"It's My Body"

"We've had a huge emphasis on a woman's right to her own body. It's your body you do what you want with it. Now, some girls have taken that philosophy to the extreme and have abused their bodies with eating disorders, with substance abuse, with drugs and alcohol. 'It's my body; I can wreck it. I can trash it.'"                                       - Nancy Leigh DeMoss

While reading through some transcripts of Nancy Leigh DeMoss' podcasts on Modesty, I came across this audacious statement. 

Let me say, that as someone who has struggled with an eating disorder, mild substance abuse, and self harm, NEVER ONCE has the thought "it's my body; I can do what I want with it" crossed my mind in relation to self destructive behaviors. 

"I'm worthless", yes

"I deserve to be punished", yes

"I am ugly, fat, etc" absolutely. 

But, "It's my body, I can wreck it, I can trash it"? Never. 

I can't even tell you what callous disdain and disregard this shows towards women who have struggled with and are struggling with eating disorders, substance abuse, and drug and alcohol misuse. She's essentially saying that if you are engaged in self destructive behaviors, you have bought the philosophy that your body is your own, you can do with it what you wish, and absolutely neglecting the underlying issues in relation to self destructive behaviors. 

No one starts self destructive behaviors using "It's my body" as initiative! 

I do know people who, after years of self destructive behaviors, have finally resorted to "Mind your own business, it's my body I do what I want" in order to silence some incredibly judgmental people. 

But to make a blanket statement that anyone who self destructs is automatically using that as their reason and motivation is just plumb wrong.