Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lacking some important aspects, but overall good book, March 16, 2004
By A Customer
First and foremost, I want to say that Peggy proves with her book, "The Secret Language of Eating Disorders...," that she has a deep and unprecedented understanding of the makings of anorexia---for someone who has only witnessed the disease. I only wish that my parent would show the same kind of empathy and determination towards my current plight. Of course, Peggy did have the qualifications and obviously the time to delve into our horrible world enough to contrive and write such accurate interpretations/solutions to the disease...I don't think my parent could do such things even if the drive was there. When I first starting reading the book, I was pretty amazed at her observations of the anorexia mindset and her theories of how it is a "symptom" of a much more powerful disorder called CNC, rather than a primal cause of itself and/or many other self-deprecating disorders. They had me enthralled, to say the least. But...as I read on I couldn't help but notice that despite being in the title, bulimia somehow seemed barely addressed (except by a few textbook or case study descriptions). Having suffered both (as MANY people often do), I couldn't help but feel a void where bulimia was concerned. It still seems that no one can offer up an entire book of interesting AND valid solutions for the elusive one---bulimia. Personally, I think the perils of bulimia are just as (if not more) horrific than those of anorexia. But yet...Peggy doesn't seem to have an answer. I have to ask when reading this, what if conquering eating is no longer a triumph, but a new and devastating penance to bear? What happens when your body is no longer feeding on itself physically, but the disease is all the more voracious with your mind? Where is the cure for the addiction? Maybe it's just me, but I feel that bulimia continues to be overshadowed by or maybe not seen as dire as anorexia. It is the more shameful of the two, yes, and it is often passed off as a phase during college that has no emotional attachment whatsoever. There are always exceptions to the rule, but when you are trapped in the hopelessness of something that seems impossible to beat, it is hurtful to hear people around you toss the word `bulimia' around to every girl who goes to the bathroom. In her book, Peggy describes anorexia as a very slow attempted suicide, a descent toward nothingness---I agree. Anorexia is not a diet, it is not a shallow attempt to be "model thin", and it is definitely not just about food. Many anorexics, including myself, do not wish to see any number except 0 on our bodies and souls. Peggy does a good job in clearing up such perceived notions. But again, she doesn't realize that bulimia is not necessarily the same slow suicide. It is suicide of the mind far before anything else. Bulimia makes you want to finish the job...and quickly. The fear that it is all your life will ever be is torturous. See, this is what she leaves out. Also, I found her to come off very pompous and a bit condescending at times, despite her claims to not be that way. It just seems that she envisions herself to be the Godsend, the Cure-all, the Miracle Worker...and I just don't buy it. It is forgivable, though, because I have read many books on the subject, and they all seem to be that way. I guess it's unavoidable in such a situation. Or, maybe I'm just still disappointed and bitter that I cannot find anyone who is adamant like she seems to be about the situation. I guess confidence like she has can be misconstrued with self-righteousness when you think the way I have to.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I opened my eyes and so did others, September 25, 1999
By A Customer
I'm 19 and have been suffering for 8 years. As I got older it grew worse. When I left school I was almost ready to die. Through some way I recieved a photocopy of this book. How I feel about this book, I dont know, but without it I think I could be dead. I never thought anyone could understand, or imagine what went on in my head. Fighting constantly with myself. This book has helped me realise when I am fighting with myself. Thankyou. I have this love for Peggy for sharing her beliefs on this subject, it did not just help me but my family and close friends.
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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Peggy Claude-Pierre: The Human Angel, April 26, 2005
I have a B.A. in Psychology. I first read the book, then watched the 20/20 special featuring the Clinic and read the book again. Like many of you, I noticed that a) the author seemed arrogant in claiming to have "the" cure, b) she did not offer scientific data and c) she over-sold the revolutionary aspect of her treatment, instead of pointing out its obvious roots in cognitive-behavioral psychology. These were my thoughts the first time I read the book. But then...the video. I think watching this video was the first time I'd ever video footage of an anorectic near death. A thought occurred to me--
the viciousness of the Germans starving concentration camp victims. And, these girls are inflicting the same amount of damage to themselves. Claude-Pierre has an undeniable abbility to establish rapport and trust with these women. Although her theory needs refining and scientific support, I now believe it is essentially correct. Obviously, someone who treats patients who say they are "cured" (a very unusual statement by an anorectic) and successfully treats patients who are literally days or weeks away from dying is doing something right.
I will now address the criticisms of Claude-Pierre's theory and practice.
1) Why should we believe that someone with only a B.A. degree and little scientific expertise has found "the" cure? I would ask, do you believe that the millions of psychologists who have theorized and treated anorexics for more than a century have found the cure? These are the "experts," yet their success rate is really quite dismal. Is anorexia necessarily a hopeless disease or is it rendered hopeless by the poor quality of care available? Many psychologists have created interesting and useful theorys about the causes of anorexias, yet few have been able to translate their theories into good practice. Also, many of these people are flooding PEGGY with calls for help. Interesting.
2) An earlier review said that anyone receiving round the clock care would automatically show improvement? Technically, any hospitilized anorectic receives 24 hour "care" and most do not respond well. I would argue that perhaps Peggy's patients automatically have initial improvement because of 24 hour care in a caring, home-like environment. For a hospitilized anorectic, the facility is home. Having your home be a sterile hospital with unfeeling service providers would have a negative impact on patients.
3)Claude-Pierre absolves parents of responsibility. I do believe this is a fault in the theory. But I would argue that Pierre's restraint in blaming parents allows her patient's parents to participate more fully in treatment (hence, the high success rate). Also, I think the core truth is that while some parents of anorectics are abusive, neglectful, and creating "enmeshed" relationships, they don't intend to make their child starve themselves to death. It occurred to me a few years ago that reports of "enmeshed" parents may be exaggerated. After the disorder develops, parents naturally become more intrusive as they respond to this puzzling disorder. Remember the blame of the parents of autistic children--"the refridgerator moms"? In response to children incapable of affection, some moms stopped trying to initiate physical contact and thus were unfairly blamed for the problem.
4) Claude-Pierre's staff is not qualified. I agree that the staff should have outside training since they work with such a vulnerable population. But I believe that the in-Center training is legitimate, and in proper accordance with Claude-Pierre's methods. Former patients sometimes become counselors. I would bet $100,000,000 that a former anorectic knows more about treating anorexia than the average doctor. That anorectic knows something about recovery. A doctor who has not successfully treated the majority of his anorec. patients does not.
5) A few former patients, and some critics, call the clinic a cult. Some patients say they had no privacy. Since Claude-Pierre has a very high success rate, she is idealized by her patients. If you've never heard ANYONE articulate your pain, you would obviously look at the person who finally does as a Saint, of sorts. The privacy complaint is trivial. The mansion houses 9 patients who require 24 hour care. Obviously, one cost of treatment is the loss of privacy and some forms of independence. I attend a college with 500 students--the environment can seem clausterphobic, incestuous, lacking in privacy, but it is not a cult.
6) The patients relapse once they leave the clinic. I was very disturbed to read of three alleged deaths of Pierre's former patients. However, Pierre still has a high success rate. The fact that some patients relapse after being highly successful at the clinic should lead us to ponder--how can we shape our world to make it a place more conducive to healing? In the case of acute anorexia, I believe "sheltering" in such a clinic is absolutely necessary. In a real world setting, it would be impossible for therapists to combat the many triggers of the Negative Mind. In every situation, the anorectic perceives herself to be a burden to other people, an unworthy person. In a real world setting, an ordinary frustrating situation could instigate a devestating relapse.
Anyway, I'm done making my case. I do not mean to sound like a "know it all." I respect Claude-Pierre, the integrity of her work, and her committment to her patients. I would call Peggy an angel of sorts, because she has somehow tapped into a profound realization about this disorder. She has helped save people who do not consider themselves worth saving.
I would be more than happy to work at the Montreux Clinic in the future to help the Clinic gain some credibility, in terms of scientific corroboration.
Melissa Abrams
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