Two students at St. Olaf (Minn.) College who are also eating disorder survivors have created an audio documentary that they hope will raise awareness about the disorder and encourage those who are suffering in silence to get the help they need.

In a May 12 article on the website of the Northfield News, writer David Henke reported on the efforts of St. Olaf students Erika Greiner and Elizabeth Rooklidge:

It started in seventh grade, Greiner recalled. She stopped eating for days at a time, and if she ever felt like she ate too much, she would run compulsively -- sometimes up to 15 miles a day -- until she felt better about herself.

The anorexia got so bad in high school, Greiner said, that she would pack a turkey sandwich for lunch to fool her parents and friends, and then secretly take the turkey and cheese off the sandwich, leaving only the lettuce and bread. Then she would take a bite or two of the bread, and, worried about eating too much, throw the rest away.

Greiner and Rooklidge interviewed six other women at St. Olaf who suffered from eating disorders for the 30-minute documentary, which is composed of a series of frank and moving audio clips charting each woman's struggle with her disorder.

"My hope with this is to give everyone who doesn't understand what it's like some insight," Greiner said in the Northfield News article. "And for anyone who is struggling, I hope that they will see that there is hope out there."

Labels: awareness, eating disorders

Posted By: Aspen/CRC