PHILOREXIA NERVOSA
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    We have nearly all heard of the expression anorexia nervosa. This means loss of appetite due to reasons of 'nerves'. 'Nerves' means psychological reasons. A patient manifesting the symptoms of anorexia nervosa persistently forgoes food ('hates' food) for various psychological reasons that are well documented. The lack of food to the body has dire consequences for the individual, especially in terms of the body's ability to perform its basic functions.
    Have we considered, though, the other side of the story?
    I have coined the expression  philorexia nervosa  to indicate that there are many persons who 'love' food for various psychological reasons. This surfeit of food also has dire consequences for the individual in terms of the body's ability to perform its basic functions.
    There has been much talk and written material on anorexia. How much talk has there been on philorexia? What learned works have been written on the subject of the compulsive eater? What is the basis of the argument? If the argument is somehow the society in which we live, what is causing the problem?
    I am not sure that it is Society's ills that is in question here (although it may be). I think more that it is the individual's concept of him/herself. You can like or dislike yourself, depending on how open you are to yourself and how much you want or would like to admit to yourself, about yourself.
    There is a difference between anorexia and philorexia that is more important than their opposites. The anorexic may be wanting to keep slim for reason of being the 'ideal' wo/man (whatever that means) but the philorexic is some-one else entirely. Whom do they address? The anorexics want to stay in shape for their reasons, the philorexic do not seem to have a reason. They do not seem to care about their problem or they hide it under some guise that eludes me. I would genuinely like to know.
    There used to be a saying: 'Inside every fat person there is a thin one trying to get out.' Why? What has the thin one got? Is the 'thin one' anorexic with their own problems?
    There was another saying: ' Fat people are happy (jolly, or whatever)'. Why, how?
    In both cases (anorexic or philorexic), who is trying to prove what and why? Are these souls trying to prove anything, anyway? NO. Both factions are trying to say something about the times in which they live. But most of all, they are saying: 'I don't like myself.'
    Why don't they like themselves? They don't like themselves because they don't know who they are or what they are about. They don't know what place they have in the world about them.  They are sensitive and look inside themselves and they don't like what they see and they cannot handle it, or cope with it. Like all of us, they find ways of coping. They have invented their own strategies for dealing with the problem. They diet excessively, they overeat. The rest of society feels sorry for those human skeletons who masquerade as 'slim' people; they have no such feelings about those who over-indulge. Those who over-indulge are encouraged. Those who are skinny...how can you feed them and make money?
Why don't people like themselves?  Because they fear. Fear drives wo/man. First fear, then guilt. A descending spiral of self-dislike. Conflict! To conflict with yourself, that is to deny yourself and what you are, strengths and weaknesses. Very sad.
    There is no guilt that is not visited upon you except by others. Nor shame either. They are words invented by others so that they might have control of you. They are the sad ones, whoever they might be; the self-imposed 'authorities'. If you listened to yourself you would be better off.

    Philorexia nervosa is a sort of disease. It is not easily curable. The cure will not come from doctors or psychologists or psychoanalysts. If any cure is to be had, it is to realise that you are a person. That you have needs and desires. That these are not easily attainable. Society tells you to hurry; it does not tell you that you have a lot to learn before you bring forth other beings which will be thrown into the same maelstrom of thoughts, doubts, learning, that you have entered through no fault of your own.
    There is a message about life. It is very simple. GO SLOWLY about that which you desire. Do not be rushed by anyone, ANYONE. Therein, I think, lies salvation.



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