Personal stories - written by sufferers, or friends and family, on their own eating disorder, or mental health problems A brilliant, intense book. I have heard it said that it either heals or triggers, depending on the person reading it. Marya grew up into bulimia then severe anorexia. The book contains graphic descriptions of her life with this disorder, and a very detailed introduction into the inside of the anorexic's mind.
This book is more about mental health issues than eating disorders. It details the experience of being incarcerated in the 1960s for a 'character disorder' in an 18 year old girl. It is told in a clear, honest voice, and both humorous and tragic in balance. Definitely a great read. This was the first personal account of anorexia that I read, back when I first arrived at university. It tracks Claire's life as she grows up, her various stays in hospital and her eventual recovery. It is very dark in places, but in the end it leaves you with a feeling of hope that things can be much better than this. This is a very personal account of growing up with partial blindness. Kuusisto is a poet and the prose is a wonder to read. He did suffer with anorexia at one time, and this is an important reminder that men suffer with eating disorders as well as women. It's a very inspiring read, absolutely beautiful. These three books make up a detailed account of Dave Pelzer's life from early childhood through teens as a foster child, to the present. It is not only a graphic account of the abuse he suffered by his mother, but most importantly it carries the message that it is possible to grow up and leave the past behind. Even for people who have not suffered child abuse, it is a very inspiring book. I might warn some who are dealing with severe abuse issues to think carefully about whether to read the books. The first book is deeply traumatic - I wouldn't want anybody to read it and find it triggered memories/emotions that they weren't able to deal with without professional help. Self-help books - advice and guidance for those thinking about recovery Basically, this is a step-by-step guide to self-discovery and recovery from anorexia. There is a lot of information useful to parents, family and friends too. There are a number of exercises to look at emotional issues underlying the problem, and even some meal plans along with explanations for how to use them. In the back there are a large number of helpful addresses and phone numbers, for people in the UK. There is also a large bibliography of books on eating disorders, child abuse, mental health issues and rape. Spike Milligan has lived with depression all his life, and in this book, he and Clare (a psychiatrist who frequently appears on BBC Radio 4 with a number of different programmes including 'In the Psychiatrist's Chair') examine the causes and treatment of depression for sufferers. In this book, Dave Pelzer draws on his own experience of abuse to encourage the reader to move forward and leave the past behind. I haven't read this myself, but judging by his autobiographical books (see personal stories section above) it's got to be well worth a read. Dealing with one major part of eating disorders, destructive low self-esteem. This is a very detailed book, and probably aimed more towards friends, family and carers, as a reassurance. It deals with understanding the problem in more depth, working on eating and dealing with underlying emotional issues. I think this is a very important book for the family, as it discusses strategies for working together towards healing. There is lots of information, further reading, helplines and addresses. Academic - psychology/sociology books on the subject of anorexia and other eating disorders Information and guides - offering information for sufferers or others on the basics of eating disorders such as symptoms, signs and dangers
Marya Hornbacher - Wasted Susanna Kaysen - Girl, Interrupted Claire Beeken - My Body My Enemy Stephen Kuusisto - The Planet of the Blind Dave Pelzer - A Boy Called It; The Lost Boy; A Man Named Dave A.H. Crisp, et al. - Anorexia Nervosa: The Wish To Change Spike Milligan and Anthony Clare - Depression and How to Survive It Dave Pelzer - Help Yourself Melanie Fennell - Overcoming Low Self-Esteem Janet Treasure - Anorexia Nervosa: a guide for families, friends and sufferers
