eating disorder. Television shows continue to feature impossibly thin actors in lead roles. Not only is their pressure to be thin but also an issue to be beautiful. More recently, reality shows such as "The Swan" and "Dr. 90210," which feature plastic surgery and major makeovers, have been criticized for promoting unhealthy body image. In "The Swan," young women are separated from family and friends for several weeks to undergo an intensive diet and exercise plan. Hair stylists recommend hair extensions and highlights, and plastic surgeons perform breast augmentation, facelifts, Botox and collagen injections. The end results are showcased in a beauty pageant, where formerly "ugly ducklings" compete against each other for the title of "The Swan."In this you tube video it shows just how the media has an negative effect on women and girls. it was very interesting to see how little girls began to pick up on the ads that led them to wonder down the make-up aisle of stores instead of the toy aisle. Watch here and take a glimpse at how media has such an effect on young women’s lives.

Celebrities are no less susceptible to eating disorders than the rest of the population in fact eating disorders within the celebrity arena is on an increase. One of the tragic and most publicized celebs that suffered from an eating disorder was Karen Carpenter. She went on a water diet to lose weight and, as she put it, to appear more attractive. She continued to diet even after losing 20 lbs, until her death at the age of 32. She died of cardiac arrest due to anorexia and weighed only 80 lbs. A more current celebrity Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice of Spice Girls ) has admitted for the first time that she suffered from an eating disorder. She made the revelation in an extract from her autobiography, Learning to Fly. Beckham has denied that she had anorexia in the past, she has described her illness and said that for a time she was "obsessed" with her appearance. In this you tube video it shows the different celebrities that have an eating disorder and most of the images or pictures in the video have been used have been featured in magazine, have been snapped on the red carpet or has in someway been exposed through the media. After looking at the video there’s no wonder why women feel pressured to be thin. If marketing firms and advertisers see how big of a health concern the ads they promote can have on women why do they continue to pump out ad after ad? Jean Killborne seems to sum it up in her thoughtful essay “Still Killing Us Softly: Advertising and the Obsession with Slimness” saying “The current obsession with weight is enormously profitable for many corporations and for the media in general. The diet industry has tripled in the last 10 years, increasing from a $10 billion industry to a $33 billion a year industry (p.399)”.

No discussion of body image and the media would be complete without referencing Becker’s landmark study comparing rates of eating disorders before and after the arrival of television in Fiji in 1995. Ethnic Fijians have traditionally encouraged healthy appetites and have preferred a more rotund body type, which signified wealth and the ability to care for one’s family. Strong cultural identity is thought to be protective against eating disorders; there was only one case of anorexia nervosa reported on the island prior to 1995. However, in 1998, rates of dieting skyrocketed from 0 to 69%, and young people routinely cited the appearance of the attractive actors on shows like "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Melrose Place" as the inspiration for their weight loss. For the first time, inhabitants of the island began to exhibit disordered eating.
Eating disorders are generally believed to be the result of unresolved psychological and emotional issues. The person who is suffering will normally discover that losing weight either through extreme dieting or binge-eating followed by vomiting and/or the use of laxatives establishes a form of control unavailable to the person suffering in any other area of their life. Once an eating disorder takes root, body image becomes distorted and the individual begins to feel she or he can never be thin enough. We have to keep in mind that eating disorders are not simply about food and weight but are an attempt to use food and weight to deal with emotional problems rather it be self esteem or issues of depression.

Its not just a GIRLIE Problem

Although fewer men than women suffer from eating disorders, a new research indicates that the number of men with anorexia or bulimia is much higher than previously believed. Despite this, men, whose treatment needs are the same as those of women, do not seek help and, therefore, do not get adequate treatment. Eating disorders have been seen largely as an issue affecting women, and because of that, I believe men have been far less likely to identify themselves as affected by it or to actually seek out treatment. However it is estimated that approximately 10% of men suffer from eating disorder. Daniel Johns, is of the men who suffered from an eating disorder. One of the most influential performing artists from Australia Johns, has openly spoke about his battle with anorexia he went through during his teenage years. In fact he wrote and recorded the song “Ana’s Song” with his rock band Silverchair highlighting his battle with anorexia. Interestingly enough a woman was cast to play the role of the victim suffering from the eating disorder in the music video however she weighed more than Johns himself .In June of 2004 johns appeared on ABC TV's ' Enough Rope' with Andrew Denton to discuss his struggle with anorexia and depression. "I have a theory because I was being beaten up a lot by people outside of school, it was almost like if I could make myself sick enough they'd take sympathy on me." Johns said during the interview. This sense of trying to gain control in a specific situation reminds me of a section from the Chrisler article we discussed for class called “Out of Control and Eating Disorders” saying “In other words, anorexia can be seen as a desperate attempt by the powerless to gain some control and influence (p.142)”. Starving yourself or deliberately making yourself sick is indeed a desperate attempt to try to gain control over you life. However these attempts decreased and by 2002, Johns appeared to have underwent treatment and was on the road to recovery from his internal trauma. However, shortly after his recovery Johns was struck down by a severe and rare case of reactive arthritis. His joints became inflamed and locked up, with any movement being painful, so that he could no longer play guitar or do everyday things.

Often times Men who participate in low-weight oriented sports such as jockeys, wrestlers and runners are at an increased risk of developing an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. The pressure to succeed, to be the best, to be competitive and to win at all costs, combined with any non-athletic pressures in their lives such as relationship issues, family problems, or abuse, can help to contribute the onset of their disordered eating. Psychiatrist Arnold Andersen, director of the eating disorders program at the University of Iowa and a widely recognized expert on male eating problems, said he has treated teenagers who developed bulimia or anorexia after failing to make a sports team where weight is paramount, such as wrestling.

On the flip side of eating disorders comes binge eating or compulsive overeating. It is characterized by uncontrollable eating followed by feelings of guilt and shame. It is different from bulimia in that it does not involve any purging. While it inevitably results in weight gain, it is also not to be confused with obesity (but can cause it). Not everyone who is overweight has an eating disorder. In today's society, compulsive overeating is not yet taken seriously enough. Instead of being treated for the serious problem they have, they are instead directed to diet centers and health spas. The comedian Chris Farley reportedly suffered from compulsive overeating. He died December 18, 1997, at age 33. The cause of death was due to a drug overdose. Farley's death seems to be a consequence of his life-long struggle with drug and alcohol abuse, as well as compulsive overeating. Like anorexia and bulimia, compulsive overeating is a serious problem and can result in death. With the proper treatment, which should include therapy, medical and nutritional counseling, it can be overcome.

Work Addiction and the Effects it has on the Family

*Watch Clip before reading*

No other addiction is so willingly adopted, rewarded and praised by society as the addiction to work. It can prove quite a complicated issue, as the individual may have to incorporate looking after their family, and trying to meet all their needs. Workaholism is an addictive pattern like any other addiction. Some people get an adrenaline high from juggling four or five commitments, taking care of others or simply being busy or being the first person in the office in the morning or being the last to leave in the evening. Maybe they think that this is what is expects of them, sadly this is sometimes true. Common symptoms among workaholics may be forgetfulness or inattention, with awareness impaired by stress and fatigue. So what is behind this desire to push ourselves to the very limit, sometimes risking all we have - health, family, friends? The roots are often in our, unfulfilled or unmet needs, the feeling within us is that we have to achieve a certain standard, or amount of work before we can become accepted as a person (especially as women). The belief of a workaholic is that we are of little worth on our own. Taking the responsibility ourselves, not leaving it with others, and finding out what is pushing us gives us the tools to change. Often times people may have feelings of low self esteem, or of inadequacy, believing nothing they ever do or be good enough, the result is that they keep striving trying to do more and better. Work may also provide some with temporary relief from pain from a broken relationship, or from boredom or guilt or many other feelings they may want to avoid. It’s obvious that work addiction may be caused by many factors depending on the person, now in this blog I will show what types of effects this type of addiction can have on the family.

Society puts pressure on people and often measures women by what we do, rather than by who/how we are and what we believe. Our job becomes more important than the actual characteristics of a person. Clearly some occupations are considered in a different class than others. Sadly all this can lead women to believe that the predetermining factor to our sense of self worth is measured by what we do. This most of the time lead women to become detached from who they really are and from their families. A great example of this is shown in the Tyler Perry Film “Why Did I Get Married"?. Diane, a hardworking lawyer and her husband are having marital problems in which most is centered around Diane's heavy work load. Diane’s husband Terry, a well accomplished pediatrician is constantly feuding with his wife about how little time she spends with him and their child. Another issue is the fact that Terry wants more kids and Diane absolutely disagrees with having more children due to the fact that she feels it would put a strain on her career. Diane went so far as to having her tubes tied to secure the possibility of not having kids behind her husbands back. After Terry finds this out their married makes a turn for the worst. The scene that I have selected for this blog opens up with Diane rushing home after being reminded by a friend that it is her husband birthday. She comes home to another women and her husband having cake and her daughter in bed. The couple begins to argue and the scene ends with him announcing that he is moving out.

Just from this short clip from the movie we can see how over working can effect the family. 1) less time is being spent in the home for bonding, 2) space is opened up for outsiders to come in and possibly take the spot of the missing family member (that would be the wife and mother in this example) and 3) it can ultimately end in the family splitting up. Besides the effects work addiction can have on the family workaholics also suffer mentally and physically. Workaholics often suffer from something called ‘Burnout’. This is when the body can no longer take anymore strain and becomes weak. Also workaholism tends to bring with it headaches, sleep disorders, gastric problems and chronic fatigue.

The work addiction, like any of the other addictions is a difficult cycle to break. Like all the other addictions, however, it is possible. The first and most difficult step is acknowledging that you are responsible and the problem is within you, which must be resolved. This is a very difficult step and as it states in Fassel & Schaef’s article “A Feminist Perspective on Work Addiction” that “denial is subtle in that few workaholics will vehemently deny that they overwork. Instead we compare (p. 207)”. Unfortunately we as women live in a society that puts very little value on us and judges us on what we can bring to the table and although it is not right many women believe in this theory and will do everything in their will to achomplish as much as they can so they can be seen as a valuable person causing them to over work and ultimate suffer from the effects of that just as we seen with the example of Diane.

Sex as a Replacement Addiction or Numbing Agent

The term “sexual addiction” can be defined in so many different ways and are given many labels such as Nymphomania, hypersexuality, erotomania, perversion, and sexual obsession. People struggling with sexual addiction find themselves behaving in uncontrollable and compulsive ways, putting themselves and those around them in considerable danger. Sexual addiction does not get the same attention as drug and alcohol addiction, but it is still very real and very dangerous. The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity has defined sexual addiction as "engaging in persistent and escalating patterns of sexual behavior acted out despite increasing negative consequences to self and others." Sexual addiction is best described as a progressive intimacy disorder characterized by compulsive sexual thoughts and acts. Like all addictions, its negative impact on the addict and on family member’s increases as the disorder progresses. Over time, the addict usually has to intensify the addictive behavior to achieve the same results. Sex addiction can involve a wide variety of practices, and may co-occur (dual diagnosis) with drug and alcohol addiction or other substances and psychological disorders. A large number of sex addicts say their unhealthy use of sex was a progressive process. It may have started with an addiction to masturbation, pornography (either printed or electronic), a relationship, multiple relationships, or a series of one-night-stands, but over the years progressed to increasingly dangerous behaviors.

As stated earlier sex addiction may be accompanied with another addiction or disorder and in this blog I will explain how one addiction could possibly replace the other. As we know Lindsy Lohan, the famous child actor turned superstar party girl has been in and out of rehab for her addiction to coke. In an exclusive News of the World interview with Riley Giles the Extreme sports professional tells all about how “TROUBLED Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan has traded her dangerous DRUGS habit for a manic addiction to SEX”. He began the interview saying "Lindsay's definitely a nymphomaniac. She's wild in bed. We'd have sex a couple of times in the day and then go to it through the night. We once did it four times in a row straight. That was crazy. Lindsay was insatiable. She'd demand sex again and again. We'd go at it for hours. She'd have worn out most guys." The two meet in rehab which both of them had attended and instantly began a sexual relationship barely knowing each other. Riley revealed how Lindsay used orgasm after orgasm as a potent substitute for the huge chemical hits she was used to while partying. He explained: "When you orgasm, your endorphins shoot up and it becomes a massive natural high. If you have an addictive personality like Lindsay you need that to replace the highs you got from taking drugs all the time. Sex became a key part of her recovery. Riley revealed their relationship changed when Mean Girls star Lindsay got back to Los Angeles to pick up her career. And he confessed he is terrified she might return to her bad old ways saying "I worry because it must be very difficult to keep up your recovery," he said. "I couldn't do it. Lindsay has a very addictive personality.”

Just like Lindsay many people addicted to a drug tries to replace it with another substance not thought of as so damaging during treatment. I’ve seen many times recovering crack heads or heroin addicts turn to alcohol. In some other cases alcohol or a drug of some sort is needed in the system to have sex. In Caroline Knapp’s story “Sex,” from Drinking: A Love Story the young lady Meg describes how alcohol actually helped her to numb the fear she experienced with sex by saying “Alcohol can numb fear, and allow you to fake it, and take you places you literally don’t want to go: strange beds. But it can also give you access to romance, a bridge to the positive sides of sexuality. Alcohol felt like the cement in female sexuality, at least it did to me: over the years the two would become so deeply linked that for the longest time I simply couldn’t imagine one without the other. A first kiss without drinks? Forget it. Sex without liquor? No way (p.86)”. This feeling of not being able to be sexual without alcohol being present allows me to think that she was ashamed of her body or herself. She believed that the drinking completed her saying “Drinking was as integral to my sense of sexuality as a body part: no more, no less. And sometimes that form of integration was effective, amazingly so (p.86)”.

Here we saw how sex addiction could be used to replace another addiction as well as an numbing agent. Overcoming sexual addiction starts with recognizing that you are out of control sexually. Getting to that point requires taking a hard look at yourself and the problems emotional, physical, financial, or legal caused by your sexual behavior. The second and most difficult issue involves facing the guilt, shame and depression associated with the addiction. It takes trust and time with a competent therapist to work through these emotions. Besides the steps taken by the addict trying to recover Shaef suggest as a culture things that would need to change. As we all know advertisements promotes sex in every way they possibly could and although if sex ads decreased it would have a tremendous economic impact but would also help in the treatment and recovery process of sex addicts. Overall, if a person is using sex as a replacement addiction or as an anesthetic treatment is available but as many other addictions it will take others as well as addict to fully recover.

Ne-Yo's Sex Addiction

Want to but I can't help it

I love the way it feels

It's got me stuck between my fantasy and what is real

I need it when I want itI want it when I don't

Tell myself I'll stop everyday, knowing that I won't

I've got a problem and I (don't know what to do about it)

Even if I did I don't know if i would quit

But I doubt it

I'm taken by the thought of it

And I know this much is true

Baby, you have become my addiction

I'm so strung out on you

I can barely move...but I like itAnd it's all because of you (all because of you)

So, and it's all because of you (all because of you)

And it's all because of you (all because of you)

So, and it's all because...Never get enough

She's the sweetest drug

Think of it every second

I can't get nothing done
Only concern is the next time, I'm gon' get me some

Know I should stay away from'cause it's no good for me

I try and try but my obsession, won't let me leave

I've got a problem and I (don't know what to do about it)

Even if I did I don't know if i would quit

But I doubt it

I'm taken by the thought of it

And I know this much is true

Baby, you have become my addiction

I'm so strung out on you

I can barely move...but I like it

And it's all because of you (all because of you)

So, and it's all because of you (all because of you)

And it's all because of you (all because of you)

So, and it's all because...Never get enough

She's the sweetest drug

Ain't no doubt
So strung out

Ain't no doubt

So strung out

Over you, over you, over you

Because of you

And it's all because of you

Never get enough

She's the sweetest drug

And I know this much is true

Baby, you have become my addiction

I'm so strung out on you

I can barely move...but it I like it

And it's all because of you (all because of you)
So, and it's all because of you (all because of you)

And it's all because of you (all because of you)

So, and it's all because...Never get enough

She's the sweetest drug

She's the sweetest drug sweetest drug

In this blog I’ve decided to look at sex addiction through the lens of popular music and music artists. Many of you know or have heard of the pop star Ne-Yo and may have even heard of his alleged sex addiction. I will be looking at his self written songs and a few interviews to expose and critique this form of addiction. I began my discussion of sex addiction with the lyrics to one of his popular songs called “Because of You”. In the very first stanza of the song it is clear, although not specifically said that he is talking about an addiction of some sort. It doesn’t become clear that he is speaking of sex until he says “she’s the sweetest drug”. Following up to that part one might speculate that he’s talking about drug or perhaps alcohol addiction which is interesting that he uses that same language as one would use to describe a chemical dependency. He specifically states in the lyrics that “you have become my addiction” and that he’s strung out fully admitting to his obsession to the woman and how she feels ( the language used implies he’s talking about how she feels sexually). After watching the music video it was even clearer that that addiction he was speaking of was to sex. Different girls appears in a few scenes in compromising sexual positions, often in the bed half naked. In Wilson Shaef’s article “Sexual Addiction” he introduces Patrick Carnes levels of sex addiction and then later on critiques it saying “I believe Carnes levels of exual addiction are good. I would probably expand the levels and add others (p.32)”. Indeed Shaef does just this, expanding on the pre-existing levels and then adding one. I believe both Shaef and Carnes would agree to categorize Ne-Yo in the second level which includes “passive sexual addiction, are obsessive sexual fantasizing, passive pornography (voyeuristic, private), and voyeurism (p.33)” which is all evident in the lyrics and video to his song.

In an interview with Vibe Magazine back in 2006 Ne-Yo said that his addiction to sex has turned him into someone who resembles "Sammy Davis and Bugs Bunny with some porn mixed in," he also told the interviewer that his uncontrollable horniness also resulted in him making the grade with most (if not all) of the girls in his junior-year class. "I became a complete whore," Ne-Yo confesses, "I might possibly have had sex with every girl in my 11th grade class … it went from like, nothing to like, three and four a day." This somewhat cocky attitude and admitting to his addiction is not often seen with this type of addiction simply because it is not as accepted in our society as a “traditional” addiction (i.e. drug abuse). In Shaef’s article it goes more into depth on reasons why people aren’t willing to admit to having a sexual addiction by saying “Sexual addiction, is a hidden addiction; I have found more willingness to confront almost any other addiction. Sexual addiction carries a particularly large component of shame and denial with it. Paradoxically, it is also one of the addictions that is most intergraded into our society as “normal (p. 11) This explanation can possibly be why a year later Ne-Yo came out refuting the claims of his addiction in interviews and recording the declamatory song entitled "Addicted."

Young, energetic, famous but don't really sweat it

Rich enough, fairly hot - so basically sex is not:

Difficult to get

That ain't my fault, naw naw

Listen

And just cuz I might take advantage once or twice

People tell me I'm not right, thinking that sex was my life

But that just ain't me

So let me clear it for those who have obviously misread the code

Listen to me now

NO I AM NOTI'm not

ADDICTED TO SEX
But girl I guarantee that if you lay with me

You just might be

NO I AM NOT

I'm not ADDICTED TO SEX

But girl I guarantee that if you lay with me

You just might be yeah

I wanna 'pologize for bein just a little freaky

I can't help it, it's just ?

But a problem it is notI'm just fine ya'll

Don't worry bout me

Listen

And I wanna 'pologize

For bein blessed with the ability to satisfy accurately

And quickly find the spot

It's a gift and a curse

Don't mess around - find my numberIn your girlfriend's purse

NO I AM NOT

I'm not ADDICTED TO SEX

But girl I guarantee that if you lay with meYou just might be

NO I AM NOT

I'm not ADDICTED TO SEX

But girl I guarantee that if you lay with meYou just might be yeah

I never been shy bout my self and sexuality

Never been taboo (never been taboo but if I)

Have to live without

I know its something I could do

But I just really don't want to

Now in this song we see a few contradictions relating to his first song “Because of You”. He says many times that he is NOT ADDICTED TO SEX , and that if he had to live without it he could, when in fact in the first song he says “Tell myself I'll stop everyday, knowing that I won't” and “Even if I did I don't know if i would quit”. Why did Ne-Yo decide to change up and now deny his addiction? My guess would be the component of shame talked about in the article associated with sex addiction. After all of the talk about him being strung out and openly admitting to his addiction now was turned upside down. To sum up the critique and to cut Ne-Yo some slack “like all other addicts, sexual addicts become progressively dishonest, self-centered, isolated, fearful, confused, devoid of feelings, dualistic, controlling, perfectionist, blinded to their disease (denial), insane, blaming (projection), and dysfunctional. In short, their lives become progressively unmanageable (p.11).

THIN

In this weeks blog I will be talking about the film we watched in class called THIN. This film was in deed disturbing but necessary to show to create a conversation about eating disorders and their treatment. I have very mixed feelings about treatment for eating disorders and if they are really effective. The movie featured a few girls and each of their testimonies was similar but different in a sense. One of the girls, actually the youngest out of the bunch, fifteen year old Brittany was so obsessed with being thin she’d risk her life to meet that goal. I can remember at the end of the film when she was being discharged because her insurance ran out the other women in the center were trying to give her positive advice and Brittany just wasn’t getting it nor trying to listen I remember her saying something to the affect “I don’t want people to worry about me if I die” and that struck a cord for me because I just don’t understand nor see the point of trying to achieve a certain weight even if its going to take your life, how are you supposed to enjoy you reaching your goal if you’re dead? Although I don’t understand how these girls feel and what they go through, there are other women out there who can relate to Brittany. A quote taken from one of the readings The Body Politic relates specifically to Brittany and her situation “I felt powerful as an anorexic. Controlling my body yielded an illusion of control over my life; I received incessant praise for my figure despite my sickly mien, and my frailty manipulated family and friends into protecting me from conflict. (180)” I can partially understand Brittany’s need to want to loose weight because as she often said she was heavy as a young child and was picked on and didn’t want to go back to the feeling of being teased by other girls.
Shelly, another young woman in the center had a severe eating disorder and had actually been to many treatment facilities and was not trusted by the staff. She was often accused of purging and on one occasion hiding food. The most interesting thing I noticed about Shelly was that she was so focused on being independent and having to take on certain responsibilities and be on her own. I believe she felt comfort within the center because this was her way of escaping reality which would make it easy to understand how she so quickly bonded with a group of girls.
Another topic to look at to determine how effective these treatment centers are is to look at the problem of insurance coverage. Most of the girls were discharged after their insurance refused to pay anymore. The film showed that while the women were in the center treatment was very effective but as soon as they were released most of them returned to their old behaviors and were back where they started before treatment and some worse off. I don’t understand the whole treatment process and why have these types of programs if they are only temporary while closely being monitored. I don’t mean to sound so critical but this seems like a big gimmick for those in that profession because they rotate girls in and of the centers collecting their money but not looking out for the full, total interest of the patient. Speaking of interest of the patient, I really didn’t agree with the discharge of Polly. Although the staff didn’t trust her and she had done thing against their policy I feel they should have taken a different approach such as putting her in seclusion or penalizing her in some way. I had to question what the true motives were of the center and was it truly centered around the FULL treatment the patient.
By no means am I implying that treatment centers are bad I actually believe that they are helpful when the total focus is on the patient’s betterment.

Guest Speaker

Monday’s class was great, the topic discussed was heavy and I thought it was admirable for Jill to share her story/testimony with the class. Although I don’t have an eating disorder I could relate to many things she talked about throughout the time she was here. One specific thing that stuck was when she talked about her boyfriend and how she thought he broke up with her because she was fat. I know for myself have judged myself on different occasions and thought that people thought I was to fat and that’s why I didn’t succeed, or wasn’t chose. I can even remember think to myself “after I loose weight, they would pay attention to me”. I can understand how those thoughts can ruminate your mind and have a psychological affect on you. One of the questions posed in the paper wrote by Jill was ‘why women starve themselves, binge and purge, or eat compulsively’ and it explained that it point towards women’s self-inflicted scrutiny of their bodies and their desire to attain thinner physiques and after hearing Jill speak it was more clear and understandable where this self-inflicted scrutiny comes from (boyfriends, friends, family). Another thing that can contribute to self-inflicted scrutiny is pressure from outside sources (i.e. media). In Jill situation I think the fact that she was a competitive dancer put another pressure on her to stay thin. Throughout her paper many forms of treatment were discussed and suggested one that was interesting to me was that developing self-love is essential for this process of treating eating disorders and I personally agree with this. In many treatment processes the main goal is to achieve and maintain normal body weight, which is good, and also to educate the person suffering from the disorder which is also great. The weight of the women can decrease and simply educating women won’t solve the problem but if the person develops a sense of self love this can impact the self-inflicted scrutiny that many women with eating disorders inflict on themselves. Another thing in the paper talked about in the treatment process was the ‘spirit’ connection which I also agree with but could be easily disputable among those who don’t necessarily believe in that.
This quote taken form Jill’s paper explains how she was comfortable with sharing her story with us and also another form of her treatment.
If women are encouraged to express their experiences of pain, these shared experiences will, as Anzaldúa writes, “articulate unnamed, unvoiced, and repressed experiences and realities” (562). Bringing these realities to the surface allows women to live without having to hide from the parts of themselves that hurt. This process also allows women to connect with each other without hiding their pain.
The experience Jill went through was traumatic and often times we talk about how some women/people have prior traumatic events happen to them that lead to their addiction or disorder. I don’t necessarily remember her mentioning a traumatic event that lead to her disorder besides the issue of her being dumped by her boyfriend but I’m happy to se that she has overcome her disorder and is able to live a normal life and openly share her experience with people.

Cosmetic Surgery Addiction

Many of us, both women and men have something on our body that we are dissatisfied with and would like to change, and many of us has also thought of plastic surgery at one point of time (I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t). This is completely normal but when someone begins to obsess over theses thoughts is when it becomes a problem. Cosmetic surgery addiction commonly seen among celebrities and can be caused by many things and can lead to a somatoform disorder called Body Dysmorphic Disorder. MayoClinc.com has published an article on the causes, signs, symptoms, and treatment for BDD that I will be critically analyzing.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is said to be an excessive preoccupation with a real or imagined defect in your physical appearance. People with BDD often have problems controlling negative thoughts about their appearance, even when reassurance from others that they look fine and that the minor or perceived flaws aren't noticeable or excessive, this characteristic is commonly seen in people with eating disorders which shouldn’t be a surprise that BDD can cause or be present with an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, especially if it involves a weight-related part of the body, such as the waist, hips or thighs that is wanted to be changed. Other disorders associated with BDD are Generalized anxiety disorder. This condition involves excessive worrying that disrupts your daily life, often causing exaggerated or unrealistic anxiety about life circumstances, such as a perceived flaw or defect in appearance. A history of or genetic predisposition to GAD may make a person more susceptible to BDD. Also OCD is common in BDD people in which a person uncontrollably practices ritual behaviors that may literally take over his or her life. A chemical imbalance in the brain such as an insufficient level of serotonin, one of the brain's chemical messengers involved in mood and pain, may contribute to BDD which could possibly be hereditary. Someone with BDD would exhibit such behaviors as frequently comparing appearance with others, repeatedly checking the appearance of the specific body part in mirrors or other reflective surfaces, refusing to have pictures taken, wearing excessive clothing, makeup and hats to camouflage the perceived flaw, seeking reassurance about the perceived defect or trying to convince others that it's abnormal or excessive and avoiding social situations in which the perceived flaw might be noticed. Depending on the behavior a person is carrying out the disorder associated with it would be quite obvious.
To discuss plastic surgery and not mention what role the media plays would be an injustice to many who suffer from BDD. In Jean Kilborne’s “Still Killing Us Softly: Advertising and the Obsession with Thinness” talks about the influence of the advertising and how eating disorder has recently increase in recent years. Taken directly from the article “The sixth most frequently prescribed drug in America is a diuretic. Many ads for laxatives that used to feature old people now use slim and attractive young women (398)” this directly suggest to young women if you want to loose weight and look like the women in the ad use laxatives which helps in the explanation to why some people develop eating disorders and other disorders like BDD.
As I stated earlier celebrities or those in the lime light are usually the victims suffering from BDD and I’m pretty sure we can name a few without thinking that hard. Michael Jackson would defiantly be one at the top of the list. From the article on MayoClinc.com “People from families of higher socioeconomic status or strict cultural standards may experience body dysmorphic disorder more often. Someone who feels that he or she must live up to unobtainable or unrealistically high expectations for personal appearance and success may be more prone to BDD.” It is understandable how the King of Pop would feel the pressure to live up to these high expectations of personal appearance. In the You Tube video of Morphing Michael Jackson you can observe how Michael’s look (his face and skin color in particular) has drastically changed over the years.

A combination of medications and therapy is often used to help people overcome BDD. A specific type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may help lessen or alleviate the signs and symptoms of BDD. Cognitive behavioral therapy is often recommended the process of treatment. This type of therapy identifies unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replaces them with healthy, positive ones.
With this example we see how addiction can lead to severe disorders and can influence your mind and body. However there is treatment which is effective and can help break this addiction.

Cougars---------open blog

In the ABC Primetime article entitled Are More Older Women with Younger Men? it asks the question What do Samantha on "Sex and the City," and Gabrielle on "Desperate Housewives" have in common? The answer is becoming common among a lot of older women, which is that they date men their junior. This topic has been illustrated heavily with in celebrities, and on TV shows. Most recently it has been confirmed the Mariah Carey and the much younger Nick Cannon just eloped. The term ‘Cougar’ is used to describe older women who date younger men. Sex and relationships columnist Valerie Gibson says the term originated in Vancouver, British Columbia, as a put-down for older women who would go to bars and go home with whoever was left at the end of the night, but now it is a more positive term for women who are healthy, financially stable, and sexy in their 30’s and 40’s who are looking to have a good time. The younger men are said to be attracted to these older women because of their independence, sexual experience and the fact that they aren’t looking for a commitment. I have mixed feelings about this topic, although I feel that if two people are in love they should be together but being that the older women in these relationships aren’t necessarily looking to build a family and settle down but only to have fun and interested in the “right now” I feel that these older women are taking away from the women who really want to began a family, settle down and get married. Also I think these women are hindering men and allowing them to think its ok for women to pursue them and not take manly responsibilities when it comes to courting women. As complicated as relationships already are the issue of age adds another element. This brings up issues of how the two in the relationship parents/family feels and reacts to the situation, if the women has children (which most do) how that will affect them, financial and experience issues. I find it interesting (and somewhat disturbing) that VH1 has decided to create a reality show in which younger guys are in pursuit of the much older Jerry Hall. Hall has four children the oldest are close to the age of the men scheduled to appear on the show. One more opinion I have about these women is that they date younger men because it is easy to be in control and because their previous marriages/relationships with men their age has failed. I guess in the end the main focus is on if the couple is happy and it seems to be that the men participating in relationships with older women are. Maybe my opinion of cougars and young men might shift as a get older but as of right now I don’t really approve.

ABC Article

Shoppaholoic-------open blog

One addiction that hasn’t been discussed in class yet is the addiction of shopping. This might seem like a joke or not taking serious but there are people who are compulsive spender and act on impulse which can lead to problems and issues in marriages, relationships, or even psychological issues. Here are some typical behaviors of compulsive shoppers:
Shopping or spending money as a result of feeling disappointed, angry or scared
Shopping or spending habits causing emotional distress in one's life
Having arguments with others about one's shopping or spending habits
Feeling lost without credit cards
Buying items on credit that would not be bought with cash
Feeling a rush of euphoria and anxiety when spending money
Feeling guilty, ashamed, embarrassed or confused after shopping or spending money
Lying to others about purchases made or how much money was spent
Thinking excessively about money
Spending a lot of time juggling accounts or bills to accommodate spending
Four or more of these behaviors can lead to possible problems. If we really look at these behaviors they are similar to those of substance addiction. For example, shopping as a result of feeling disappointed sounds similar to alcohol abuse as well as the next one which is spending causing emotional distress which we know drug and alcohol abuse can lead to. Like any addiction, shopaholics soon find that compulsive shopping takes away more than it gives back. The sort of things that shopaholics often experience is shopping to improve mood, getting a good feeling when making a purchase, but feeling bad soon after, posessing many items that have never been used or worn, suffering with a large and increasing debt, but still shopping compulsively, feeling depressed after a big shopping trip. This topic is especially personal to me and is something that I am currently struggling with and also seeking forms of therapy and counseling for. I feel that this topic should be brought up more and given more exposure because I’m sure that this is more common in our society then what is being presented.
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Alcohol and Drug Addiction in the Family

In the film 30 Days: Binge Drinking Mom and the article Holler of you Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur there were many questions raised in comparing each family and their situation. This first and most important to me was the issue of respect from the child. In the film Jessica’s mom is trying to prove a point to her daughter the one who is actually abusing alcohol but in the article Afena is the addict and is highly respected by her son Tupac. I question is this a fact of race and economic status? I believe so, in today’s society I see wealthy children very disrespectful while in poor black families regardless if the mother abandon them, is dug addicted or what have you the children still hold a type of respect for their mom. I think it is safe to say that there is a more socially acceptable depiction between the two families and that would be that alcohol is more socially acceptable because most of our society engage in drinking and that is doesn’t have the same dramatic affects that crack or drugs have. I am guilty of placing a little mother blame on Afena while I was reading her article. I do believe her lifestyle and life choices had a lot to do with Tupac and his response to his mom. I remember reading the quotes Jada Pickett wrote and she said that Tupac couldn’t trust anyone because of his mother and that everyone that came in his life paid for her downfalls. In the film I think there could be a bit of mother (or parent) blame put on Jesssica’s parents. Her mom admits not have conversations about binge drinking with Jessica when she was younger and this indeed could have something to do with why Jessica over indulged into alcohol when she went off to college. Overall I think these two pieces did a good job showing two different types of families that share some of the same issues.