Response Paper

Shayna Sebae

Psychology 2130

Joyce Cartor

25 November 2015

4th Response Paper: “Portrait of a Hunger Artist”

“Portrait of a Hunger Artist” by Emily Troscianko is a great article about how she dealt with anorexia and she how she overcame it. The article begins with how her parents didn’t understand what she was going through, and her mom told her not to bring her anorexia home. Emily was upset by this because she didn't feel anorexia as being separate from her. Eventually she decided to start eating again, and went on a skiing trip. After a little too much to drink, she relapsed back into anorexia. Emily become very skinny and her bones became visible. She would get very cold without the fat to keep her body warm. Her clothes were big on her and it seemed she also lost height. It wasn't just the fat that she lost, but also social contact was lessened. Her friends and family tried to persuade her to eat. Her father would try to guilt her into eating, but her mother wouldn't push it so much. Eventually her friends decided to help her, and found her an eating disorder clinic. Emily got better and to her it seemed like it never existed. AT the end there is a list of myths about Anorexia, like how they do feel hungry and love food.

I think the biggest strength is beginning the article with “You are welcome in our home, but your anorexia isn’t.” Her mother told her this and it just shows how some people, including parents, aren't very understanding of this problem. Another strength is how she explained what she looked and felt like. If you are going through this or know someone who is, then this would be a great article to read. After reading this you can better help someone with this problem. Its not always a physical problem but an emotional one, and with a better understanding of how an anorexic mind works, you can really get through to someone you care about.

When I was in middle school, I had many friends who said they were anorexic. I don't know if they...