Blogger Uses Extreme Body Modifications to Cope with Trauma
A blogger from Kansas has opened up about their battle with eating disorders and how weightlifting and extreme body modifications have helped them cope with trauma. Jessy Kirkpatrick, a 27-year-old nonbinary individual, revealed that their journey to healing from anorexia involved turning to body modifications as a way to improve their mental health.
Kirkpatrick had a healthy relationship with food during their childhood but started experiencing anorexia in their late teens. They believed that the eating disorder was a result of severe trauma they experienced as a child. As their condition worsened, they faced numerous challenges such as anxiety, tachycardia, and multiple food allergies.
To address their mental and physical health issues, Kirkpatrick delved into bodybuilding and extreme body modifications. These modifications included a stretched septum, multiple lip piercings, a stretched tongue, a stretched lip, stretched nostrils, and silicone horn implants on their forehead to resemble a devil.
The blogger shared that their sleep routine improved, experiencing less pain and increased functionality during the day. They also expressed feeling happier and stronger after the body modifications. Kirkpatrick underscored the significance of seeing a transformed body in the mirror, no longer perceiving themselves as a “walking corpse.”
Although these procedures have come at a cost, with an estimated expenditure of $12,000 over the past decade, Kirkpatrick believes it’s a worthwhile investment in their personal journey to overcome anorexia.
Looking ahead, Kirkpatrick plans to undergo more body modifications, including enlarging their septum and lip piercing, splitting their tongue, getting full-body tattoos, adding more implants and horns, obtaining “world record nostrils,” and having their eyeballs tattooed.
Aside from body modifications, Kirkpatrick also engaged in strength training and various physical activities such as swimming, tennis, and yoga. These exercises served as outlets for their pain and anxiety, contributing to improved mental and physical well-being.
However, Kirkpatrick admits they still struggle with nutrition, emphasizing the therapeutic nature of cooking their own meals as a way to gain control and comfort.
Anorexia is a serious eating disorder that affects a significant number of young women and men. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) estimates that between 0.3 and 0.4 percent of young women and 0.1 percent of young men will experience anorexia at some point. Anorexia significantly increases the risk of mortality in affected individuals, with young people between 15 and 24 years old being 10 times more likely to die compared to their peers without the disorder.
Jessy Kirkpatrick acknowledges that not everyone understands or supports their love for body modification. They have faced criticisms and negative comments from individuals who label them as ugly or a freak. Despite this, Kirkpatrick remains steadfast in their belief that they are in control of their own transformation and that their self-perception is what truly matters.
In sharing their story, Kirkpatrick hopes to inspire others struggling with anorexia or trauma to find their own paths to healing and self-acceptance.