8 Comments

Thank you Prisha for your article on Self Harm Communities. I had some idea this was happening, but not to this extent. I am a woman in my late 50s and for 18 years I suffered greatly from Anorexia and Bulimia. At first I dieted and exercised. Then I starved myself; then I was hospitalized.At that time the general treatment was behavior modification and therapy, not drugs. After hospitalization I was still struggling with dysmorphia (and gender dysphoria because as an anorexic I hated my developing female body and wished for a body free of curves.) I became bulimic and this disease had me in its grip for nearly 16 years. It is very hard to say that. I tried therapy and even anti-anxiety meds (I was also suicidal and used drugs and alcohol.) Finally, I discovered OA (12 steps for anyone with an unhealthy relationship with food) and after 30 meetings in 30 days and then the birth of my son a few years later, I was free of the compulsion to binge and purge. Reading your piece has left me in shock. That could have been me, if I was born 30 years later. My life has not been easy, but I am so grateful for this life I have; for the body I have (even at nearly 60,) the people I love, the things I have accomplished. What can we do to help these kids? Thanks again for your witness and courage!

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Damn. This is a hard-hitting read.

I really liked your comparison between veterans and civilians to parents and children.

I knew about these online self-harm communities but had no idea what it's like on the inside.

Keep writing! Your voice matters.

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Thank you! I thought that that made sense. I won't stop!

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Thank you for helping us. Your voice makes a difference. I wish you all the best. Keep doing what you are doing. Sending you love & light. God Bless.

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Thank you! I do it to help.

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Thank you, Prisha. I love that you referenced The Body Keeps the Score! It's help me to understand my trans-identified daughter who has been diagnosed with pre-adoption trauma. And I realized that the analogy of the veterans with PTSD applies equally to us parents who are traumatized by their children's descent into the proverbial rabbit hole. Unless one experiences the ongoing trauma as a parent, it's difficult to appreciate what we are going through. For me personally, meeting parents who are in the same or similar circumstances is what helped me keep my sanity.

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It's an amazing book! Your family is on my heart.

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Prisha…so grateful to you and other detransitioners speaking out and using their pain to help others hopefully before they get sucked into this hellish vortex. MSM is squelching the horrendous reality. I believe it is propelled by pure evil and greed.

Keep fighting the good fight! Your voice matters!!!

Praying for your strength and continued healing!!! 🙏🙏🥰

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