So, an anorexic and a bulimic walk into a bar...

Let me share with you a few jokes I heard on 2 South that solidified further my belief in healing through humor, a concept which my spiritual friends essentially base our communication on.

Theszie told me and Birdie this one evening after dinner, when we were all was stuffed, anxious, and depressed:

So, a doctor came up with a cure for eating disorders, and manufactured it in a pill form. The problem is: The anorexics won't take it, the bulimics throw it up, and the compulsive eaters overdose on it.

FormerGymnast told me this one out in the courtyard:

What do you call a quarter-pounder with cheese?

-An anorexic with a yeast infection

Later that evening, I retold it to Birdie, who is not only anorexic, but an Orthodox Jew with a very sheltered upbringing. Irish urged me not to, but Birdie insisted, and she laughed so hard that I was afraid she would have a massive coronary.

One night, during 8PM snack, UU and I were complaining; she was still stuffed from 5:30 dinner, and I was still hungry after my piddling ration of Cheerios. I said to her:

"I feel like they bring us here to stuff the anorexics and starve the bulimics!"

She laughed hysterically.

I even came up with my own line that I used to greet the newcomers. It was always very well-received:

"We don't bite...That's the problem"

Seriously, if we anorexics and bulimics can laugh at these jokes, then maybe there's hope for us after all...

Cathartic on Cathartics

Well, I am home at last! I was only in there for two weeks, but it felt more like a month. Medicaid won't be happy about the nearly $40,000 bill, but better them than me. I'm really hoping my body doesn't go into Colace and Metamucil withdrawal; I had enough irregularity even with a daily dose, thank you. If you get the humor and irony of the subject title, then I applaud you.

I don't feel the least bit cured, because I gained little insight into my condition, but it helped so much to be around others who are struggling with some of the same problems. Talking to the other patients was more helpful than any therapy session, group or otherwise. It devastates me that I'll never see most of them again, no matter how sincere our "keep in touch" promises were. That's life, I suppose.

There is so much more work for me to do, and so much more I want to tell everyone (or no one), but unfortunately I'm exhausted from the trip from White Plains, and I've been dying for a HOT bath! Until tomorrow, my friends...