Demi is back: better and stronger after having dealt with her issues during the past several months. Disney princess, Demi, issued a thank you to fans in an exclusive video, in which she said “Your support is what got me through this.”
Although Demi remains somewhat cryptic about her hiatus from showbiz to undergo treatment, stating only that she was “dealing with issues that girls my age deal with all the time,” media outlets close to the star have reported that she was seeking help for an eating disorder and self-harm issues. She reportedly checked into Timberline Knolls, a residential treatment facility near Chicago to receive help for her physical and emotional issues.
The Illinois facility is a step back from the Hollywood chic the young star is accustomed to. Treatment at Timberline Knolls is holistic, and focuses on lifelong recovery.
According to past reports, Demi’s eating disorder stems from long-standing body image concerns. She described having “fat days,” and wanting to feel more comfortable and self-confident.” Demi has also been open about her history of having been bullied as a young teen, and has narrated a video encouraging teens to stand up against bullying.
Demi is correct in her statement that many young women struggle with eating disorders and self-injury. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, there has been a significant increase in incidence of anorexia especially among young women ages 15-24. In fact, 40% of newly identified cases of anorexia are in girls 15-19 years old. These statistics point to the need not only for excellent treatment options, but also for prevention efforts.
Many people with eating disorders also self-injure, using self-injury as a way to regulate strong emotions, distract from emotional pain, exert a sense of control over their body or to express things that cannot be put into words. One common statement made by people that self-injure is “It’s a way to have control over my body because I can’t control anything else in my life.” As with eating disorders, self-injury may be a very secretive or shameful behavior.
Recovery from eating disorders and self-injury is possible. Treatment involves teaching people with these issues that there are other ways to cope rather than waging war on their bodies.
To learn more about eating disorders prevention programs in the Philadelphia area, please contact A Chance to Heal Foundation, PO Box 2342, Jenkintown Pa., info@achancetoheal.org.
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