These disorders have historically been experienced and treated as individual psychological and medical disorders. Women suffering from them usually came into contact with one another only in institutional settings. But with the rise of new media technologies and modes of communication, digital communities have provided new possibilities for connections between once isolated individuals. Thus these sites provide a glimpse into the meaning making practices of non-clinical populations." (2008) Indeed what these sites actually provide is a type of framework that might be utilized in the development of treatment options across the population. Pascoe states that already participants in this "online subculture...often rework characterizations of anorexia as a disease by engaging in complex discussions of anorexia as a lifestyle choice in addition to or instead of a medical and psychological disorder. In crafting a complex community with unique symbols, rituals and identities these women provide a fuller picture of eating disorders and people who live with them, voluntarily or not." (2008) SUMMARY

The Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia websites, while appearing to perpetuate addictive behavior have been found during the course of this study to surprisingly have a primary function that might be used in treating these disorders as the very existence of these websites is bringing adolescent girls and their parents to the realization of an existing problem so they might seek help. Once the individual has committed to becoming one in a group of either Pro-Ana or Pro-Mia then in reality the addiction...

Addiction recovery that is valid requires a phase of embrasure of the addiction in the form of acknowledging that one is impaired by some type of addiction, or in other words, these disorders ignored have no potential to be effectively dealt with much less recovery. Therefore, it may be that these websites serve a very important purpose which is a coming out of the darkness of hiding the addictive behavior into the light of admitting that a problem exists. Other implications stated by Pascoe show findings that these social networks hold great potential for possible effectuation of a treatment across these social networks in assisting these individuals to beat this addictive and dangerous behavior.
Bibliography

Iannelli, Vincent (2003) Eating Disorders Awareness. Online available at http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/conditions/a/eatingdisorders.htm

Chisholm, Lee and Fenaughty, John (nd) Pro-Ana (Pro-Anorexia), Pro-Mia (Pro-Bulimia) and the Internet. Online available at http://www.netsafe.org.nz/Doc_Library/download/nzac_proana_promia_feb07.pdf

Pascoe, C.J.. 2008. "You're Just Another Fatty:" Creating a Pro-Ana Subculture Online. Digital Youth Research http://digitalyouth.ischool.berkeley.edu/node/104.January 22, 2008. Online available at http://digitalyouth.ischool.berkeley.edu/node/104

Head, Jacqueline (2007) Seeking 'Thinspiration' BBC News 8 Aug 2007. Online available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6935768.stm

Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia Websites