I am a dude who is suffering with ED. Everything I see is geared toward girls. I feel so out of place. Help?
That’s really hard. I know eating disorders and awareness around them tends to be geared toward females, a lot of people forget guys suffer too. I actually had a male friend who suffered from anorexia for a while.
I do have some posts about males with eating disorders specifically, I will get them ready to reblog for you. But if you want, you can check out right here… I think most of my posts about males and eating disorders are under there. I will also personally make sure I have more posts geared toward guys because you’re right- everywhere is too much geared toward girls and it isn’t fair.
You can also check out this organization, it’s called Men Get Eating Disorders Too. They have a list of books geared toward men suffering right here, a list of other online resources (including blogs of several males with ED), I also believe there’s a ‘community’ section with forums where you can find support.
MGEDT also has both a facebook and a twitter page.
Another organization you may want to check out is The National Association for Men with Eating Disorders (N.A.M.E.D.). They definitely have support group discussion forums on this website for men and boys (above or below 18), all you have to do is give your email. Again, they have a list of books- this one includes the male oriented books as well as more general eating disorders books so it is a larger list.
Men Get EDs is another place for you to find online support that I just found for you doing a quick search. I don’t know as much about this website but I’ve been looking around and it looks like they do have a ‘chat’ section (although I don’t think many people know this website exists so it was empty when I just went in to check).
A lot of the more general eating disorder organizations also have sections on their websites where they focus on males with eating disorders.
- NEDA
- Something-Fishy
- Mentor Connect (M.O.R.E. - Men Owning Recovery from Eating Disorders)
I’m also going to send you to Elijah if you would like to connect with someone on tumblr who is going through the same thing as you… maybe he will have some words of wisdom. He is the one guy I know off the top of my head right now who’s URL I can give you.
I actually don’t think I have many of the links for men with eating disorders in my resources section on my page so I will be sure to add those in for you.
I hope this helped a bit or at least can send you a few places where you can fet support from other men. And like I said, I will be reblogging my posts about men with eating disorders for you and all of the other guys out there.
I know it’s difficult and society makes it feel like this is something just females go through- but there’s nothing to be ashamed about. Men do go through this as well but I think society makes it difficult for all of the guys to be as open about it.
If you need anything please let me know- I’m always here for you and I hope you can find some more of the support you’re looking for <3
xx
Neil Holmes is appointed as the new Chairman of the Board of Trustees
MGEDT is pleased to announce the appointment of Neil Homes as our new Chairman of the board of Trustees.
“I am very passionate about this field of work; it is both a vital and necessary area and one which lacks the necessary investment and status it merits. The work and mission of MGEDT in addressing this in-balance is significant. I believe the core objectives of the charity are valuable to society as a whole and on doubt the individuals affected by these difficult and challenging issues.
I’m passionate about neighbourhoods and communities and the role of the third sector within these. I’m committed to influencing health inequalities and social injustice, in-particular issues relating to well-being and mental health. I believe in challenging prejudice, discrimination and stigma. I feel that the right of an individual to self-determine can be undermined by the practice of the state.
The stigma and taboo regarding men and eating disorders is damaging to all and in particular those affected, I believe this is a critical issue for society, which must be challenged, influenced and ultimately changed.
I believe that users by experience and peer-led initiatives have a key role in supporting recovery and maintaining resilience, alongside running services: I feel far more emphasis and investment should be aligned to this. I believe the current environment where treatment approaches, can at times be unhelpful and at worst compounding, needs to be re-considered and changed and I feel passionate about influencing and seeking to change this.
I am the Dep CEO of a local community interest company (CIC), which delivers day and community care services for mental health. I am the chair of the Local Involvement Network Mental Health Action Group and co-chair the Men’s Network Mental Health Task Force. I am also a trustee of the Community and Voluntary Sector Forum and a director of the 5 Mountains (charity). These roles mean I am up-to date with current issues, trends and perspectives regarding mental health.
My roles and experiences have enabled me to understand the importance of supporting and working alongside trustees and the management team to drive a business forward. I believe in a process of collaboration and partnership, to find the best outcomes and solutions. Alongside this I also recognise the need to ensure the organisation remains robust, operates within its purpose and is methodical in its business approach and delivery.
I am looking forward to working with the board and Project Leader on the organisation’s business development, offering advice, and hands-on proactive input.”
'It's time to talk body image' My Fat Talk Free Week blog on the MGEDT Website.
mengetedstoo.co.ukMen ARE affected by these issues, Men DO talk about their bodies and it DOES make them feel just as bad, we know this, but why isn’t it being highlighted in the same way?
So excited for the Men Get Eating Disorders Too conference on the 19th.
http://www.mengetedstoo.co.uk/
Going to be very interesting and I really hope we can use what we learn for DWED!
Nick & Sarah’s Advent Calendar Challenge!
Nick Watts from MGEDT and Sarah Fullagar from Body Gossip bring you yet another challenge!
You may remember Nick and Sarah took to the streets in the summer spending seven days getting as many photo’s of people wearing the MGEDT charity band as possible!
Well this time they bring you an even more fun project:
This year the countdown to Christmas will not only be marked by the tiny piece of chocolate hiding behind that cardboard door- oh no! Nick and I have something far more exciting up our sleeves for you.
We out our heads together and compiled a list of 23 body image topics which we will be quizzing the public about over the next 23 days. Their responses will be caught on film and uploaded to our challenge blog each day (or every day we manage to get one!) then on Christmas eve, Nick and I will post a video of our experiences throughout the challenge. (We did contemplate doing the final video on Christmas day but concluded we would be far too busy eating, drinking and generally being merry.)
As always we want to hear from you too. We’ve added our list of different body image subjects below, along with the days we’ll be chatting about each of them. So if you’ve got something to say then get involved! Film a clip of yourself talking about the topic and send it in to us.
The Body image advent line-up.
1st The media and body image
2nd What’s your opinion on airbrushing?
3rd Doing it for the kids- what do under 16’s have to say?
4th A guy’s perspective
5th A girl’s perspective
6th Fad diets, would you?
7th Fat Talk- how does it affect you?
8th How does fashion fit into body image?
9th Your body growing up- what was it like in school?
10th Pregnancy
11th Your perception of eating disorders
12th Scars? an eyesore or a story?
13th Older people, do you think about your body image?
14th Plastic surgery- are you for or against?
15th How would you define beauty?
16th Bad Hair Day! How important is your hair to you?
17th Sport- is there more pressure?
18th Piercing and tattoo’s- love, hate or regret the day? Would you have them?
19th Advertising- is it too much?
20th Ethnicity- different ideals?
21st Disability- how does it change your outlook on beauty?
22nd Teens- Body image hell, or learning to love it?
23rd All I want for Christmas… If you could see one thing changed what would it be?
24th Nick and Sarah talk about their December adventure!
To find out more you can follow the tumblr set up for this project http://bodyimageadvent.tumblr.com/ and also like the project on facebook https://www.facebook.com/nicksarahchallenge
Wish them luck!!!
Help MGEDT with fundraising, for free :)
New iniaitive The Sunshine Bank are featuring MGEDT as one of their charities for their Dec/Jan fundraising cycle. By using their website you can raise money for us without spending a penny simply by saying ‘thanks’ and ‘well done’ to friends. Everytime you share an action you can vote for us and £1000 will be divided between the three featured charities depending on how many votes they have.
Fore more info and to get involved see: http://www.sunshinebank.co.uk/cause/14
Nick and Sarah's Charity Band Challenge
So for the last week me and the fab Sarah Fullagar have been out in Oxford and Bristol with a simple mission……..
To get as many photos as we can of people sporting the MGEDT charity band to make the issue of male eating disorders known! well at least to the poor people we sprung ourselves on throughout the week.
Sarah has written an amazing blog for the MGEDT website, about the public’s reaction to the issue of men and eating disorders, which can be found on the MGEDT Blog. You can also view all the photos we have taken, which are still being updated! on the MGEDT facebook album.
So to all the lovelies that read my blog a simple challenge for you all…..
Go Online, buy a band, and send me YOUR photo challenges!
My blog on the MGEDT website 'A message to sufferers on World Mental Health Day'
mengetedstoo.co.ukI think it is important to concentrate on the positives that come out of it, yes it may be incredibly difficult, but I have come out the other side with a heightened sense of myself, who I am and how I view myself. I have learnt ways to deal with things positively and resolve problems in a far healthier way and guess what…
