Monday, October 24, 2005

Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia

This is the beginning of a new column I wrote this week for the paper & a link to the full article:
About a year ago, I wrote a column on the trend of Pro-Anorexia and Pro-Bulimia societies congregating on the web and supporting each other in what they consider to be “lifestyle choices.” That column is now on my blog, and I am finding a lot of people are searching for Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia and ending up on my site. I hope it is people who only want to learn more about it to stop it, but it worries me that it might be people trying to get involved with it.
When I mentioned it to a friend, she had never heard of Pro-Ana/Pro-Mia, and so I thought it probably would be a good time to remind the community about them so we can prevent anyone we care about from getting caught up in their hype. The mainstream media is finally picking up on these stories, but they are a few years too late, in my opinion.
The column is in Kids and Teens about halfway down the page & titled "Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia."

14 comments:

El Jefe Maximo said...

I thought you had to be joking...then googled a bit and found out you wern't. Whatever next ? Pro Suicide clubs ?

Candidly Caroline said...

Unfortunately, it is very, very real, Jefe. The web sites are a little harder to find now because they started getting shut down, but anyone who wants to find them still can. It is very depressing to read them.

justcarl said...

On Monday, 11/14, Entertainment Tonight will air a story about a primetime actor who went in for treatment for anorexia. The actor's family will address the pro-ana websites.

Anonymous said...

yes sadly Its true ,i had to struggle with the fierce Ana ,it is not a lifestyle its hell itself, its a disease...I am recovered ,but its something you have to fight day by day for you not to get involved in it again ...
its ridiculous trying to be a wannabe like the ana pro sites call people who want to be anorexic,it is like if someone wanted to get aids,its very worrying ,sincerely me who is a ex ana dont wnt other people to get this living hell,it is not a JOKE!

Candidly Caroline said...

Thanks for your perspective, Anonymous.

Anonymous said...

This is all so sad. For some reason, i kinda forgot about ed's being a problem in today's society. I simply hurt so much for the young women on these sites I have been browsing that I couldn't cry, the tears were too deep to retrieve.
And, I am an African -American woman, and it surprised me to know my sistahs are also plagued by this demon- I guess because our society loves curves-but, I guess each person has their own preferences, you know...
Damn, is all I can say. Imma try to help out in anyway I can becuase it's like these men and women don't see the oblivious hazardous side effects of this disease. And hell, who cares what size you are if your hair's falling out, ur esophagus is shot to hell, your teeth are fading away due to enamel loss and oversensitivity, and you have huge black bags/cirlces under your eyes?You end up looking like shit anyway...

What have we come to as a people that our men and women feel being a size 2 is perfect?

Uggh...
And I do not judge, but I have had the unfortuneate pleasure of reading several forums and blogs during my genuine concern for this monster(eds)...and the people glorify themselves and their "death attempts" as I call it- binging and purging, fasting, all that stupid shit.

I am angry at the media.
I am angry at people who make fun of people and trigger these eds.
I am just angry.

Damn.

In a way, I am mad at the people with the eds too. As I read the blogs, etc, they're all so intelligent, and they KNOW what they're doing is wrong.And they continue to hurt themselves...They say it's all about control/power, but don't they see they're cowards in their own respect becuase they give the power to the media and everyone else who projects what perfection is...

My heart aches.

If you wanna contact me, or you need help. hit me up at either of these sites-
HOMO-4-B-YA
HOMO-4-B-YA2
Colors4pride



ps- Imma gay activist- primarily, but I campaign and fight for the rights of all-

Anonymous said...

that is not fair people have things that they go through and they should be able 2 go thro it wot ever way they want and not b brought down by all that crap it oly contributed to the pain they are feeling which btw is a lot!

p.s they are not all women.....

Anonymous said...

Hi, I'm 17 years old and I have been annorexic and bulimic for the past 6 years...there for I started when I was in grade 7. I kno how damaging these websites can be offering tips and thinsperations. But u have no idea the number of girls who live by these sites and all we want is support from eachother. By taking these away many many girls like myself will have no where to turn to.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I'm 17 years old and I have been annorexic and bulimic for the past 6 years...there for I started when I was in grade 7. I kno how damaging these websites can be offering tips and thinsperations. But u have no idea the number of girls who live by these sites and all we want is support from eachother. By taking these away many many girls like myself will have no where to turn to.

Anonymous said...

hiya,i am a wannbe ana if u call it that iv onli stopped eatin the past week. the thing that made me wnna b thin is the torture of bein bigger then evry1 else am i am an intellegent very opinionated 14 yr old but wen u r told day in day out ur fat it wears u down.And frendz nd celebs bein super thin dusnt help i just wnna b thin xx plz dnt h8 us we just feel rele bad cuz we r fat

Anonymous said...

I don't really see what right the goverment has to shut down these sites yes okay there harmful but no its none of their buisness. If they actually had a decent NHS it would benefit these people more ne way. I mean to be fair i'm fed up of taboos about ppl interfering if you wanna strave yourself thats your buisness and people should keep their nose out of it. If these people wanted help they know where to get it. I mean for a start I cut myself and I'm fed up of people saying i'm stupid and I should stop it might sound weird but it's my rountine it's part of me and I enjoy it...

Anonymous said...

It's not just teens, I provided numerous links, earlier b/c us old bitches are feeling the pressure, too!! (some are Moms)

Why'd you erase it?

http://preview.tinyurl.com/229wqa

Candidly Caroline said...

I didn't erase it. It's on the kids and teens page.

And, yes it's definitely not just teens. I talk about teen girls because that is what my experience has involved. But, it's also boys and women and men.

People develop it themselves or they learn it from their friends or parents. It's a slippery slope, for sure.

Anonymous said...

Ok well i am mia and ana and it is not a dissorder it is a choice you idiot ok so if you say we have a dissorder then shouldnt drug atics have a sickness to yea bet yea dont look at it that way oh and honestly you cant say that you dont do things unhealthy every one dose but umm you and ur lil ppl who think the sites need to be shut down can go to hell ok ok oh yea by the way you know how many ana and mias watch the news ans see thosee clips on the sites that just gives it away even more come on ok well sorry if i was ummm... a bitch but you need to understand what we go threw like you all talking about us the way you do dont say you dont cuz yea do