What is Pro Ana?

If you randomly stumble onto this blog you might wonder what ‘Pro Ana’ means.

I have gathered this from Wikipedia:

‘Pro-ana refers to the promotion of the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. It is often referred to simply as "ana" and is sometimes personified by anorexics as a girl named Ana. The lesser-used term pro-mia refers likewise to bulimia nervosa and is sometimes used interchangeably with pro-ana.

Pro-ana organizations differ widely in their stances. Most claim that they exist mainly as a non-judgmental environment for anorexics; a place to turn to, to discuss their illness, and to support those who choose to enter recovery. Others deny anorexia nervosa is a mental illness and claim instead that it is a "lifestyle choice" that should be respected by doctors and family.’

The basic thing is, if you are against Pro Ana, I respect your opinion. Everyone in life thinks differently. I think starving for perfection is right. Probably in your mind you think it's disgusting and I respect that. I am not trying to promote anorexia or make people follow in my footsteps. If someone reads my blog and decides that starve themselves is the right thing to do, I will support them. It's there decision not mine.

Unlike some Pro Ana websites and blogs, I do not believe anorexia is a lifestyle or a choice. I see it as a terminal illness (the best way I could describe it). Once you have contracted it, there is no way to cure it. I know some people can recover and that is why the world 'terminal illness' does not best describe it. Yes I admit at one point in my life I thought of it as a lifestyle but those days are well behind me.

That brings me to the next topic, recovery. I believe recovery is a personal choice and something not to be forced upon. Sometimes I feel as if I want to go into recovery other times I have a freak out thinking about it. Anyways if you are Pro Recovery and are reading this, I wish you luck.

The main thing this blog is for is to help myself and other boys and girls going through the same thing and wanting support.

But what I would ask from you is not to spam my blog with negative comments. If you want to voice your opinion, feel free to leave me an email, there we can discus it.

Stay strong

James