Man Up to Eating Disorders (eBook)

Men get eating disorders too, and are often left out in the dark when it comes to resources, language about what the disease looks like, how guys talk about it, and more. This book is to help guys come together, create their own tribe, and talk recovery in their own language. Straight, gay, black, white, Asian, Hispanic, whatever your background - if it's anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, compulsive exercise, steroid abuse or some combination of any or all of the above; we are all part of the same brotherhood. We are all dealing with the same core issues of belonging, perfectionism, control, identity, independence, and insecurity. We need to be welcomed by others - to feel the embrace of the tribe and move forward with our lives together. This book, my brothers, is for you. It's now your job to spread the word. Strengthen your tribe.

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There are three sections to Man Up to Eating Disorders, starting with the development of my emotional eating experience, and into my first forays into body loathing and dieting. My period of anorexia in late high school and failure out of college due to depression and grief are covered. This begins the full blossom of the binge eating disorder. My experience of going to music school and on to Nashville as a professional musician and discussed, and how the music industry reinforced the "e;thin ideal"e; that stretched my eating disorder into exercise bulimia. My life's journey into love, marriage and fatherhood are covered including the near death of my son and the zenith of my binge eating behavior. Eventually rock bottom hits, and recovery starts. Section two covers my experience in therapy, learning how to manage my binge drives, to accept myself as I am, and learn the roots of my low self-esteem come from my childhood. Working with a dietitian, I gain perspective on enjoying food rather than abusing it. My relationship with myself and my family improves, and a decision to specialize in working with others like myself is made. Section three speaks from my perspective as a therapist treating eating disorders in men, and has many client excerpts about what helped them in their journey into recovery and what sustains them now.