Stigma Winter 2015

STIGMA MAGAZINE | i

tigmaS

A Voice For The Voiceless.

CLARA HUGHES WALKING THROUGH THE FIRE

I KNEW MY DAUGHTER SMOKED POT...

DRAWING ON HEALING: ART THERAPY FOR WOMEN

ii | STIGMA MAGAZINE

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STIGMA MAGAZINE | 1

CONT

ENTS

winter 2016

tigmaS

Stigma Magazine is one of Canada’s

premier magazines addressing the

needs of the 1 in 5 people who expe-

rience a mental illness or substance

use problem in their lifetime. Stigma

presents informative, and inspiring

articles that show readers not just

how to deal with their mental health

and addiction, but how to enjoy a

healthy life style.

Publisher: Luke de Leseleuc

Creative Director: Julia Breese

Contact: [email protected]

www.stigmamagazine.com

250.508.8562

Published by:

From the Editor ................................................3From the Publisher ...........................................5Art Therapy for Women ...................................9Post-Partum Depression ................................11New Year, New You .......................................14Healing Layer by Layer .................................17Mental Wellness When You’re Pregnant ........21Clara Hughes; Walking Through the Fire ......25I Knew My Daughter Smoked Pot ................29What’s in a Name? Language & Stigma .......33Midlife Eating Disorders ..............................35

2 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 3

FROM THE EDITOREDITING THE STORIES FOR THE WOMEN’S issue of Stig-

ma Magazine was a bit of a surreal experience for

me; as my partner and I prepare to bring our first

child into the world in 2016, I have found myself dwelling

on the unique stigmas and pressures women face in rela-

tion to motherhood. While I have a loving, supportive net-

work of family and friends, I still find my thoughts filling

with insecurities. Will I get a sideways look if I order an

espresso drink at a coffee shop? Receive an unwelcome

comment if I breastfeed my baby in public? What about

if I give my newborn a bottle? Whether these judgements

are real or perceived, they can still weigh heavily on my

mind. I can’t even begin to imagine the added pressure

these thoughts would add to a mom struggling with sub-

stance use, or experiencing a mental illness. That’s not to

say this issue is “for” mothers—in fact, it’s not even exclu-

sively for women. From Olympian Clara Hughes sharing

her story of dealing with mental illness to how a parent’s

honest approach about drugs may have saved her child’s

life, these articles have the potential to inspire (and hope-

fully help) anyone. Plus, we like to think they make for

good reading—so sit back and enjoy the second issue of

Stigma Magazine, and welcome to 2016.

Amanda Farrell-Low

4 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

Your People Matter Most to You … and to us too. They’ve been there to help you with your changes. Now they need your

help to change. They face depression, shame, isolation, loss of family, friends and income. They carry the

stigma of a disease that will take a lifetime to treat.

You can increase their chances with help from Fresh Start*

Affordable with Exemplary Service

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Helping one person at a time, Reverend Al and donors like you deliver proactive services to the most vulnerable members of our community.

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778.440.1471

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 5

WITH A NEW YEAR COMES THE hope of a fresh

start, a clean slate and new opportunities. But for

some people, a new year means a continuation

of the struggles and the challenges associated with addiction

and mental health. For some people it’s the end of the road.

In the last week of December eight people overdosed in

Victoria; five men and three women. They will never see the

New Year. Their hopes and dreams vanished with them when

they took that last hit of whatever their drug of choice was.

Drug dealers and producers continue to add fentanyl to her-

oin for their love of money. They don’t care what happens to

their clients; they only care about how much they can sell and

how quickly they can get rid of their product.

This past week, I lost a friend who lost his battle with addic-

tion. Matt was a bright, smart and good looking young man

who had a future full of potential ahead of him. This Sunday

I will be the MC for his celebration of life, a life that was cut

short. Matt was one of the biggest supporters of Stigma Mag-

azine. There were many times when I felt like throwing in the

towel because I wasn’t having any success selling the advertis-

ing that is needed to print the magazine. But he would always

encourage me to keep making those calls.

Then, one day I made up my mind and told Matt that I was

done with the magazine. After about my 300th call, I still

hadn’t sold an ad and I told Matt that I was tired of hearing

everyone saying how a great idea it was, but not coming on

board to support the magazine. Matt looked at me and said,

“Give me a second. Let me call my friend Stacey at Fresh Start

Recovery in Calgary.” After he had a chat with Stacy, Matt told

me, “They’re in. Fresh Start is going to take an ad.” He gave me

Stacey’s number and they ended up taking out a half page ad

and did an article in our first issue.

If Matt wouldn’t have been there that day, you wouldn’t be

reading Stigma Magazine right now. That’s the kind of guy

that he was. He was always ready to help people anyway he

could. Matt had a big heart, filled with kindness and a will to

help out — things the rest of the world will never have an op-

portunity to experience.

Matt is the biggest reason why Stigma Magazine exists to-

day. Every morning in my own little way I thank Matt for help-

ing Stigma Magazine. I will honour Matt by doing my best to

keep this magazine going and to continue being a voice for

the voiceless.

Thank you, my friend. Thank you for being a part of my life.

Thank you for helping Stigma Magazine. You will be missed

by so many.

Luke de Leseleuc

FROM THE PUBLISHER

6 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

THE BE YOU PROMISE IS A VOW TO YOURSELF THAT YOU WILL BE THE BEST YOU POSSIBLE.

The goal of the Be You Promise is to educate and generate awareness among Canadians through inspiring hope and health, to live a successful, fulfi lled and fun life without abusing drugs or alcohol.

By taking the Be You Promise, I am making the choice to lead a healthy life and set the example for my family and friends.

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BE SMART. BE YOU.

Share my promise on the CTF website

TAKE THE BE YOU PROMISE FOR YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS AND FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.

I promise to be the best me possible by not using illict drugs and by practicing moderation or abstinence in the use of alcohol.

Suite 703 -1803 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC, V8T 5C3E [email protected]. | P 778.746.7799 | TF 866.238.3077

INSPIRING HOPE AND HEALTH.

BE A HERO TAKE THE BE YOU PROMISE.






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BE SMART. BE YOU.








BE A HERO TAKE THEBE YOU PROMISE.

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 7




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BE SMART. BE YOU.








BE A HERO TAKE THEBE YOU PROMISE.

8 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

Aside from treating individuals with depression, art therapy has been shown to benefit people suffering from everything from domestic violence and traumatic brain injuries to cancer, PTSD, mental-health problems and more.

8 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

By Cassie Hooker

AT ITS CORE, ART THERAPY IS A FORM of psycho-

therapy that employs the creative arts as a means

of communication. A relatively new discipline, it has

its roots in the use of art as part of the treatment of

psychiatric patients in the 18th century. It began to

be accepted as an actual therapeutic discipline short-

ly after World War II, when art was used to help vet-

erans deal with their post-traumatic stress disorder.

The basic idea behind art therapy is that the creation

of art helps people reconcile their emotional conflicts,

promotes personal growth and encourages self-aware-

ness through the act of creating when paired up with

counseling and psychotherapy. The reason it’s an effec-

tive treatment method for people dealing with illness,

trauma, disability or stress is that it does not rely on the

use of words or conscious choices; thus, it is a valuable

outlet for suppressed thoughts and feelings that might

not be communicated easily otherwise.

The great thing about the application of art therapy

is that literally any kind of visual art medium can be

employed in the process. Not only that, but it can be

administered anywhere; art therapy doesn’t typically

require a specific location, although many therapists do

prefer to pick one place and time and stick to it.

How it worksThe therapists will usually choose art materials and

styles of intervention that are relevant to their client’s

needs, purposely designing their sessions to achieve

certain goals. Using the creative process, they help

their clients to gain insight into their problems, cope

with stress, improve their interpersonal interactions,

and work their way through traumatic experiences.

Art therapy can be conducted on a one-to-one ba-

sis or group setting, and there are usually two direc-

tions it can take: it can focus on the creative process

of making the art, or it can focus on an analysis gained

by the interaction between the patient and the thera-

pist. In the latter case, the therapist would interpret the

symbolism in the artwork produced by the patient, and

Art Therapy for Women

DRAWING ON HEALING:

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 9

also ask the patient for their own interpretation.

By making a detailed analysis of the symbols and

images in the art, the therapists can identify what the

patient is trying to communicate; they can then pursue

these messages in a way that feels safe and comfortable.

As part of a complete treatment program, art therapy can

produce substantial long-term benefits, such as:

• Providing an effective way to control one’s personal

issues

• An increased integration between thinking and feel-

ing

• Provides a means of assessing therapeutic progress

• Improved ability to self-soothe

• Aids in both containing and distancing overwhelming

trauma or stress

• Reduced frequency/severity of nightmares

• Increased self-esteem

• Reduced symptom severity

• Improved interpersonal interactions

Part of the appeal of art therapy is that it not only allows

the patient a more comfortable way of expressing their

innermost thoughts and feelings, but it also provides

them with a means of temporarily escaping their illness.

Since the distraction from sadness is widely thought to

be better for the patient than simply allowing them to

vent it, art therapy could benefit people suffering from

depression by temporarily distracting them from it.

Aside from treating individuals with depression, art ther-

apy has been shown to benefit people suffering from

everything from domestic violence and traumatic brain

injuries to cancer, PTSD, mental-health problems and

more.

Benefiting women everywhere Art therapy is now being accepted all over the country as

a popular technique for enabling women who have expe-

rienced domestic violence to cope with their traumatic

experiences, by allowing them a safe means of expressing

the feelings and thoughts that are difficult to say and by

giving them something to focus on outside of their trau-

ma. Taking part in a creative activity can be an extremely

powerful experience, because it lends an element of con-

trol to these women; through art therapy, they can gain

mastery over their emotions.

Women who have experienced violence, as well as any-

one in need, can benefit from art therapy whether or not

there is a therapist present. It can also be conducted on

one’s own, allowing a time and space for self-discovery,

personal empowerment, and personal expression, since

personal trauma and emotions can sometimes be difficult

to communicate, even in the form of creating art, in the

presence of another person.

Since art is both visual and sensory, art therapy can ena-

ble the artist to bring out traumas that are stored in their

implicit memory (a body-based type of memory differ-

ent from conscious memory). Like many people suffering

from trauma, women who have experienced abuse are

often unable to express their feelings verbally, especially

when the memory is still fresh; art therapy creates a sort

of transitional space for them that allows them to more

easily communicate their traumatic memories, giving

them a starting point for healing.

In addition to helping the patient/artist to pull out their

hurtful memories and communicate the devastating ef-

fect their trauma had on them, art therapy also has an

effect on the artwork’s audience. The produced art can

bring about feelings of empathy in the viewer, whereas

simple verbal communication has a tendency to hide as

much as it discloses; much of the horror the victim en-

dured at the hands of her abuser is beyond mere words.

Ultimately, by making use of art therapy, these women

come away with two things: the ability to safely express

emotions and memories that escape words, and a new

passion for an outlet that enables her to build and main-

tain her mental well-being throughout her life.

For more information on art therapy and its applica-

tions, visit: http://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/

programs-and-services/sexual-assault-domestic-vio-

lence-care-centre/art-therapy

10 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 11

THE WEEKS AFTER GIVING BIRTH CAN

be a difficult time for new moms.

For all that they do to ready them-

selves mentally, physically and financially

for the incredible change their lives are

about to undergo, there really isn’t

anything that can genuinely put them

in a state of total preparedness.

Nature has a way of throwing cur-

veballs. The presence of a new (and com-

pletely helpless) family member means a

huge adjustment to the entire household’s

daily schedule, sleep patterns and finances.

Having a new baby can also wreak havoc on

Mom’s emotional and psychological well-being and,

by extension, that of her other family members.

Often misrepresented as simply “baby blues,”

post-partum depression (or PPD) is a psychological

condition that affects as many as 1 in 4 new moms.

There are two types of PPD: early onset (those so-

called baby blues), and late onset.

Early onset PPD encompasses the natural emo-

tional highs and lows that can occur directly after

birth, as a result of the hormonal and physical

changes taking place in the new mom’s body.

The symptoms of early onset PPD can include

sadness, tearfulness, trouble sleeping and low

self-worth. This type of PPD is mild, but can af-

fect up to 80% of new moms and will usually

By Cassie Hooker

POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION


resolve itself within a week or two. The treatment for early

onset is simple; things like reassurance from one’s support

network and help with household and baby chores should aid

in clearing it up. Approximately 20% of new moms, however,

will develop a longer-lasting depression, also known as late

onset PPD.

Late onset commonly occurs anywhere from a week to a

month after delivery. It is far more intense than early onset,

affecting 10-16% of new moms and occurring over a much

longer period of time. Unfortunately, late onset PPD can of-

ten be severe enough to interfere with a woman’s ability to

look after herself and her baby. In these cases, it is impor-

tant for Mom to remember that having late onset PPD isn’t a

sign of weakness; it is a complication of birth that can having

far-reaching effects, but can be managed with proper diag-

nosis and intervention. PPD doesn’t come about as a result of

anything the mother did or did not do, and it has nothing to

do with socioeconomic or other factors.

The list of symptoms of late-onset PPD are lengthy and var-

ied, and can include:

• depression

• irritability

• misery

• feelings of hopelessness

• difficulty concentrating

• anger/rage

• loss of interest in activities

• difficult sleep patterns/fatigue or exhaustion

• trouble with memory or making decisions

• withdrawing from family/friends

• trouble bonding with baby

• decreased sex drive

• doubt about your ability as a mother

• worry about causing harm to oneself or one’s baby; and

in extreme cases, the desire to cause harm to oneself or

one’s baby.

Even though PPD is a fairly common occurrence, it can only

be properly diagnosed and treated by a qualified medical

professional. Some women have a pre-disposition toward late

onset PPD, including those with:

• depression during/after a previous pregnancy;

• previous depression or bi-polar disorder;

• family members with mental illness;

• stressful life events during/after pregnancy (job loss,

death, abuse, personal illness, etc.);

• medical complications during delivery;

• mixed feelings about the pregnancy;

• lack of solid support network; or

• addiction.

Treatment options

As with many medical conditions, the prompt diagnosis and

treatment of PPD can help new mothers manage their symp-

toms, allowing them to enjoy parenthood and bond with their

baby more successfully. Along with the more typical phar-

maceutical approach, psycho-social and psychiatric

approaches have also been shown to be effective

in treating it. Of these, Cognitive Behavioral Ther-

apy and Interpersonal Therapy show the most

promise.

Pharmaceutical intervention

One of the more common methods of counter-act-

ing the effects of PPD is the use of pharmaceuticals.

Anti-depressants, which interact with the brain’s chem-

istry to control moods, are the go-to method of

treatment. Although many of these are con-

sidered to be safe for use while breastfeed-

ing, women who are considering using


anti-depressants should have a serious conversation with

their doctor about the possible risks and benefits of using

the medication. As with many regular medications, anti-

depressants can take a week or two to reach full effec-

tiveness, and their effects may vary between individuals.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a structured form of

talk-therapy, which (with the help of a mental health

therapist) enables the individual to recognize their nega-

tive thought patterns. This allows them to learn to com-

bat stressful situations, and correct them in a construc-

tive way.

Interpersonal Therapy

Interpersonal Therapy is a short-term structured ap-

proach to mental wellness that focuses on the patient’s

past and present social and interpersonal interactions,

often choosing one or two problem areas in their current

life to work on. Some examples are disputes with friends

and family, grief or loss, and role transition (such as with

motherhood).

These therapy types can be used individually, or to-

gether for greater effectiveness. Being informed of the

risks associated not only with the PPD, but also with the

treatment options available, can have a positive effect on

the outcome; so, too, can maintaining a proper diet and

exercise regimen. If left untreated, PPD can worsen and

continue for years after the birth of the child. It can not

only interfere with the mother’s ability to form an emo-

tional bond with her child, but can also cause the child to

develop long-term problems related to sleeping, eating

and behaviour.

If you are experiencing depression that lasts longer than

two weeks, let your doctor know of your concerns. If your

depression has gotten to the point where you are think-

ing about harming yourself or your baby, please:

• Call your doctor

• Call 911, or go to your nearest emergency ward

• Call the 24 hour National Suicide Prevention, at:

1-800-273-8255 (TTY: 1-800-799-4889)

• Find information on different Canadian resources at:

www.suicide.org

Get answers to your questions

no questions asked…

Free • confidential1-800-665-2437

hep c • aids • hiv • prevention • testing • treatment


For many of us, the holidays bring up a swell of emo-

tions. The media portrays the season as one full of

happiness, family time, shiny gifts, hot chocolate,

chestnuts roasting on an open fire — the list goes on.

But let’s face it: for most of us, when we were using, the

holiday season was an excuse to use more; it was full of

parties and cheer. I loved this time of year because every-

one seemed to want to join in the festivities with me and

there was always an excuse to tie one on.

But for many of us in recovery, particularly newcomers,

this is the year that will define the rest of our lives. It’s

time to stop the insane roller coaster ride that we’ve been

on. It’s time to set goals, not resolutions! Let’s do our-

selves a big favor this year and make only one resolution:

to not make a resolution. Personally, ambiguous resolu-

tions have never worked for me. So this year I am setting

specific goals. Realistic, attainable goals.

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU: THINK GOAL SETTING, NOT RESOLUTIONS


So now that 2016 is upon us, what is next?

Nothing is more indicative of a fresh start than a new

year. So for people in recovery, setting the goal to quit

drinking, using drugs, and/or engaging in addictive be-

haviors (gambling, sex, eating, video gaming, shop-

ping, etc.) make perfect sense. Usually though, setting

goals is not enough. This is true even with non-addicts;

many set a goal to drop 20 pounds every year, but nev-

er quite manage to meet their mark. Of course, a bit of

extra belly fat is not usually as life threatening as a full-

blown addiction. The good news is that if you’ve set a

goal to stay sober in the New Year, there are a few sup-

plemental goals you can make to help you to achieve

(or maintain) that big one. Here are the ones on my list.

The number one and most important thing I will continue

doing is…

Keep going to meetings and/or maintain your sober

connections. If your recovery involves meetings, attend-

ing them regularly is a great way to meet and interact

with others who share your problem and speak your lan-

guage. Many recovering addicts attend meetings daily.

After all, they engaged in their addictive behaviors daily,

didn’t they? Typically, people in recovery find that having

sober friends to hang out with is a key element of main-

taining sobriety over the long haul.

Change your routine. Active addicts often have a routine

or pattern that eventually leads to using. Take a look at

your regular day, and figure out where the path veers off

toward addiction. At that point, you must do something

different. Instead of driving home down the street with all

the bars, take a different route. Instead of turning on the

TV and eventually smoking pot, go for a walk in a nearby

park. It doesn’t really matter what you do that’s different,

as long as it breaks the pattern that leads to using.

Improve your physical health. Getting sober is not just

about stopping with the drinking, using, or other compul-

sive behaviours; it’s a complete lifestyle change. Healthy

eating and regular exercise help you in numerous re-

spects. Most obviously, you feel better, which makes it

easier to not self-medicate.

Try new things. Taking a cooking class (maybe as part

of eating healthier meals), starting a new hobby or re-

suming an old one, joining a social club, or just about any

other new activity will put you in contact with lots of new

people, some of whom may become friends. These activ-

ities also can invigorate an otherwise stalled life.

There are many other things that you can do to help you

achieve your goal of staying sober this year, but these are

the ones that I personally am focusing on right now.

So remember, life happens. There’s not much any one of

us can do about that. That said, life in sobriety is always

better than life in active addiction. Sure, getting sober

and staying sober takes a lot of hard work and effort, but

it’s worth it. So dump the resolutions—and happy goal

setting. —Luke de Leseleuc


“Wholeness does not mean perfection; it means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life” —Parker J. Palmer

By Julia Breese

HEALINGLAYER BY LAYER

HEALINGLAYER BY LAYER


One of the modern theories of addiction is that its roots

are not physical or chemical addiction, but rather deep

trauma (past or present) and/or a lack of community sup-

port — things which cause feelings of disconnection and

a sense of being “incomplete.”

This sense of disconnect can manifest into many unhealthy

physical, mental and emotional patterns, including prob-

lematic substance use. The philosophy and practical tools

that yoga emphasizes help release our negative patterns

(samskaras) — or, more accurately, “misunderstandings”

— so that we can approach our lives with ease, bravery

and integrity. A rounded yoga practice can help cultivate

a sense of wholeness in one’s life, reducing reactivity

and compulsions. After all, the word “yoga” translates to

“yoke” or “to connect.”

One framework that yoga utilizes as a tool for healing

is the kosha system. The koshas can be seen as a guide

or map to the layers that make up each of us. They can

be utilized to explore our inner landscape and learn more

about our conditionings, habits and patterns. In the kosha

system, all layers, or “sheaths,” have value, with each one

having an important place in the expression of ourselves.

In essence, practicing with an awareness of the koshas

and contemplating them shows us that we are already

whole and complete. This concept is an important and

integral part of yogic theory and philosophy.

The five koshas are:

Annamaya kosha (Physical)

The annamaya kosha relates to our physical body. The

word anna literally translates to “food;” maya means

“made of.” Our body survives by taking in food and other

nutrients from the physical world. When people come to

yoga, they are often solely concerned with the physical

practice as it relates to the body. Although yoga address-

es body as part of the process of self-learning and inner

exploration, it is important to note that yoga is not only a

physical practice.

Pranamaya kosha (Energy)

Prana loosely translates to life force or energy and this

kosha represents our subtle body. In essence, prana is the

animating force in everything that has movement and vi-

bration. Although prana shows up in our bodies in several

different ways, the most accessible way we can work with

prana is through awareness of our breath. Our breath is

an immediate pointer to how we are doing. By altering

our breath, we have the incredible ability to change how

we feel both physically and emotionally. Our breath also

tells us if we are working in a safe realm or pushing our-

selves too hard. Breath awareness can be a powerful ally

if we are returning to physical practices after being limit-

ed by pain or trauma.


Manomaya kosha (Mental)

Mana means mind; although we often think of “mind” as

where intellect resides and thoughts are processed, the

yogic concept of “mind” also corresponds to our emo-

tions and nervous system. The practice of yoga encour-

ages us to become calmer, which nourishes our nervous

system. Once we are calm, we can take the time to look

at our patterns and emotions without attaching too much

importance to what we see. By reducing our reactivity,

we create an environment in which we can be more open

and honest with ourselves. We make space in our lives for

a place in which true healing can occur.

Vijnanamaya kosha (Mental)

Vijnana means “knowing” and this kosha refers to a

“deeper knowing” that is beyond the realm of thinking,

memories and emotions. Vijnanamaya is our own innate

wisdom that is present when we remove the clutter of

our conditionings. This kosha allows us to step back from

our situation and see things with more clarity. Vijnana-

maya can provide us with welcome insights into our own

habits and patterns if we take the time to listen this inner

wisdom. It invites us to release the habit of always “do-

ing” and explore the qualities of “being.” If we allow our-

selves some time to be in the present moment, without

needing to change anything, we give ourselves the space

for a fresh perspective on life.

Anandamaya kosha (Bliss)

Anandamaya kosha literally means the “bliss sheath;”

when we speak of bliss in this kosha, we aren’t referring to

feelings of bliss but rather a complete experience of being

bliss. The experience of anadamaya is not something that

can be found or sought out; it is always present but of-

ten unnoticed. Anandamaya is often experienced in fleet-

ing and unexpected

moments that touch us deeply although on occasion we

can slip into an experience of this kosha for longer pe-

riods. It exists out of time and space and can arise into

awareness when we are so immersed in something that

we completely lose sense of our self. In this kosha there is

no right or wrong, just pure awareness and perfect peace.

This kosha is sometimes described as a reflection of at-

man, our divine self and the eternal truth. Anadamaya is

coming home, knowing we are complete and perfect just

as we are.

Pulling it all together

Engaging in practices that support these five aspects of

ourselves can be a powerful healing tool for anyone deal-

ing with mental health issues, addiction or compulsive

behaviours. Below are just a few examples of things we

can do in our lives to increase our sense of wellbeing.

• Guided relaxation (free ones are abundant online).

• Bringing intuition into physical activities; listening to

what the body needs deeply, rather than training or

commanding the body.

• Expressing gratitude towards the body. Realizing

that it is our companion on this life journey and it

deserves to be cared for.

• Becoming aware of our natural energy cycles; making

time for rest a priority in our lives. Avoiding screen

time at least an hour before bedtime.

• Slowing the breath down by gently increasing the

length of the exhale.

• Laughing or sighing (both release tension).

• Meditation (both guided and unguided).

• Creative endeavours such as playing music, dancing,

writing or art. We can benefit from engaging in both

in solo and group oriented creative pursuits.

• Prayer or intention setting.

• Mindfulness (present moment awareness)

• Being in nature.

Julia Breese is a Yoga Therapist living in the Greater

Victoria area. She specializes in teaching yoga to those

recovering from trauma, mental health issues and ad-

diction. Learn more at www.garudayoga.ca


We offer private therapeutic yoga sessions to soothe your nervous system, reduce cravings and bring a greater sense of ease and comfort into your life.

Call 778-265-3916 for more information

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YOGA

www.garudayoga.ca • 778.265.3916 • [email protected]

soothe your nervous system, reduce cravings and soothe your nervous system, reduce cravings and bring a greater sense of ease and comfort into your life.bring a greater sense of ease and comfort into your life.

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TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE WITH YOGA

Sooke Therapeutic Yoga Society offers free

Health & Wellness programs to assist those

dealing with cancer, trauma issues, addic-

tions, etc., as well as offering yoga for kids

and teens. The Society also offers prenatal

yoga and noon-time yoga by donation. To

attend these sessions or learn more please

call 250.642.9642

Sooke Therapeutic Yoga Society

250.642.9642www.sookeyoga.com

PREGNANCY IS A WONDERFUL THING. IT means you’ve

created a life, and that’s a pretty extraordinary

gift. At the end of roughly 9 months, you’ll have

a tiny human who will love you unconditionally. That

in itself can make physical and emotional discomfort

worthwhile.

In a perfect world, a pregnant woman would only have

to contend with the physical side of the pregnancy;

there would be no emotional or psychological side,

apart from bonding with your soon-to-be baby. Alas, it

isn’t a perfect world, and pregnancy can have a wick-

ed way of creating problems where there weren’t any,

or exacerbating pre-existing problems. This is where

looking after your wellbeing is most crucial.

Going into it healthyEven though pregnancy is thought to be a time of emo-

tional wellbeing, all those nifty pregnancy hormones

can bring on anxiety, depression, or mood disorders.

How your pregnancy affects your mental state can de-

pend on a few things, such as stressful events that may

be going on around you (job loss, a death in the family,

etc.) and how you feel about being pregnant (wheth-

er it was planned, negative childhood memories). The

symptoms of mental illness during pregnancy are ba-

sically the same as those you might have in other cir-

cumstances, with the exception of some that focus en-

tirely on the pregnancy. Some examples of this include

any anxiety you are harbouring about having a child or

the changes in your physical appearance; some people

simply find it harder to deal with these changes and

uncertainties than others do. It’s natural to worry about

how you’ll cope with the new baby, whether it’s your

first pregnancy or your fourth.

Broken sleep and lack of energy aside, sometimes this

hormone and stress-related depression can be heavier

than even the most seasoned mom can handle. Even

if you don’t have a specific mental illness, if you are

feeling depressed and it’s affecting your daily life, get

support. This can come in the form of your network

of family and friends, your doctor, midwife, or other

health professionals. If you are suffering from anxie-

ty or depression, you might be offered psychological

treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or psy-

chotherapy. If your problem is more severe, your doctor

will likely refer you to a perinatal mental health spe-

cialist.

Previous mental health problemsSome women are more vulnerable than others to the

stresses brought on by pregnancy. Those who have

By Cassie Hooker

MAINTAINING MENTAL WELLNESS WHEN YOU’RE PREGNANT



previously suffered from serious mental illnesses like

schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disor-

der and severe depression or anxiety, for example, will

likely be referred to a mental health service for fur-

ther care, as they are at risk of becoming ill again after

childbirth.

A recent study conducted by the MGH Center for Wom-

en’s Mental Health followed a group of 147 women,

who had suffered previously from major depression,

for the length of their pregnancy. Eighty two of these

women continued using antidepressants throughout

their pregnancy; of these, 21 women experienced a

relapse. A total of 65 chose to stop using antidepres-

sants; of these women, 44 experienced a relapse. The

overall findings of this study suggested that women

who discontinued their medication were fives times as

likely to suffer a relapse as those who kept using their

medication.

Psychiatric illness while pregnant is a tricky thing, since

it may cause significant problems for the mother and

the child. As such, taking one’s regular medication out

of the picture may not always be the safest option. If

you are on medication foxr a previously existing mental

illness, you will have to contend with something that

other expecting moms may not: whether the medica-

tion you are on is safe for your baby.

Any decision regarding starting or maintaining a phar-

maceutical course of treatment while pregnant should

be done with full knowledge and understanding of the

possible risks and benefits associated with the medi-

cation in question. You will have to weigh the risks of

using medication against the risks of not using medi-

cation. In effect, it may become a matter of choosing

the lesser evil.

Have a planWhether you were healthy going into the pregnancy,

or have had a previous mental illness, it pays to have

a plan. A good place to start is to talk your doctor.

Often, they will be able to give you tips on managing

your illness, or a treatment plan, depending on its se-

verity; they will let you know the associated risks and

benefits behind the different kinds of treatment, al-

lowing you to make an informed choice. If you were

previously on medication, and decide to stop using

it, it’s best not to stop suddenly unless your doctor

tells you to; with some medications, people who stop

suddenly relapse faster.

If it seems like using medication is the best route, your

doctor will be able to help you by arming you with in-

formation. However, there are several personal things

you will need to consider when choosing the right

treatment:

• How unwell were you before the medication?

• How fast did you become unwell when you stopped it?

• Which medications have you used before, and which

worked best?

• What is the most up to date safety information about

the medication in question?

• What might happen if you become unwell during

pregnancy?

If you have had a severe mental illness in the past, it

may be a good idea to arrange a meeting with your

network of supports, so that you may determine a plan

for your mental health care during pregnancy. In addi-

tion to all of the health professionals associated with

your pregnancy, you can also choose to include your

significant other and close family and friends; it is a

good idea if the people closest to you know about your

mental health problems so that they can know what

symptoms to look for.

In a general sense, your network of family and friends

can also help take the stress off your shoulders a bit

by helping with the housework, or cooking some meals

for you. There are also some things you can do to help

ensure your mental wellbeing while you are pregnant:

• Eat a balanced diet

• It’s safest to stop consuming alcohol, tobacco and

other drugs while pregnant. If you choose not to ab-

stain, find ways to cut back

• Find some time each week to do something you enjoy

• Exercise

• Communicate openly with your family and support

network

• Get regular sleep

No matter what coping method you choose, the im-

portant things to remember are to do your best to look

after yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

CLARA HUGHES WALKING THROUGH THE FIRE

By Luke de Leseleuc


THIS PAST SEPTEMBER LUKE DE LESELEUC of Stig-

ma Magazine had the privilege of meeting Olym-

pic athlete Clara Hughes to discus here book Open

Heart Open Mind, and talked to her about her past strug-

gles with depression and the stigma associated with men-

tal illness.

LDL: So how did the book release go?

CH: It went really well. It’s very emotional when it’s the

story of your life and the people in your life that you are

presenting. If you’ve read the book, you’ll know it’s not

presented in the most positive light for myself and other

people, but it’s the reality I’ve lived. I had a huge meltdown

on the Tuesday of the release of the book. I had to can-

cel a few interviews, but you do the best you can. To have

[sports broadcaster] Michael Landsberg there with me for

the first book event was awesome! He did an interview

with me on stage for about a half hour. There were

maybe 250 people and many of them stayed be-

hind after, and it was everyone; the business

person, to the homeless person, to the person

I could see did everything they could to get

out the door that day to come and be a part

of something. This happens to be a book re-

lease that happens to be my story, but this is

SO much more. It was really cool!

LDL: The brushing off ceremony just be-

fore the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver had a

major influence not only on this book, but

also your journey of healing. What can you share about that

moment and how it has changed you?

CH: That’s a traditional ceremony from the indigenous

people that they’ve used for so long and it was gifted to

me. I think healing comes in all ways, shapes and forms.

For me it’s come from clinical therapy, as well as from these

experiences; it also comes from being outside and from

movement. But it’s so different for every one of us.

I was under a lot of stress at the time. I was here back in

Vancouver, days before the home Olympics, and I’ve just

done a press conference being named the Flag Bearer, but

all I’m thinking about is performing. It’s about having an ex-

perience, but as an athlete you train so much, and I am not

going to let anything stand in the way of my performance

and all of a sudden there’s this huge stress. So a friend saw

me stressed out and invited me to this ceremony. Because

I was open and curious and kind of desperate, I said, “Yeah

thanks. I would like that. I would like to accept that.” So

when I went, I had no idea what I was stepping into.

It profoundly affected me at the time. That ceremony

opened me up, and it gave me a life lesson that sometimes

you just have to accept help.

LDL: Like a fork in the road?

CH: Exactly! But it’s also realizing that you can’t do it alone.

I knew that I had to step out on the ice alone. When I’m

racing, I’m alone, but I am also fed by so many other things.

It’s like some days, I can’t get outside, but I know that if

I do, and even if I just walk up around the block, it’s not


going to remove the darkness that I’m feeling, but I know

that it’s going to give something positive within that strug-

gle. It’s realizing that your actions matter so much and that

sometimes it’s just the smallest actions of acceptance and

of accepting the help and accepting the experience or op-

portunity that can lead you to a pretty amazing place.

LDL: I know that for many people, just sharing parts of your

story creates a sense of healing.

CH: It’s been really interesting. I have some friends living

in the Nunavut region in Northern Quebec. My friend, who

is the principal there, said, “I saw the news thing on you.”

He said, “ I just want to share something with you.” He said

to me that they are doing a healing program in their com-

munity. There’s a struggle with addiction and multi-gener-

ational trauma with residential relocation and residential

school system. They have a healer from the Mohawk nation

that’s come up to share with them the Healing Circle.

At first my friend said, “I don’t know about this.” But the

premise is that you share your struggle. You share your

trauma with the circle, with everybody in it. By putting it

out there, as painful as it is, you are walking on fire. You

have to walk on that fire to start the healing process. By

sharing it, you are not only starting the healing process for

yourself, but it is also for everybody that listens; because

they come out and maybe they get some courage or some

understanding or feeling of not being alone in their strug-

gle and they are able to share it.

He said, “Clara, you’re walking through the fire right now,

but this is the start of healing for you and the more people

that you can share it with, the greater the healing for all of

us.” I thought that was really beautiful. It helped me just be

more settled. It was just a very emotional time, and a lot

of deep-rooted things that I saw on the news about this

book and the video of my dad at the Atlanta Olympics. I

was 23 years old at the time and I’d just won one of my first

Olympic medals, and my dad — who I love and worshiped,

but who also was an alcoholic — was on the TV with my

mom. I grew up in an environment of him verbally abusing

my mother, and lived with and had internalized all these

feelings of inadequacy, guilt and failure, and I had to stop all

that. I just wanted my dad to be present; for me, all I want-

ed was for my dad to say, “I love you.” I never got that from

him. He never admitted, and we could never confront him

on, his drinking. I was never even able to stand up against

my dad for berating my mother. I just stopped creating sit-

uations so that he couldn’t do that.

It was really hard to see him because he’s not here any-

more. As an adult I was never able to tell him, “This is how

you hurt me, and I still love you, and you still have so much

that you could be, but you did all of this and your actions

has created all of this trauma for all of us.” How would he

feel if he’s read this book, or seen this report? I just felt so

terrified. But I had that message of, “You’re walking through

the fire and we’re walking through it with you.”

LDL: It’s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for you

sharing your life story.

CH: It’s hard. There’s a lot of things in this book that I re-

veal with my struggles with eating disorders and all of that,

just the real self dialogue I’ve had over my life that I try to

show in this book. It’s hard to admit those things as truth,

because I still want to be like - I’ve got my shit together

all the time, you know? It’s still a struggle to be okay with

being human.

It’s like I can create this image anytime, but what I try to

do with the book is to share the real things that go on and

do go on in my mental process, but also the things that

have helped me, the things that I’ve connected to. I have

so much respect and admiration and a deep value for what

the aboriginal communities have to offer. Many of them are

re-visiting that, from residential schools, from relocation,

and they have somehow managed to carry on and move

forward and re-teach.

I have been privy to many pathways to healing, especially

the last five years with being involved with the effort that

so many of us are making to de-stigmatize what is called

mental illness or addiction; to bring the humanity to it. I’ve

been privy to so many stories, so much sharing and I learn

so much from others. I think it’s an amazing sharing that

has happened within people and organizations and the ef-

fort to get the stories out. I hope this book stimulates more

of that.


LDL: What message of hope can you give to the women

out there who are struggling and are afraid to let anyone

know about their struggles?

CH: I think that you have to know that it starts with one

person. Your healing circle can be two people. It is the be-

ginning of the healing and you are not alone, because you

are sharing it. Also, for women to realize that I have done

this in a very public way, and it is something that I am going

to honestly find out if I can handle. I don’t know if I can.

What I’ve been able to do is to try to get people talking. It’s

not me that should be doing this; it’s the person who has

never been in the spotlight who has an incredible story to

tell that we should be learning from. So what I want to say

is whatever the healing process is for you, that is learning

how to manage, live, and cope with the sickness you might

have. Learning how to do that so you can function as a hu-

man being and realize that what you’re going through what

you have gone through as difficult as it is, it is something

that you can use to help another person, and it has value, it

is unique to you.

When I look back over all of those years, I wish I could have

had the capacity to accept help earlier; we live in a world

where the help often just isn’t there. I was in a privileged

position of being an athlete and had the offering of help

but decided not to take it, decided to continue struggling.

I’m not saying that I had it any easier, but the reality is that I

had the support. I think that as a society and a country that

is so rich, we are so poor when it comes to access to re-

sources and care for people who are struggling with mental

health and addiction issues. We need to be so much better.

LDL: Let’s talk about stigma a little bit. What frustrates you

the most about the stigma that’s still out there?

CH: Well there’s been a change over the last five or six

years. I’ve been at the forefront of talking about it, opening

up about it, [and people say], “Hey Clara, you’re great we

still love you.” But I’m like…I’m not the reality of all this... I’m

getting this support and we’re talking about it, but how are

we reacting as citizens, as human beings, to each other? To

the person that you see on the street, to the person that

you see confused, to the person that you see distraught

that isn’t the athlete who succeeded?

When you ask me about stigma, I just have to say that I’m

not the voice for this; so many others should be the voice

for this, and that is slowly happening. But in some ways, I

think that what most people see that I do in this area is very

superficial.

We’ve come a long way, but man, the reality is we have a

long, long, long way to go.

Enjoying your mental health means having a sense of well-

being, being able to function during everyday life and feel-

ing confident to rise to a challenge. Sometimes you have to

take a leap of faith and share your story with someone you

trust, someone who will be there for you when you have

to walk through that fire. Remember you don’t have to do

this alone. Talk to someone and start your healing journey

today.

This interview has been edited and condensed. To learn

more about Clara, visit clara-hughes.com

I KNEW MY DAUGHTER SMOKED POT. I knew this, and it didn’t bother me too much. I considered weed the least of many evils. I’m a professional in the addictions system, and I believed that alcohol was by far the bigger enemy. My daughter was 17, in Grade 12, worked part time, had a good group of friends and a pretty nice savings account. She was responsible, reliable, a natural leader. And she smoked pot. It was earlier this year, in May, when she first got sick. She missed over a week of school and work due to non-stop vom-iting. We went to a walk-in clinic where we were told she had the flu. She found relief in warm baths and lots of sleep. Over eight days she lost six pounds but, finally, she was feeling better.

Three weeks later the symptoms reappeared. We returned to the walk-in clinic, certain that something else must be going on. When the doctor learned that her high school graduation was fast approaching, he immediately thought that she must be reacting to the stress of this important event. We returned home, where the cycle continued; more warm baths, more flu-ids, more vomiting and more weight loss, a total of 13 pounds.

By now, she had missed another 10 days of school, and peo-ple were starting to suggest that she might be anorexic. Out of desperation, we went to the hospital. She was given some saline by IV, along with a shot of Gravol to reduce nausea.

She felt well enough to attend her graduation ceremony that evening. I was so proud as I watched her walk across the stage to receive her diploma.

A few hours later, the vomiting started again. The next day was her formal dinner and dance, the biggest

event of her young life. She got her hair and makeup done with a bucket in her lap. She vomited for hours; I didn’t think she would make it through the day. I drove her and her date to the hotel for the dinner and dance. She was just like Cinderella; dressed like a princess and running out of time. She continued to vomit at the hotel.

She was admitted to hospital the next morning. They ran dozens of tests and found nothing wrong with her. At the end of day two in the hospital, the doctor asked: “Do you smoke pot?” She answered honestly and he said that there was a chance she could have Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, or CHS. The doctor explained the symptoms and they seemed to fit.

My daughter agreed to go without smoking pot for 90 days to see if the vomiting would stop. It did. We’re so grateful.

As a mother, I naturally hate pot for what it did to my child. But real medical benefits associated with marijuana are starting to emerge; it appears to help with some types of seizures, and may also relieve some symptoms of cancer, glaucoma and lu-

I knew my daughter smoked pot

By Sharlene Law


pus. But, as my daughter and I found out, there are also some potential negatives, such as CHS, which is a new and little-understood syndrome triggered by chronic cannabis use.

When people get a prescription filled at a phar-macy, they are given a list of possible side effects as well as very clear dosage instructions: how much, how many times per day, and for how long. When people buy pot from their dealer or with their medical card, they don’t get any of these. It is up to consumers to do their own research, to find their own trusted source of information, or to just figure it out by trial and error.

Many teenagers are introduced to pot by their peers during high school. They are then left to decide what role it will play in their lives by them-selves. Why can’t we get a more balanced message, about both the positive and negative effects of marijuana use into our schools and homes before they try it with friends? Kids will likely still try it, but they will be much more aware of all of the potential outcomes, good and bad.

Western governments declared war against drugs many years ago. A war on drugs is a war on people who use drugs. It isn’t working, nev-er has, and never will. We need to change our approach and have open, honest conversations, without fear mongering, in our homes, on our playgrounds and in schools. At the beginning of this article, I said I knew my daughter smoked pot. I knew this because she told me. We’ve always had amazing and frank discussions about marijuana, and have had many similar conversations about other difficult topics. When she was diagnosed with CHS, we worked on the solution together, and I supported her to-tally, even though I hadn’t always agreed with her decision to smoke pot.

But, isn’t that what being a parent is all about?

Sharlene Law is a Team Lead at the Umbrella So-ciety for Addictions and Mental Health. You can learn more at umbrellasociety.ca or foundation-house.ca.

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JENNIE’SJOURNEY

I HAVE BEEN ESCAPING FROM REALITY AND playing a

victim for as long as I can remember. I was never com-

fortable in my own skin, rarely able to see my value or

my part in situations and always feeling like I didn’t fit in.

My addictive behaviour originates with food, which is

what was accessible as a child. As my compulsive over-

eating increased both my weight and the barrier between

myself and the world; it fed my belief that I did not fit in.

Binge drinking, cigarette smoking and promiscuity start-

ed at 13 years old as a way to feel a part of something.

I became a single mother of twins at age 22, convinced

that the only way to cope with the hand I was dealt was

to numb out. Occasional marijuana use quickly became

daily, then hourly, used just to achieve what I defined to

be sanity. At 37 years old, after years actively participat-

ing in my eating disorder, often concealed as “the mun-

chies,” I had reached 370 pounds. In 2009, I did the only

thing that made sense: I attacked the physical problem,

had gastric bypass surgery and lost 210 pounds. It was

the answer to all my problems — or so I thought.

I had completely ignored the emotional and spiritual

problem of addiction. Now with the metabolic change

mixed with my continued poor sense of my value in the

world, I took to the “courage juice” in July 2011. My ad-

diction had found the perfect formula: a self-righteous

entitlement to freedom from parenting, a considerably

smaller frame and a remarkable tolerance for vodka. It

started out as a weekend gig at clubs and then became a

daily reprieve from reality — which really didn’t mix well

with the marijuana, so I dropped the marijuana use and

continued my love affair with alcohol.

By May 2012, I was experiencing the morning shakes

and did not understand that this was withdrawal, but

found that more alcohol made it stop. By September

2013, I was admitting to my doctor that I had a problem

but was still convinced I had the willpower to overcome it;

I refused her recommendation to get some professional

help and she reluctantly prescribed the valium I was go-

ing to need to ease the withdrawal symptoms and pre-

vent a seizure. I tried to get sober several times between

then and May 2014, when my doctor finally prescribed my

attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous. She literally wrote

a prescription for me to attend and told me she would

call me in the morning to see how my first meeting went.

I was suddenly accountable to someone, and she sent me

to a group of more people I would come to be accounta-

By Jennie H


ble to. In hindsight, it was really rather genius.

I was “fine” as a compulsive overeater; I was “fine” as a

pot head; barely drawing a sober breath for my entire

adulthood and most certainly for the duration of my

twins’ childhood was “fine.” It took alcohol three years

to demolish my belief that I was fine, and for that I am

eternally grateful.

What I am learning about addiction disorder:

• I was born with it and am powerless against it.

• I will never be cured of it and it will continue to

transfer until I adopt the tools to fight it every day.

• And I am not alone!

In recovery, my sense of self is evolving from a definite

physical body to an infinite spirit. I am coming to under-

stand that we are not human beings having a spiritual ex-

perience, but that we are spiritual beings having a human

experience. Unobstructed by the haze of active addiction

in combination with the tools of the program, I am finding

out what oneness is. There is not another human soul in

existence that is better than another or more deserving of

love. Working the 12 steps shows me that each of us can

be judgemental, fearful, self centered, careless and unlov-

ing to both self and others. I am no longer a victim of cir-

cumstance and I understand that each joy and heartache

is intended to reveal a lesson or at the very least bring me

in concert with my fellows.

Our higher power, sponsors and fellowship is meant to

guide each journey into a greater understanding.

What I am learning about recovery:

• It is mine for the taking.

• I will get out of it what I put in.

• And I never have to be alone again.

• My journey has only just begun. I have the rest of my

life to share my story; its trials, tribulations and vic-

tories.

See you in the rooms, my friends!


NAME?IN MY YEARS AS A JOURNALIST, I have learned that

words are powerful. In my work at an addiction and

harm-reduction research centre, I have discovered

that this is doubly true. Not only do words like “addict”

or “alcoholic” carry many negative connotations, they

also reduce a person to their current issue or situation.

When people face substance-use issues, they are not one

dimensional; they are human beings who need our sup-

port and compassion. The same goes for labeling people

with mental-health issues as “crazy.” Even terms such as

“clean and sober” insinuate that people who are using

substances are somehow dirty. These are blanket terms

that separate “those people” from us, and are a way for

us to distance ourselves. This is known as “othering.”

How can we change? Well, we can start by putting peo-

ple first in our language. Instead of saying “the home-

less,” say “people experiencing homelessness.” Swap out

“addict,” “junkie,” or “alcoholic” for “person experiencing

an alcohol/drug problem.” These terms also reinforce that

one’s housing situation or drug/alcohol use is not nec-

essarily a permanent part of their identity. We can also

work towards ending negative associations between vio-

lence and mental illness by not using terms like “psycho”

or “schizo” to describe violent or angry people or their

actions.

It won’t be an easy transition; I still find myself using

some of these terms in my daily conversations, but am

catching myself and others. It’s also a big challenge for us

as journalists and writers; in a world where brevity is im-

portant and stories need to get shorter and shorter, it’s a

lot easier to write a headline like “Addicts sleep in parks”

than it is to find a less stigmatizing way to refer to what is

likely a much more complicated situation than that. But if

our mission as journalists is to relay information fairly and

accurately, we need to do our part and stop reinforcing

stereotypes and stigma with our words.

Some people choose to self-identify as an alcoholic

or addict, but it’s precisely that: their own choice. They

are not assigned that label by a reporter, politician or

a stranger walking by on the street. But I suspect (and

hope) that the less we use these terms in our daily lives,

the less we will see people using them to describe them-

selves. So let’s help erase stigma, one word at a time.

—Amanda Farrell-Low

WHAT’S IN A

LANGUAGE & STIGMADRUNK. JUNKIE. CRAZY. THESE ARE WORDS LOADED WITH STIGMA. SO WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO USE THEM TO DESCRIBE PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY?


tigmaS

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OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE number of women

aged 30 and above who are starving them-

selves, exercising in dangerous amounts,

abusing laxatives, and indulging in self-destructive

activities typically associated with teenagers and

young adults has been increasing. This isn’t a symp-

tom of a treatment failing; instead, it’s a sign that eat-

ing-related disorders can occur at any age.

“I think the degree of despair we are seeing among

adult women about their bodies is unrivaled,” says Mar-

go Maine, co-author of The Body Myth: Adult Women and

the Pressure to be Perfect. “Eating disorders creep up dur-

ing periods of developmental transitions, so the peak had

been 13 to 15 and 17 to 19; moving into adolescence and

moving into college. Now, we are seeing them again dur-

ing or after pregnancy and as women hit other life phases,

such as empty nesting.”

No one really knows what triggers eating disorders, but

emerging studies point to changing brain signals. Howev-

er, it is difficult to determine whether this defective bio-

chemistry is the root cause of the poor eating, or the re-

sult of it. The most prominent theory about the cause of

eating disorders is that it is pretty much the same as other

syndromes with no apparent cause: some people are born

with certain genes that make them susceptible to environ-

mental stimuli.

“‘Genetics loads the gun, and the environment pulls the

trigger,’ is what the experts always say at the eating dis-

order conferences,” says Caitlin Scafati, a recovered an-

orexic.

The problem is, nobody has put their finger on which

genes are to blame.

That being said, it is unusual for a woman to develop an

eating disorder for the first time after the age of 50. Most

women who display the characteristics of an eating dis-

order past this age dealt with it when they were younger,

too. In older women, the common symptoms of an eating

disorder (such as loss of bone density and lack of menstru-

ation) are harder to spot, since these mirror events that

occur naturally in women as they age. Thus, middle aged

women with eating disorders are often misdiagnosed.

Greater and greater emphasis is being placed on an ide-

al of beauty that includes being thin. As with teenagers

By Cassie Hooker

MIDLIFE EATING DISORDERS


and young adults, older women today are under pressure

to “age beautifully” which, to some, means being thin no

matter the cost. As such, they turn to extreme dieting fads,

over-exercising, and starving themselves.

These are some of the signs of an eating disorder:

• Food is all you can think about

• You think you are fat, when other people think you are

too thin

• You’ve lost more than 15 pounds in three months

• You worry about losing control over how much you eat

• You make yourself vomit because you feel uncomfort-

ably full

The physical effect

Anorexia nervosa, often simply referred to as anorexia, is

characterized by habitual dieting in order to lose weight.

Over time, this dieting comes to represent the person’s

ability to control their weight and, thus, their life. Bulimia,

another common eating disorder, is characterized by the

act of eating (sometimes excessive amounts) and then

purging in some way. This purging can come in the form of

exercising in extreme amounts, or causing oneself to vomit

the food out. There is also binge eating disorder, which

causes the sufferer to eating excessive amounts without

purging, and other specified feeding and eating disorder,

or OSFED (a sort of catch-all for those who have some

symptoms of anorexia or bulimia, but not all of them).

The bodily damage eating disorders can cause can be

severe, regardless of someone’s age. Though they are con-

sidered to be a psychological illness, the physical effects

they leave behind are profound. Eating disorders like an-

orexia and bulimia are dangerous psychological/physical

conditions that drive the sufferer to extreme measures,

endangering their own life, for the sake of staying thin. An-

orexia nervosa is among the deadliest of all psychological

disorders; up to 20% of all chronic sufferers die from it.

The bodily and psychological changes that happen once

a woman reaches middle age almost echo those that occur

during puberty, putting women in this age group at high

risk for developing new eating disorders, or relapsing with

old ones. The typical starvation and binging and purging

that characterize eating disorders all damage the heart,

gastrointestinal systems, and teeth; irregular eating habits

can also cause hormonal imbalances that can lead to os-

teoporosis. These issues affect those of any age suffering

from eating disorders, but they hit older women harder

since their bodies are naturally less resilient.

The path to healing

Maturity, along with a growing risk of eating disorders, also

brings with it a unique weapon to fight these disorders

with: life experiences and insights, not to mention older

women tend to be more aware of the overall cost of main-

taining their unhealthy eating habits. Women who happen

to have teenaged daughters have a sort of built-in motiva-

tor; the worry that their daughters might mimic their bad

behaviour can often be what drives them to seek help on

their own terms.

Another driving force behind older women with eating

disorders seeking help is that, after years of suffering with

them, they finally realise that the thing they thought would

bring them happiness never actually did. Still, taking the

first step in admitting the problem does not make the pro-

cess of recuperation any easier. The healing process can

be more difficult for older people than it is for teenagers. It

involves unraveling years of ingrained habits, and throwing

out an identity that has probably been intertwined with

the eating disorder for decades.

The first step in healing (eating healthy) is one that

seems hard to come to terms with, especially when the

sufferer may have an actual fear of food and the possibil-

ity of gaining weight. Since the path to healing is difficult,

women who are living with an eating disorder should seek

help from their doctor, or a reputable program for eating

disorders. Exercise, in proper amounts, will also help with

the healing process; since eating disorders are linked with

depression, and exercising releases endorphins (which

help improve mood), it can have a profound effect on

womens’ mental and emotional well-being — making the

next step that much easier to take.

To learn more about eating disorders, and their psycho-

logical effect, visit: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/

miic-mmac/chap_6-eng.php

We’ve been there. We can help.

[email protected]

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