Page 176 - ThePhoenix1994-95

OnThe Hill Friday, May 5, 1995, Page 12 Eating disorders pose serious threat at colleges; obsession exists here eat:ingdisorderswilJgoaway. Theyarelong-term SARAH SHECKFJ1S paring it to alcoholism, Sullivan says a victim is head on." S/qfflVrirer disorders which take years to go away;' said Glore. always a recovering anorexic not a recovered Getting well has been a very long process for According to a brochure from Smith House Jennifer Doetsch, a student aide for two years at anorexic because it is something the victim has Sullivan. There are still times, though, that gain- on anorexia and bulimia, studies have shown that Smith House, believes that group sessions and pro- to deal with for the rest of his or her life. ing weightmakesherupset. ''Onedayawhileago, almost 20% of coUege women suffer from these grams are very effective because the counselors "[Anorexia] consumes every thought, feel- Igot on the scale and saw that Igained a pound. It two diseases. Female students at WMC are no go OUI of their way to help out any way they can. ing, and action of every day, if that makes any ruined my day;' said Sullivan. excepuon. Such programs include sorority backpacking nips sense. If you can't handle things going on in Now, Sullivan seeks counseling at Smith Knowing there is such a high percentage and with Glore to promote openness, togetherness, and your life, [anorexia} is a way of numbing them. House and talks to Glore. "without Susan push- seeing people or friends at risk, groups or indi- emotional stability. So,yousee,itisallyouthinkabout,"saidSuilivan. ing me the way she does, I would slip," said viduals affected by this disease can get together 'TIle counseling services at Smith House are After she realized she had a problem, Sullivan. "She has helped me to say what's on my with Smith House staff for counseling and im- based mainly to help the students. The counse- Sullivan began dealing with her anorexia by go- mind instead of holding everything in, and this proved awareness of the diseases. lors are wonderful and very effective," said ing to counseling. She has been through seven makes me feel more secure about myself:' said In her group session, Susan Glore, counselor Doetsch. hospitalizations, two of which were at Friends Sullivan. • atSmithHouse, tellsstudents howtoidentifY some- Because the group sessions are mostly for Hospital in Philadelphia While in these envi- Pointed out by Sullivan, the effects of group one who has an eating disorder by looking for those people concerned about others, the victims ronments, she ate with a group, meal consump- counseling are twofold. Hearing about the pro body-image concerns, constant talk about body of these diseases work individually with the coun- lion was watched, and calories were counted. lem can make the victim aware of what is wrong weight, and obsession about food that is eaten. selors. A group situation is not the place to start 'This time [the hospitalization] worked be- with him or her or it could possibly tum them off Besides concentrating orrthe person with the eat- the healing process nor will it make them stop cause I hit rock bottom and this is when you re- and make them silent. ing disorder, she makes sure that the people who their eating disorder. ally do want to get better;' said Sullivan. "All "In order to help others, we must stop [our are concemed are aware of what to do and howto Jill Sullivan, a sophomore who suffers from along I had been running from my Problems. habit] to obsess by changing our own behavior. act. an eating disorder, sees the group sessions as ben- Getting better to me was realizing there was no This is so the victim will not take the ideas of ob- "Others have to change their ways by not eficial. "A group talk can make concerned people where left to nul, and Ihad to face the problems session to extremes;' said Glore. and obsessing about the foodthatweeat. Go to dinner aware of the social and emotional problems, said WMC student experiences and talk about everything else;' said Glore. then they can look for these things in others;' She also feels that informational group ses- Sullivan. sions can help the group as a whole. However, the Sullivan said that she has suffered from British lifethrough study abroad victims will most often not react to them and will anorexia since age 12, and it has been in her life probably not be present at the meeting. her ever since. Affecting good relationships and By JONATHON SHACAT On tire Hill Editar "People come to [group meetings] and think family life, anorexia is very crippling. When com- One particular person who recently went ,--------------------------, :~~~~n~70:i~~::n~s;~g1~~O~;~ PE Co L LEGE 5 elALS Syracuse University Program, an affiliated pro- II gmn\~~:~:::~m,eres,;omed;"l '330-' ..0 Vil..,