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Endo & Body Image, Jeanne

by Tracee Sioux on July 14th, 2008

Please welcome my guest blogger Jeanne from Jeanne’s Endo Blog. Jeanne is a women’s health advocate, having suffered from endometriosis since she was 13 years old. She has led an endometriosis support group for 7 years. Visit Empowering Girls: So Sioux Me today to find out how Jeanne feels about media influences on her 7 year old daughter’s body image.

Hi everyone! I am honored to be guest blogging on Tracee’s blog. I’m a loyal follower of her blogs and I’m happy to be able to guest blog for her during her exciting trip to the BlogHer conference in San Francisco . I have chosen from Tracee’s suggested topics and I easily arrived at this one: “Self or Body Image Issues”.

From the age of thirteen, I have had symptoms of an illness called endometriosis. (I’m 39 years old now). While I was not properly diagnosed until I was 23 years old, I had symptoms that began when I was still a girl.

I won’t drone on about what all the symptoms of endometriosis are, how it is diagnosed, etc. Those of you who are interested in learning more about endometriosis and the many co-existing illnesses that can occur alongside endometriosis in the same patient can check out my new blog Jeanne’s Endo Blog.

However, I am NOT here to just plug my blog!! I am writing because my illnesses (starting with endometriosis) have affected me in many ways… including self or body image issues. I love Tracee’s writings/blogs to empower women and girls!

Having a chronic illness hit you at 13 years old has quite an impact. The teen years are enough of a roller-coaster ride without having an illness that affects what you can do (simple daily activities for healthy people posed a challenge for me as early as my teen years). Chronic illness is very common in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Taking just endometriosis as an example, there are an estimated 5.5 million women and girls in North America with endometriosis and approximately 89+ million worldwide. That’s a lot of women and girls!

Anyway, having endometriosis affected my self image because I began to view myself more and more as a “sick person” and I began to identify less and less with the relatively carefree child I was prior to age 13.

Years after my symptoms began, my psychotherapist and I were talking and she commented on how difficult it must have been to have my entry into womanhood/adulthood marred by this devastating illness. I had never really stopped to analyze it quite that much but she was absolutely correct! My self image was truly damaged by the illness (endometriosis) setting in at age 13.

In my 30s, I started really grappling with this issue. (I have been in regular therapy for almost 8 years now for various reasons). In that time I have learned a great deal through therapy! Self reflection is really important and helpful. Looking back (without dwelling on the negative!) is important. I began to really process all that happened to me with the endometriosis and with other chronic illnesses that have popped up since then.

I try very hard not to view myself as a “sick person”. This is tricky since being an endometriosis patient has become a part of my identity… whether I like it or not. Chronic illnesses can really take their toll on a person!

So rather than running, hiding, and burying my head in the sand… I have read, researched, networked with fellow patients, facilitated an endometriosis support group for almost 7 years now, and on June 1ST (2008) I began an endometriosis blog. These are ways I help myself and improve my self/body image. Writing is cathartic for me. If I can help others at the same time… all the better!

I’ll be the first to acknowledge that my self image isn’t as great as it could be. However, through psychotherapy and the support of loved ones/friends… I believe my self image has improved overall. I have learned the crucial importance of self-care! I used to push, push, and push to get things done. I used to force things. Sometimes I still do. I do TRY, however, to relax and let things fall into place more often than I used to. Therapy has helped me in numerous ways!

As far as body image, I have some room for improvement in this department but I’m basically at peace (for the most part) with my body image. Would I mind losing a few pounds? No. Will I obsess or deprive myself of food to lose weight OR to fit into an outfit OR to fit someone’s idea of attaining perfection??

HECK, NO!!

!

Image Source: Jeanne’s Endo Blog

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POSTED IN: Fabulous Body Image, Fabulous Health