Respect for Hunger

[Guest guest]

I met a most unusual woman yesterday, whose story might be relevant to this list. She is , 33 years old and the sister of my friend , whose family convened at 's house for Mother's Day. I wandered over merely to meet 's new puppy, but soon became involved in conversation with , who was very open and willing to discuss her physical condition. She has devoted the past several years of her life to counseling anorectics in recovery.

can no longer eat. She has existed for many years with a permanent feeding tube. She carries her liquid diet within a backpack, and is often reminded by her family to feed herself. She agrees that it's a miracle she has survived. would like to eat, but she is no longer able to do so. She explained that in the early years of anorexia, she would eat less food. Then she began to eat less often...then less and less often.

I told her that must have required tremendous discipline, but she explained that over a period of years, it became progressively. All sensations of hunger disappeared, along with all emotional connections to food. As this liberation progressed, the day arrived when she not only felt better for not eating, but became physically sick when she did eat. Today, she is physically and completely incapable of eating--hence the tube feeding.

I found it most enlightening to hear about the progression of this illness first-hand. Sometimes we've discussed how to define the lines that keep CR and anorexia in their respective boxes. was unfamiliar with CR, but after hashing over our conversation, I believe the difference between our two mindsets might be in our attitudes toward hunger. I just gained new respect for mine.

Suz