Why Netflix, Why?

     I’m extremely concerned about the Netflix show “To the Bone”. I refused to watch the trailer due to the fear of triggering myself. While I understand Netflix’s attempt to spread awareness and spark discussions surrounding mental illness, I don’t believe this is the right way to do so. Many people struggle with an eating disorder, and this show could potentially trigger someone . The storyline involves a caucasian girl who gets called fat, develops Anorexia, and ends up in a treatment center. The trailer perpetuates some (if not all) eating disorder stereotypes. In other words, not all individuals who have eating disorders are female, caucasian, and have Anorexia. In fact, a fair amount of individuals who have an eating disorder are in the “normal” weight range for their age and height.  Not only did Netflix have the audacity to create “To the Bone”, it also poured salt in the wound by categorizing the show as a “comedy-drama”. There is NOTHING funny about mental illness, let alone one that has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. If you want to learn how devastating and insidious eating disorders are, watch Someday Melissa or Thin. Those movies are documentaries. REAL documentaries. No scripted lines, no actors. Recovery does involve some laughs, but it also involves a lot of crying, screaming, and hitting rock bottom over and over again. Oh, and did I mention Netflix renewed “13 Reasons Why” for a second season?! As if one season didn’t do enough damage. When I signed up for Netflix, I wasn’t anticipating on paying $12 a month for a subscription service that sensationalizes mental illness.