Introduction
It is no secret that an eating disorder has a wide range of contributive factors. The causes influencing this condition’s development should be observed from a biopsychosocial perspective, which offers a broad overview of abnormal behaviors (CSUN, 2013). Notably, Thin is a documentary film focusing on such aspects in light of the three young women’s stories: Alisa Williams, Shelly Guillory, Pollack “Polly” Ann Williams, and Brittany Robinson.
Discussion
Alisa has an eating disorder caused by a comment from her pediatrician about extra weight in her childhood. According to the biopsychosocial perspective, this cause refers to social and psychological causal factors (CSUN, 2013). The first aspect is a sociocultural perspective component, which involves contributing to abnormal behavior growth (CSUN, 2013). The second factor is a constituent of psychological perspective and refers to the cognitive model (CSUN, 2013). It means that the personal interpretation of Alisa’s appearance was focused too much on the faulty thinking of an outsider. Society’s opinion, in this case, presented by a pediatrician who said that she was “fat,” has had a tremendous negative influence on Alisa and caused extensive eating disorders (Greenfield, 2006, 18:00). The psychological factor that impacts Alisa’s state of mind is connected with the childhood roots of this condition. As a result, a diathesis is weak psychological resistance, stress is childhood psychological trauma, and developed disease is eating process disturbance.
Shelly undergoes treatment in the care center and suffers from an inappropriate eating disability, proven by symptoms such as suicidal tendencies, low weight, constant purging, depression, and anxiety. Shelly is calm, but sometimes she becomes impulsive, and the proof is her screaming and foul language toward clinic staff (Greenfield, 2006). According to DSM-5, the woman meets the criteria of A2 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Consequently, regarding her physical features and behavioral peculiarities, the symptoms point out that she suffers from Anorexia Nervosa.
Polly is an extraordinary personality with an eating disorder, involved in the community of other patients who support each other. Polly usually takes an active part in discussions and problems solving (Greenfield, 2006). It is an example of formal intervention used by Polly, which helps her to feel more confident in the circle of like-minded people. She tries to distract herself from the reality of the clinical environment by going outside. She takes her friend to a tattoo salon to acquire positive emotions (Greenfield, 2006). Although it is against the clinic’s rules, Polly feels better when she can do what she likes. Such behavior represents the use of informal intervention by a patient.
Brittany is fifteen years old girl who has an eating disorder. She does not mention any stigma caused by people, but as a teenager, she meets bullying from her coevals. Being an eight-year-old child, she decided to change her image of a “big girl,” which has led to her current disease (Greenfield, 2006, 13:25). It is mentioned in the video that her mom suffered from the same disorder and badly influenced her daughter (Greenfield, 2006, 14:00). This case involves self-stigma when patients treat themselves as sick and have no power to change it.
Conclusion
It should be noted that there are many stages that a patient goes through during the treatment process. The cycle of change model helps physicians to observe the progress of recovery. This cycle has six steps; the last is called Relapse, when a patient returns to previous negative behavior (Yeshiva University, 2021). Medical professionals use intervention strategies to normalize the Relapse and help a client to restart the process (Yeshiva University, 2021). For instance, the center’s workers in the video decide to prevent this stage for Polly. They have a conversation of open minds and trustfulness, which aims to de-stigmatize her and cultivate better behavior. They undertake a “room search” to find forbidden items that hinder her recovery process. Eventually, they conclude to stop Polly’s treatment, which means that these preventions were unsuccessful. Although she begins her new life after leaving the clinic, however, she still suffers eating disorder.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Anxiety disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Web.
Greenfield, L. (2006). Thin [Film]. HBO.
CSUN. (n.d.). Contemporary Perspectives on abnormal behavior. Web.
Yeshiva University. (2021). Prochaska and DiClemente’s stages of change model for social workers. Yeshiva University Blog. Web.