Self-Harm and Eating Disorders: More Alike Than You Think

Recently I spoke to a few Special Education classes about my book Noon. Whenever I speak about the book and the topics within it, I always ask if the students know what the many forms of self-harm are. I hear the usual cutting and burning, but almost always I hear someone say anorexia and bulimia.

Many people tend to forget that other addictions can be related to self-harm. I focus more on the emotional and physical aspects of self-harm, but eating disorders and drugs are also in the realm.

An Inspiring Eating Disorder Foundation

I know there is a wonderful blog that focuses on eating disorders, but after recently helping spread eating disorder awareness for a foundation called KMB for Answers, it got me thinking about how similar the two addictions are.

KMB For Answers is a foundation that was created in the memory of young adult named Katie. She was one of my past roommate’s best friends and when I learned more about eating disorders, I realized how truly devastating they are. They are an addiction similar to self-harm. Like self-harm, they are something that the person truly cannot control and can be life-threatening.

The foundation was kind enough to add my book to the group of others that they show when promoting their organization. Since cutting is a major part of Noon and they thought that, since it is a mental illness, like anorexia, it would be a helpful addition.

Eating Disorders and Self-Harm Both Scar the Body

Even though self-harm leaves visible marks and scars, eating disorders scar the body from the inside. The disease affects the organs, including the brain, in a similar way that self-harm does. It makes the mind a scary place where thoughts are constantly in battle. Like many other addictions, this battle is not an easy one to win.

A family member of mine also struggled with an eating disorder and it affected not only her, but her family as well. It became a stressor for her and for her loved ones because we wanted to help her, but help became difficult. The family member and I never really talked about her battle with food and I’ve never discussed my battle with self-harm. They are just demons we dare not discuss and attempt to push into our past. Even though she has overcome those demons, it is an everyday battle.

Every mental illness is.

To find out more about KMB for Answers, visit www.kmbforanswers.org. “You are strong. You are beautiful. You are loved.”

You can also find Jennifer Aline Graham on Google+, Facebook, Twitter and her website is here. Find out more about Noon through Amazon.com.