The Surprising Relationship Between Bullying and Eating Disorders
Research has long shown that bullying has serious long-term effects for victims – everything from reduced self-esteem to a greater risk for heart disease, migraines, anxiety and many more devastating conditions. New research by scientists at Duke University Medical Center, however, has shown that both victims and bullies have a higher risk of anxiety, depression and eating disorders. The study, published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, involved 1,420 children, some of whom were involved in cases of bullying (either as bullies or victims) and others of which had not…
My Personal Body Image Journey
I have trouble sometimes sharing my personal body image story. I’m afraid of sounding like Regina George from Mean Girls: “I want to lose five pounds.” In the movie, she is a victim of many practical jokes because to everyone else she is thin, so her statement sounds more like the whining of a spoiled, superficial rich girl. However, we all have our insecurities thanks to our culture, and this is mine. I have never had an eating disorder, nor have I ever been what anyone would call fat, but…
Domestic Violence: A Male’s Perspective
Domestic violence happens to men, too. According to the CDC 1 in 4 men will become victims of domestic violence in their life. That totals to around 3 million men a year or one man in America being abused every 37.8 seconds. The statistics are frightening, but why aren’t we talking about them and the abuse men endure? When we discuss domestic violence as a nation every time an athlete or celebrity assaults their partner or spouse, we talk about the statistics of women being abused. While those numbers are…
Surviving Domestic Violence
It has taken me two years to write this article. Ten minutes of which were spent trying to calm the heart that was attempting to jump out of my chest. I felt frightened at my fingertips. What for? I had done nothing wrong. Yet, I was afraid of venturing into my dark past. That perhaps I would be brought back to battle the demons he had left me with. My ex-boyfriend introduced me to the world of domestic violence. No one asks to come here. I thank all those watching…
How Abusers Get Away With Murder
I recently spotted this short Upworthy article titled The 4 Terrifying Dating Secrets Abusers Are Counting On You Not Knowing. The article highlights a GIF set from Leslie Morgan Steiner’s TED Talk, “Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave.” In the four GIFs, Steiner is shown saying the following: “I did not know that the first step in any domestic violence relationship is to seduce and charm the victim.” “I also did not know that the second step is to isolate the victim.” “The next step in the domestic violence pattern is…
