Review of "Wasted"
By Marya HornbacherHarpercollins, 1998
Review by Molly Mitchell, MA, Psy.D. on Aug 31st 1999
This book is very intense yet also very readable, in that looking-at-a-car-crash kind of way. While it presents itself as being about an eating disorder, this story is as much about an out-of-control adolescence, troubled family, and developing bipolar disorder, as anorexia. It becomes clear, from quite early on in reading this book, that there are disturbing things going on both in this young woman?s mind and in her family.
Besides the fact that the author makes a point of criticising the book (and movie) The Best Little Girl in the World for only providing a measuring stick among eating disordered inpatients that induces negative comparisons and an increased desire to starve, and then adorning her own book looking lovely, slim and rather starvation-inspiring herself, it is only once you have read this book that you realise how sad the photo is instead of feeling at all guilty for not getting to the gym enough this week.
This book is written in a very personal style, leaving me at times feeling like I have too much information. The details of her memories are impressive and paint a vivid picture of her world. Ms. Hornbacher vacillates between scholarly research, which is very much in evidence, and personal opinion and experience. She is evidently very well-read in general, and in the field of eating disorders in particular, and the book is full of reference points, quotes and facts which lend this at times crazy story a solid base.
It?s all quite a complicated mixture; eloquently told (though she does "lose what remains of her mind" a few too many times to not sound somewhat melodramatic) which provides insight into the harrowing internal world of psychiatric illness. This is an intense, emotional woman, and evidence of bipolar disorder is clear from quite early in the telling of her experience. She speaks candidly of heavy drug use, sexual activity and other self-destructive behaviours and the chaotic state of mind that accompanies all of this. Her honesty and ability to be candid and understanding of the difficulties she caused others is impressive.
As to who this book is aimed at, the author wanted to write it to give people a place in which to recognise themselves, which is probably a select audience given her extremes, but there are elements which would be, ?comforting? is the wrong word, but ?recognised? by women in particular and in that there may be solace. My overwhelming feeling on reading this book was that this was a difficult story to write and, while a quick read, not really an easy one.
Molly Mitchell is an American psychologist now living and working in Ireland. As a therapist she started out with a degree in Expressive Therapy and then went on to obtain her doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Her particular interest is in working with children and adolescents.
Resources
-
Articles
- What are Eating Disorders?
-
Eating Disorder Causes and Maintaining Factors
- Causes of Eating Disorders - Biological Factors
- Causes of Eating Disorders - Biological Factors Continued
- Causes of Eating Disorders - Personality Traits and Missing Skills
- Causes of Eating Disorders - Family Influences
- Causes of Eating Disorders - Cultural Influences
- Eating Disorder Maintaining Factors
- Eating Disorder Maintaining Factors Continued
- Other Eating Disorder Maintaining Factors
- Characteristis of Eating Disorders
-
Eating Disorder Treatment & Prevention
- Eating Disorder Professional Treatment - Nutritional Rehabilitation
- Eating Disorder Professional Treatment - Individual Psychotherapy
- Eating Disorder Professional Treatment - Individual Psychotherapy Continued
- Eating Disorder Professional Treatment - Inpatient and Residential
- Eating Disorder Professional Treatment - Group Therapy and Peer Support
- Eating Disorder Professional Treatment - Family Therapy
- Prevention of Eating Disorders
-
Questions and Answers
- Eating Disorder or Overreacting?
- Please Help. I Criticize Myself Too Much and I Need to Stop.
- I Have Bulimia
- Heavy Load
- Eating
- Odd Eating Behavior
- Husband's Weight Problem
- Help
- Do I Have an Eating Disorder?
- When Psychotherapy Does Not Help
-
19 more
- Teenaged girl at risk for Eating Disorders writes, "i want to be confidant with my body"
- Do I have an eating disorder?
- I am afraid to see a doctor about my problem because of my future profession!
- I am bulimic for more than 10 years, and it is killing me...
- I don't like to eat.
- Help?
- Where do i start to get on the road to recovery
- How can I change my life?
- Is this a eating disorder ?
- how can i get my former eating habit back
- Is This An Eating Disorder
- Is this an eating disorder?
- Am I a bulimic or not?
- I Sometimes Cut
- I Wanna Be Thin!
- Bulimic
- Odd Eating Disorder
- Elder Anorexia
- Eating Disorder?
-
Book & Media Reviews
-
Links
-
Videos
- Anorexia: What Therapists and Parents Need to Know
- Eating Disorders Myths Busted- Myth # 1: You can tell by looking at someone
- Eating Disorders Myths Busted- Myth #9: Eating Disorders are for Life
- Eating Disorders Myths Busted- Myth #3: Mothers are to Blame
- Eating Disorders Myths Busted- Myth #2: Families are to Blame
- Eating Disorders Myths Busted- Myth #8: Genes are Destiny
- Eating Disorders Myths Busted- Myth #7: Society Alone to Blame
- Eating Disorders Myths Busted- Myth # 6: Eating Disorders are Benign
- Eating Disorders Myths Busted- Myth #4: Eating Disorders are a Choice
- Myth # 5: Eating Disorders are the province of white upper-middle class teenage girls
-
11 more
- Mental Health Minute: Eating Disorders
- Pediatrics: Child Eating Disorders - Part 2
- Pediatrics: Child Eating Disorders - Part 1
- Not Falling For It: How to Challenge Toxic Media Messages about Food, Weight, and Body Image
- Eating Disorder Treatment Blogging Series - Part 1
- Eating Disorder Treatment Blogging Series - Part 2
- Eating Disorder Treatment Blogging Series - Part 3
- Eating and Body Dysmorphic Disorders
- Eating Disorders from the Inside Out
- Eating Disorders Part 2: Recent Advances in Treatment
- Eating Disorders Part 1: How to Prevent Identify and Intervene Early
Topics
-
Related Topic Centers
-
Addictions
-
Aging & Elder Care
-
Assessments & Interventions
-
Career & Workplace
-
Emotional Well-Being
-
Life Issues
-
Parenting & Child Care
-
Abuse
-
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
-
Adoption
-
Autism
-
Child & Adolescent Development: Overview
-
Child & Adolescent Development: Puberty
-
Child Development & Parenting: Early (3-7)
-
Child Development & Parenting: Infants (0-2)
-
Child Development & Parenting: Middle (8-11)
-
Child Development & Parenting:Adolescence (12-24)
-
Child Development Theory: Adolescence (12-24)
-
Child Development Theory: Middle Childhood (8-11)
-
Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses
-
Childhood Special Education
-
Divorce
-
Family & Relationship Issues
-
Intellectual Disabilities
-
Learning Disorders
-
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
-
Parenting
-
Self Esteem
-
-
Psychological Disorders
-
Anxiety Disorders
-
Bipolar Disorder
-
Conversion Disorders
-
Depression: Depression & Related Conditions
-
Dissociative Disorders
-
Domestic Violence and Rape
-
Eating Disorders
-
Impulse Control Disorders
-
Intellectual Disabilities
-
Mental Disorders
-
Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
-
Personality Disorders
-
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
-
Schizophrenia
-
Sexual Disorders
-
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
-
Suicide
-
Tourettes and other Tic Disorders
-