frequently.asked.questions

Q: Can I add your website onto my links section?

A: Sure! Just be sure and let me know that so that I can do the same for you and add your link onto this site. You can contact me at: wintrflwr@home.com. And the same goes for anyone that wishes to contact me with questions, comments, or just the need to talk to someone that knows what you're going through. =)

Q: Is it true that over half of those afflicted with an ED have been victims of some form of abuse?

A: Unfortunately, that's seems to be what a lot of statistics are saying. =( I have seen stats showing that anywhere from 55% to as high as 80% of those with anorexia, bulimia, or compulsive overeating have been abused in the past or are still victims of it. BE AWARE that abuse is NOT just physical, though. Emotional scars generally never heal themselves, and words can cut deeper than people usually realize.

Q: Who is this Peggy Claude-Pierre and what is the Montreux clinic?

A: Ahhh, so you want to know about Peggy. =) Well sit down with some tea and I'll happily tell you. Peggy is what is known to many people with eating disorders as an angel. She currently has a clinic in Canada that takes in the severest of ED cases and helps them regain their lives back through a loving form of treatment. Instead of drugs and discipline, Peggy uses hugs and constant affection to "cure" those that come to her clinic.

Her work first started when her eldest of two daughters, Kristen, became afflicted with the monster anorexia. Over a period of time Peggy helped heal her back to health, but at the same time her youngest daughter, Nicole, became sick with anorexia herself. The anorexia was so severe that Nicole believed she was worthless (as most people with EDs do), and one night she even creeped out of her bedroom and began eating out of a dog dish because that's what she felt she deserved. Peggy gave Nicole round the clock care and even when the countless numbers of doctors and therapist said that Nicole was a hopeless case, Peggy's undying love didn't give up and eventually saved Nicole's life. Both daughters have been free of anorexia ever since.

News of what Peggy had done for her children soon spread and parents and patients started contacting her asking for her help. An outpatient therapy was eventually set-up and then the Montreux clinic. Since then her clinic has become just about famous and has been featured on such shows as 20/20, Oprah, and Montel Williams.

The bad part of this is the clinic has an extremely long waiting list (literally 15 years) if you are interested in going and only the severest of cases that are near-death are allowed in first. Only 9 severe inpatient cases can come in at a time and somewhere around 40 outpatients. However, Peggy did publish a book describing more in detail her remarkable treatment to help others unable to come to the clinic. It is titled The Secret Language of Eating Disorders and comes in hardcover and paperback. I STRONGLY suggest that anyone interested read it. People from the book alone and learning of how Peggy and her caretakers treat patients has enabled friends and family to be able to "cure" loved ones of their illness. You can also go to their website for more information and resources at http://www.montreux.org, or learn more about the book at The Secret Language of Eating Disorders

Q: Is it true that abuse charges were filed against Montreux?

A: Something of that nature did occur about a year ago. One woman stated that Peggy drugged her before a 20/20 crew came to the clinic to do a feature and show them, and the same woman also says that Peggy would not allow her to leave her home (this was before the clinic first opened) when she was in treatment. Peggy says that the drugging never occurred and that for the woman's own safety who was in critical condition, she tried to have her stay in the house so that she did not go and hurt herself.

The second allegation came from a current anorexic who was in Peggy's outpatient program and claims that one day when Peggy was very late and when she finally showed up, she called her names and was very rude. More speculations continued about inadequate medical record being kept on file about medications and what-not and some people who claim they use to work in the clinic state that other caretakers would force feed patients.

Peggy has acknowledged all of these allegations first hand and I personally believe her when she says they are not true. Because of her clinic's fame, she has been taking away a lot of business from local doctors and therapists that treat anorexics (but of course, fail). It is thought that these doctors and therapists are paying people off to lie and go against Peggy so they can get their business back.

Awhile back I spoke to a girl that went through Peggy's outpatient therapy (and she has been healed from her bulimarexia ever since I might add) and I asked her about what these people above were accusing Peggy and some of her caretakers of. My friend vehemently denied the accusations stating that "Peggy truly is an angel. She and her caretakers have dug themselves into the ground to care for us and to help us. They literally gave me my life back. I can't believe this at all. I never once saw anything even remotely close to abuse go on, and neither have any of the people that I met there during group therapy sessions."

I trust that everyone out there can make their own valid opinions that are of the truth... Let's try to stop these rumors and lies.

Q: Is it true that there is a genetic basis for bulimia? A: I have heard that families with a history of diabetes have been shown to most likely raise a bulimic, but this hasn't been verified by a large amount of people. (Although, I do find that fact interesting considering my family has raging diabetes...)

"I'll show you why

you're so much more than good enough..."