Ignorance is Bliss

So yesterday was already a hard day and then I found the sweetest, yet most ignorant person since I've been home.  

 It is extremely beneficial to someone in recovery to have a number of people to act as a support team.  I have a number of my friends from treatment and at home to support me, but I was also hoping to find an Eating Disorders Anonymous group.  Unfortunately we do not have any in the area so instead it was recommended to try Over eaters Anonymous (OA), a program that welcomes people with a number of different eating disorders.  

 I got to the location of the OA meeting, but needed help finding the room.  I found a sweet woman to ask...

 Me:  Do you know where room 126 is?  There is a meeting in it and I'm not familiar with the building.

 Woman:  Well, what is the meeting you are looking for?

 Me: Over eaters Anonymous.

 Woman: (looks me up and down) Yeah, cause you need that meeting.  They can teach you how to eat. (laughs)

 Me: (awkwardly) Actually, I suffer from a different Eating Disorder.

 Woman:  Oh! So you have the opposite problem. [Then proceeds to give me directions]

 I was a little taken aback by how ignorant she was...but she was so sweet about it, I didn't know how to feel.  It made me realize that people really have no knowledge about eating disorders.  It's either you eat too much, or you don't eat at all and no in between.  It's very disheartening that this is the case. 

 This particular situation also made me think, 'How often have I said things that came off ignorant to other people?'  You truly never know what people around you have going on, so please let's be kind, considerate, and if you struggle to understand them...Ignorance is bliss.

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