The Perfect Reflection: Perfectionism Manifesting as my Eating Disorder

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Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl

Moorea Friedmann

25 episodes

9 months ago

Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl is a down-to-earth mental health and wellness podcast created for teens, by a teen. Hosted by Moorea (a 16-year-old girl!), the show features open and unfiltered conversations with guests, sharing relatable stories and expert advice that validate your experiences while offering practical tips for navigating the (often) treacherous seas of teen girl life. Moorea is committed to asking the tough questions on teen life we’re all thinking but are too scared to voice. On this podcast, Moorea also shares her journey with mental health and teen life to destigmatize and normalize the experiences that come with being a teenage girl. Tune in to Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl to learn how to better navigate your: - Friendships - Mental Health - Anxiety - Depression - Body image - Eating Disorders - Romantic Relationships - Crushes - Menstrual Cycle - Social Media - Nutrition - Exercise - Sexuality - Parental Relationships - And so much more!

All content for Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl is the property of Moorea Friedmann and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

The Perfect Reflection: Perfectionism Manifesting as my Eating Disorder

Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl

20 minutes

1 year ago

The Perfect Reflection: Perfectionism Manifesting as my Eating Disorder

At what point does "self-improvement" become self-destruction?

This podcast episode is a recording of a personal essay I wrote in my freshman year of high school to reflect on my struggle with perfectionism, anxiety, and eating disorder. In class, we were given the prompt "a moment of change". Below is the short reflection I wrote on how my essay reflects (or doesn't reflect) a moment of change.

"This essay covers the 'Moment of Change' prompt but not without a few modifications. Instead of a single moment of change, this essay explores multiple moments of challenge and how I faced them with a similar approach, perfection being the only outcome. This essay shows the shift between my focus on my appearance, my focus on the gym, and my focus on my academic achievements. When I feel lacking in one area, I try to use the others to support me, but when I feel lacking in all, then I fall. There is no significant change, there is no closure at the end of this essay because I have never found my own." - Moorea (2022)

This essay discusses my eating disorder and details toxic body image and self talk. If listening to this essay does not support your current relationship with food, your body, or your self image, please do not listen to the podcast. You are strong and brave for knowing your boundaries and sticking to them. Please find another episode or resource that will be more supportive of where you are in your journey right now.

Since this essay was written in 2022, I have experienced depression and a relapse in my eating disorder. While this essay does not tell the full story of my battle with perfectionism, anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder, it is an important piece of my self reflection - the thought patterns in the essay are still present in my life today.

This essay details my personal experience and by no means reflects the experiences of all people who struggle with perfectionism, anxiety, or an eating disorder. This is not written to promote the disordered thoughts present in the essay, but instead to allow myself and others to reflect on our experiences in a thoughtful, judgement-free way. Identifying the challenges we face is the first step towards working to overcome these obstacles.

When listening to this essay, please think critically about the content. Recognize that the thoughts surrounding food and body image are disordered and irrational - even though they can feel so real.

If you feel that this essay can support yourself or a loved one, you can also read it on the Balancing Act Website.

Contact Balancing Act:

Email Moorea: moorea@balancingact.life

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DISCLAIMER: Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl cannot and does not contain medical/health advice. The medical/health information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON OUR SITE OR OUR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.