Wednesday, March 21, 2012: 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Blue Topaz (The Charleston Marriott)
This presentation will revisit the myth of Pandora and discuss its relevance in treating eating disorders by exploring her box as a metaphor for the feminine psyche and body (the repository of negative emotions, traumas, unconscious fears and memories), the therapeutic relationship, and ultimately, as the container of hope.
1. Introduction to the use of myth and story as a means of getting beyond the “mere facts” of eating disorder symptomology. 2. Definition of metaphor as language of myth and a description of the multiple levels on which it impacts the psyche. 3. Description of frequent metaphors used by those struggling with eating and weight. 4. Telling of the myth of Pandora’s Box. 5. Discussion of its relevance to the treatment of eating disorders and the controversy around symptom removal versus resolution of deeper issues. 6. Exploration of the symbolic meaning of the box: a.) as metaphor for the feminine psyche, b.) as metaphor for the female body, c.) as metaphor of the therapeutic container. 6. Discussion of the box as the repository of conscious negative emotions and unconscious fears, memories, and traumas. 7. Exploration of both “shadow issues” and the message of hope contained in the box and their importance in the treatment of eating disorders. 8. Discussion of curiosity and the hunger for meaning in one’s life and how that relates to the myth and to eating disorders. 9. How to use myth and storytelling in a treatment setting. 10. Question & Answer.
Ancient myths can be used as powerful tools in the treatment of eating disorders because they are repositories of ancient wisdom about the human condition. According the Joseph Campbell, myths guide us in “the experience of being alive.” They are told to enlighten us about our inner realities and what it means to be human. Often these myths are embedded in our unconscious minds and we use their metaphoric language in our literature and in our daily lives without fully recognizing or interpreting their meaning on a conscious level. Over time, as these ancient myths get told and retold, they are altered by the values of the current culture, emphasizing or eliminating certain aspects of the story.
Opening Pandora’s Box, a myth that has become synonymous with the unleashing of unfortunate, catastrophic forces or the creation of evil that cannot be undone, is one such story. As is the case with many myths that have been passed down for thousands of years, few of us know the full story and most are unaware that the tale ends with the discovery of hope buried deep in the box. This is often the case with stories told about eating disorders, as the media is quick to regale us with the horrors of eating disorders and the irreversible havoc they wreak. Rarely, however, is attention given to the hope for an infinitely better life that can emerge by uncovering and resolving issues underlying eating disorders.
This didactic and experiential presentation will revisit the myth of Pandora’ box and it’s relevance to the treatment of eating disorders. It will explore the deeper meaning of the “box” as a metaphor for the “container” of the feminine psyche, the female body, and the therapeutic relationship. By exploring Pandora’s box as a repository of negative emotions, unconscious fears, memories, and traumas, and also the vessel which holds the hope for recovery, it will demonstrate how to use the imagery embedded in this myth to assist those struggling with eating disorders.
Primary Presenter:
Anita Johnston, PhD, CEDS
Anita Johnston, Ph.D., CEDS is the author of Eating in the Light of the Moon and other professional articles and book chapters. She developed Hawaii's first in-patient eating disorders treatment program at Kahi Mohala Hospital in 1986. Currently, she is Director of the Anorexia & Bulimia Center of Hawaii which she co-founded in 1982, Clinical Director and Founder of ‘Ai Pono Eating Disorders Programs in Honolulu, and Senior Advisor/Clinical Consultant for Focus Center for Eating Disorders and Moonpointe Eating Disorders IOP’s in Tennessee. She is an iaedp certified eating disorders specialist and supervisor, and an international speaker and workshop leader.
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