How to Stop Relying on the Pro Ana and Pro Mia Community
Delete any accounts associated with pro ana/pro mia websites, forums or tips sites., Take 50 (or another fairly high number) of sticky notes, and on each one write a compliment to yourself., Burn any physical pro ana/pro mia memories you have, such...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Delete any accounts associated with pro ana/pro mia websites
The existence of the accounts may encourage you to re-visit the websites and fall back into your old ways. -
Step 2: forums or tips sites.
It could be anything from 'You have beautiful eyes' to 'You won the poetry cup in sixth grade'.
Once you have completed them all, fold them into quarters and put them into something like an empty matchbox or a jar.
Whenever you feel inclined to revisit pro ana/pro mia, or you are feeling in a mood where you may be triggered, select one and think about the compliment.
Relax, and let the compliment fill you.
If you can't think of that many compliments to yourself, get other people to write them.
That way, they'll be a surprise to you as well when you read them. , The actual burning of them may give you a sense of relief that those things are gone from your life, however it may also make you feel anxious or panicky without them. , Then, whenever you are triggered or feel inclined to go back to pro ana/mia, you will have someone to tell and someone who may be able to stop you. , Engage in counselling and group discussions.
The aids which help normal eating disorder sufferers may be especially helpful to those who relied on pro ana/mia as they are good at getting people to accept that their illness was just that
- an illness. , Turn off your computer and phone and ask someone to hide them, or if you used pro ana/mia through books, give them to someone else to look after.
If you remove the possibility of reaching pro ana/mia, you will slowly become less dependent. , Reading the symptoms during recovery may be triggering to some post-pro ana/mia users, but may be useful to others as they read about how anorexia and bulimia are illnesses and the negative affects on the body. , If you did so, treat these two girls (or characters, however you saw them) as enemies in your head.
Avoid them, and if you do end up running into them, think about them with dislike and a clear head.
Don't allow them to charm themselves back into your life. , On the anniversary of your first day, week, month and year without using pro ana/mia, buy yourself a little treat like a book or a CD.
This may encourage you to go longer without using them, which would gradually force the habit to break. -
Step 3: Take 50 (or another fairly high number) of sticky notes
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Step 4: and on each one write a compliment to yourself.
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Step 5: Burn any physical pro ana/pro mia memories you have
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Step 6: such as photographs of very underweight people
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Step 7: a diary of what you ate during your pro ana/pro mia phase or clothes that you bought that were intentionally too small to try to lose weight to get into them.
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Step 8: If you haven't already
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Step 9: let someone know that you used pro ana/mia resources and you may struggle without them.
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Step 10: Take full part in any eating disorder recovery programs you are put on.
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Step 11: If you feel like you might be triggered or might re-visit pro ana/mia
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Step 12: separate yourself from however you may access it.
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Step 13: Read about anorexia and bulimia.
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Step 14: Understand that some people characterize pro ana/mia in their heads (commonly as two girls or voices called Ana and Mia).
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Step 15: Celebrate your accomplishments.
Detailed Guide
The existence of the accounts may encourage you to re-visit the websites and fall back into your old ways.
It could be anything from 'You have beautiful eyes' to 'You won the poetry cup in sixth grade'.
Once you have completed them all, fold them into quarters and put them into something like an empty matchbox or a jar.
Whenever you feel inclined to revisit pro ana/pro mia, or you are feeling in a mood where you may be triggered, select one and think about the compliment.
Relax, and let the compliment fill you.
If you can't think of that many compliments to yourself, get other people to write them.
That way, they'll be a surprise to you as well when you read them. , The actual burning of them may give you a sense of relief that those things are gone from your life, however it may also make you feel anxious or panicky without them. , Then, whenever you are triggered or feel inclined to go back to pro ana/mia, you will have someone to tell and someone who may be able to stop you. , Engage in counselling and group discussions.
The aids which help normal eating disorder sufferers may be especially helpful to those who relied on pro ana/mia as they are good at getting people to accept that their illness was just that
- an illness. , Turn off your computer and phone and ask someone to hide them, or if you used pro ana/mia through books, give them to someone else to look after.
If you remove the possibility of reaching pro ana/mia, you will slowly become less dependent. , Reading the symptoms during recovery may be triggering to some post-pro ana/mia users, but may be useful to others as they read about how anorexia and bulimia are illnesses and the negative affects on the body. , If you did so, treat these two girls (or characters, however you saw them) as enemies in your head.
Avoid them, and if you do end up running into them, think about them with dislike and a clear head.
Don't allow them to charm themselves back into your life. , On the anniversary of your first day, week, month and year without using pro ana/mia, buy yourself a little treat like a book or a CD.
This may encourage you to go longer without using them, which would gradually force the habit to break.
About the Author
Matthew Johnson
Writer and educator with a focus on practical practical skills knowledge.
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