Abigail Anne Spencer

Our first interviewer is 16 year old Yorkshire girl, Abbie. In 2007 Abbie was diagnosed with an eating disorder. Now, having put her past behind her she is here to tell us about hwo she felt and her opinions on herself and what other people do to look good.

Abigail Anne Spencer
Female
16
5'6"
9st 10lbs
Brunette
Hazel Eyes

When did you start to develop your ED? As in, having this urges not to eat or to be sick?
Around June last year

And what was your first thoughts on this feelings?
I love this

You loved the feelings or you loved the effect these feelings were causing?
The effects

Right.
And when did you realise you had an eating disorder?
I never thought there was anything wrong with it, but when I got diagnosed, I was desperate to be anorexic.
But part of me never believed what the psych. told me.

So when the doctors told you that you were, you wanted to be it more?
Yes.
A big cause of it was wanting to be noticed, who doesn't notice an anorexic girl?

Yeah, what was the lowest point you had during this time?
Uhhhhhhh
When I was thinking about dyeing

Why was you thinking about dying?
You wanted to?
Or because you would end up dying?
At the time I can't remember whether I was thinking, I want to die or someone help me.

If you have a daughter which, at your age, goes through what you have, with your eating, what would you do?
Give her all the support I could and let her know I love her because she's my daughter.

How're you going to support her?
Just talk her through it and stuff?
Would you draw from your personal experiences.
Well, I wouldn't talk her through it like it was an okay thing
to do, but yeah; I’d tell her about when it happened to me.
I would definitely make sure it her family was better about it than mine were.

If you wouldn't talk her through it, what would you do?
Take her to a psychiatrist
I would talk her through it, just not like giving her ideas and stuff

What would you do if your son developed an ED?
Exactly the same

What would you do if you found your kid, either sexes, throwing up?
Ask them why they were doing it, and why it was a good thing to do...

Do you think the media caused you to develop an ED?
It didn't at first; I think it was a lot to do with my childhood.
But it does have a big impact now.

Now?
What parts of the media are causing these feelings now?
TV
Just realizing that every woman on TV is so skinny.
Makes me think, oh, that's normal ... so then I’m not.

Do you ever sit and think that the images you're seeing may have been altered?
I never think that, not unless it's blatantly obvious.
I know it, I just never think it.

Do you think that's right?
How they change the pictures?
No

So you'd much prefer a picture of a 'average person' rather than an edited person?
Yes

Is it just your weight you're unhappy with?
Well everything about my appearance, really

So, for example your skin?
Yes
Everything should be changed, in my opinion anyway

Again, do you think this is influenced by the media or your childhood?
Both really

So okay this 'real woman' turns up and has a spot and the shoot has to go through
Would you prefer that picture to still go to press?
Of course, it would be hypocritical otherwise.
However, covering it with makeup isn't the same as photo shopping it or whatever.

So you'd prefer make up over Photoshop?
Yeah

And what do you think about 'going under the knife'?
Personally I would do it, but it's obvious why.
Its okay, but only not when people actually look plastic.
Also, I think people should grow old gracefully; I’m not sure why they won't. I’ll probably have to get there to realize

Is your ED a thing of the past or the present?
Uhhhhhhh
Both, probably, but that's only because of the way it went, I think.

What would you say to any person, male of female, of any age that is in the situation you was in last summer?

You’re going to have a lot of time when you wish you'd have done it, and finished it, but believe me, you're so special, and don't deserve any of this. So hang on.

We would like to thank Abbie for helping us and telling us her story. She would like us to tell you that if you would like to contact her for any reason concerning her story then to e-mail me at Jack.Slaughter@hotmail.com to receive contact details.

Thanks

The Perfect? Team