Improving Peer-to-Peer Connection at CMU
Relationships with other people enable individuals to feel more confident and connected to the world around them. Unfortunately, Ivy, and students at CMU, often struggle with connection. Ivy has a rocky relationship with the other members of her family, so she withholds her struggles from them. Towards the end of the book though, Ivy learns the importance of leaning on others when they find her in a health crisis. Similarly, CMU students struggle with connection. One student shares, “I feel like a sense of belonging relates to feeling supported by people around me." This student clearly conveys how important it is to socialize and connect with others. Another student feels, "The first week here, I was struggling because I didn't know anyone. The first few groups I tried to join, people looked at me weirdly and I felt judged that I didn't mesh with those people." CMU student testimonies show how difficult it can be to find belonging in a new place. It is important for the university to support this aim. For example, one student suggests: "CMU needs more social events; needs to have bigger and more fun events people can go to help students find a sense of belonging."
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Book Summary
This Impossible Light follows fifteen-year-old Ivy, who is going through puberty and feels disconnected from the people in her life. Her brother has moved away to college, she is close with neither of her divorced parents, and her best friend Anna seems to be distant from Ivy. Ivy decides, following the example of her mother, to restrict her eating in order to remain skinny and appear like her peers. This restricting behavior is not noticed or stopped by her family, and Ivy decides not to tell them because she feels they wouldn't understand. Ivy's restriction behavior spirals out of control until one day, she is so malnourished that she collapses on her bike, and is admitted to the hospital. There, her family learns the truth of what she's been struggling with, and her mother and Anna help her take steps to recovery.
Belonging at CMU Demonstrated by This Impossible Light
Narratives from CMU Students
Project 1 in this class involved interviewing various CMU students about their experience with belonging in the university
Students shared how their experiences with belonging differed depending on how connected they felt to other students
Student 1 shares: “He feels relief coming here and meeting all the people b/c he initially thought he wouldn't belong but realized everything would be okay”
Student 2 shares “He has felt disconnected from CMU and it happens frequently. He feels disconnected when he doesn't get invited to go out on weekends and it can become quite lonely.”
Structure and Style of THE YA NOVEL
The effort that the reader has to invest reflects Ivy’s similar sense of confusion at trying to come up with a coherent explanation for her dissatisfaction.
The simplicity of the structure almost grotesquely one-dimensionalizes her experiences and can be read as her inability to fully express and understand her own emotions.
Trangenerational Trauma
Transgenerational trauma is defined as trauma that is passed on, often unknowingly, through generations. The next generation often finds themselves experiencing this trauma without being directly affected. Within the novel, we can see Ivy as a victim of transgenerational trauma. Oftentimes, victims of transgenerational trauma struggle to assert autonomy over these uncontrollable events is the most difficult part of overcoming this trauma. By reading Ivy's troubles through this lens, we can understand the development of her struggles.
Rhythm and Visuals
Almost every poem in the anthology utilizes parallelism.
These rhythmic and syntactical attempts to exert control and structure across the page
These visual and sonic elements amplify the dissatisfaction that Ivy feels.
Findings from Project 1
Project 1 data pointed us towards the conclusion that those with a higher level of connectivity and activity within the community are happier
Those who focus exclusively on academics are less likely to be happy
This may relate to Ivy, where she feels as if she has to compensate for the woes in her life by immersing herself in academics
Additionally, her lack of connection with her peers also provides a plausible conclusion as to why she becomes more dissatisfied with her life
HOW DO EATING DISORDERS RELATE TO OTHER MENTAL ILLNESSES?
High correlation with depression and other anxiety disorders
Oftentimes ED caused by anxiety about body/appearance
ED also worsens anxiety as one is constantly worried about it
HOW FATAL ARE EATING DISORDERS?
Compared to many other disorders, eating disorders don’t have that high of a fatality rate
However, as seen in the slide before, oftentimes eating disorders don’t come alone
Often associated with substance abuse, self-harm, depression, etc. that are much more fatal
Can also lead to many permanent health issues that although not necessarily fatal, are still very dangerous
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EATING DISORDERS AND GENDER
More women suffer eating disorders compared to men
Women tend to eat less food (anorexia) and hence become skinnier
This demonstrates that women care more about their body image and what society thinks they should look like, causing them to keep a dangerously low-body fat and not consume any food
Many women feel shameful when eating and hence vomit everything out once they eat (Bulimia), damaging their health
EFFECTS OF EATING DISORDERS ON WOMEN
Women who suffer from eating disorders become more aggressive, indicating it causes mood swings
Women tend to be physically hurt and forced to undergo unwanted sexual actions by their partners
This indicates women become vulnerable when they suffer mental illnesses and others take advantage
Women become more mentally and physically abused
HOW DO EATING DISORDERS AFFECT SUICIDE ATTEMPTS?
Almost 50% of people who suffer Eating Disorders have had suicidal thoughts
Approximately 5% of those suffering either Anorexia or Bulimia have attemped suicide
This demonstrates that their eating disorder severely affects their mental health
This can have wider consequences on teenagers who are more susceptible to mood swings and impulsive actions
Suicide is the most common non-natural death for people with ED’s
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEENAGERS, EATING DISORDERS, AND FRIENDSHIPS
A study found students with eating disorders were 14.3% more likely to suffer bullying than their peers
Children who were bullied were twice as likely to develop and demonstrate symptoms of Anorexia
In a study of 600 students, 75% of the people who were bullied said they struggled with body image anxiety and eating disorders
17% of people suffering with anorexia described their friendships as being “positive”
People with anorexia reported having greater reliance on themselves compared to others
LINKING THE DATA TO CMU
Based on project 1 data, we saw that those that felt more included and integrated into their community were generally happier and less likely to be depressed
This is supported by a world happiness study done that found that people who spent more time inside were generally less happy. We can see this in Ivy as well as Ivy is often isolated with no interaction which plays a big part in Ivy’s depression
From Project 1, the following data was gathered from A23: “He has felt disconnected from CMU and it happens frequently. He feels disconnected when he doesn't get invited to go out on weekends and it can become quite lonely.” Similar to Ivy, both feel isolated as there are times when there is no one to talk to and this can cause a bit of depression and anxiety.
An overall similarity with CMU students and project 1 are that eating disorders cause one to be distant from everyone and feel like no one understands them, which is similar to when the workload and lack of a social life causes CMU students to feel empty
Connection with Others at CMU
People tend to keep their internal struggles to themselves because they feel misunderstood
Ivy’s conversation with her brother: “I want to tell him everything but I can’t. He wouldn’t get it.”
Ivy struggles with connection with the people in her life, and restricts conversation with them
CMU students share similar experiences of feeling alone and left out
Ivy’s story shows how important it is, despite feeling like others wouldn’t understand, to reach out to others
After confiding in others, Ivy states: “Talking with mom and Dr. Clarke has been a soft escape. The release of a fist.”
Takeaway
Ivy and her story urge us to ...
Be proud of who we are
Be confident to be happy in life
Not to let what others think of us make us insecure
Lean on the people who love us
How can we find our "impossible light"?
CITATIONS
Rogers Behavioral Health. “Finding the Relationship between Eating Disorders, Depression, and Anxiety.” Rogers Behavioral Health, Rogers Behavioral Health, 26 Aug. 2020, https://rogersbh.org/about-us/newsroom/blog/finding-relationship-between-eating-disorders-depression-and-anxiety.
“Eating Disorders: Learn about Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa & Bed.” The Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol Rehab, 26 July 2022, https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/eating-disorder-statistics/.
Michael Friedrichs, MS↓. “Potential Anorexia among Adolescent Girls in Utah: Categories Adolescent Health: Doi: 10.26054/0KZCZSHTDF by Michael Friedrichs, MS↓, Megan Waters, Mph↓ & Deanna Ferrell, Mph↓.” UWH Review, 14 Oct. 2020, https://uwhr.utah.edu/potential-anorexia-among-adolescent-girls-in-utah/.
Nussbaum, Amanda. “Effects of Bullying on Eating Disorders.” BALANCE Eating Disorder Treatment Center, BALANCE Eating Disorder Treatment Center, 21 July 2022, https://balancedtx.com/blog/effects-of-bullying-on-eating-disorders.
Surprising Links between Bullying and Eating Disorders - Sciencedaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151116112055.htm.
Walden. “Can Bullying Lead to an Eating Disorder?” Walden Eating Disorders, 28 Oct. 2022, https://www.waldeneatingdisorders.com/blog/can-bullying-lead-to-an-eating-disorder/.
Datta, Nandini, et al. “A Mixed-Methods Approach to Conceptualizing Friendships in Anorexia Nervosa.” PloS One, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 15 Sept. 2021, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8443043/.
Patel, Rikinkumar S., et al. “Eating Disorders and Suicidal Behaviors in Adolescents with Major Depression: Insights from the US Hospitals.” MDPI, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 19 May 2021, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/11/5/78.
Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD. “How to Get Help When You Have an Eating Disorder and Are Suicidal.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 29 Apr. 2021, https://www.verywellmind.com/eating-disorders-suicide-4174291.
https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2021/social-connection-and-well-being-during-covid-19/