Vismaya Kulkarni is a specialist eating disorders psychologist who has witnessed the impact of stigma within her role and tackling it is something she does daily. Alongside this she has worked as a crisis volunteer supporting people with eating disorders. In this blog she shares her tips on managing and tackling stigma as well as providing some practical activities to help guide this process - her hope is that this blog offers a small counterweight to the stigma and helps people to feel less alone.
Did you know, anywhere between 1.25M to 3.4M people are affected by an eating disorder in the UK? However more than half of people with eating disorders and eating difficulties don’t receive help for their struggles. One of the main factors affecting this is stigma. Experiencing stigma can be very overwhelming and daunting, but especially so when you don’t know how to deal with it.
Here are some ways to deal with stigma around eating disorders that anyone can use:
1. Recognising Stigma and Encouraging Discussion
Stigma often arises from a lack of knowledge/understanding, fear, misguided information or even misrepresentation of eating disorders in the world around us (such as media, news, peers etc.). First is to understand that stigma comes in various forms and isn’t always direct. You might encounter negative attitudes from others around you, organisations or even online. Another type of stigma we often overlook is internalised shame that people have about their own eating difficulties.
It is important to recognise what kind of stigma you are dealing with.
One of the most powerful ways to tackle stigma of any kind is to educate yourself on eating disorders, so you can have an informed perspective. It’s a crucial step that helps you not only recognise stigma but also bring awareness to it.
Another powerful way to deal with stigma when you encounter it, is to have an open conversation about eating disorders. By promoting awareness and encouraging discourse, we can help the other party recognise any misinformation or ignorance and have the opportunity to educate themselves on eating disorders. It can start with taking a deep breath when you hear a stereotype or misinformation, pausing and then asking the other person something as simple as “I’m curious about where you heard that” or “I’m interested to know why you think that”. This can help you encourage an open discussion about the other person’s perspective and challenge stereotypes while promoting awareness. You can go a step further and guide them to the many evidence-based resources available.
Remember you have the right to advocate for yourself and your experience as long in a respectful and kind manner. This involves operating from a place of compassion and encouraging positive dialogue.
Activity 1: Write down any situation where you noticed stigma around eating disorders, recognise how you can respectfully open up discussions about it the next time you encounter something like that.
2. Self-Compassion and Support
When we face any kind of stigma, it is natural to feel a wide range of emotions. Having faced a lot of stigma about eating disorders in my profession, I understand the frustration and discomfort that comes with it. It becomes really important to take care of yourself through this especially for these reasons.
Start by creating a supportive environment around you and surrounding yourself with your support systems to foster safety. These can be your friends, family, trusty peers and colleagues and healthcare professionals who understand your journey and respect it. They can help you navigate different situations effectively by providing a fresh perspective. You could even ask them how they deal with stigma!
While other people can provide immense support, it’s also important to show compassion to yourself.
Facing stigma is no easy experience and can often leave us feeling drained, triggered and confused. It’s important to take time to recognise any discomfort and engage in self-care activities to support yourself. It can be as simple and effective as being mindful about your media consumption. It can be easy to get sucked into misleading previews or false information (or even clickbait thumbnails).
Make sure to consume evidence-based and researched content and step away from distressing content to protect your wellbeing.
Activity 2: Ask someone you trust how they navigate stigma in their life. Also write down ways you can practice self-compassion through your experience.
3. Respect Differences
A part of tackling stigma about eating disorders is also acknowledging that everyone’s experiences with eating disorders and eating difficulties is unique and valid. It’s okay to listen and understand different perspectives, and validate their experience without judgement.
Respecting different experiences and opinions might help you deal with stigma much more effectively.
If you’re comfortable, you can also share your own story or experience - whether it is with eating difficulties or knowing someone with an eating disorder, if you feel safe to do so. This will help encourage empathy about the realities of challenges that arise with eating disorders.
4. Seek Professional Help
Stigma can impact our wellbeing to a great degree. It can also impact our access to healthcare and support. If you find yourself struggling not only with eating difficulties, but also the stigma attached to it, it’s important to speak with your GP or a healthcare professional. They can help you navigate and plan available support under professional guidance. They might also be able to help you access various other forms of support that are specific to your experience.
Remember, it’s okay to ask for help.
Activity 3: Write down two ways you can use the support available to you.
The current reality of stigma about eating disorders is that sometimes, no matter what you do, you sometimes cannot change someone’s perspective. However, you can focus on what’s in your control and even guide them to various resources. It helps to focus on expressing yourself rather than wanting to change someone’s opinions. Remember you’re not alone and to be kind to yourself throughout this.
