Author Cynthia Bulik signs books for students

UCF students were given the opportunity to meet Cynthia Bulik, on Friday when she presented her book, The Woman in the Mirror: How to Stop Confusing What You Look Like with Who You Are, at the Barnes & Noble next to the UCF Arena. Bulik is a professor of eating disorders at The University of North Carolina.

Bulik spoke to students about different types of eating disorders, what can trigger eating disorders and how her book can help women change how they view their body image.

Before the book signing, a workshop with Bulik was held in the Fairwinds Alumni Center to educate UCF psychology students on eating disorders and various forms of treatment. Michael Kofler, director of the UCF Psychology Clinic, helped organize the event with the Psychology Department and the Division of Continuing Education. He said the Psychology Department wanted to invite Bulik because the doctoral program at UCF lacks someone who specializes in eating disorders.

"This was one of those talks that could have been career altering. If I had met someone like Dr. Bulik when I was an undergraduate maybe I'd be studying eating disorders instead of ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder]," Kofler said.

At the book signing, Bulik read two excerpts from her book. She showed students the popular YouTube video, "Jessica's Daily Affirmation," as an example of someone who has a good self-image. She also showed a video from the National Association of Anorexia/Bulemia in Sweden that portrays body dissatisfaction.

Bulik said that while the workshop was geared toward professionals in the medical field, her book is for students and people of all ages.

"The book really has chapters in it that focus on everything from elementary school to later life, so it's women across the lifespan," she said.

Bulik is also involved with the Uniting Couples in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa program, a new treatment for anorexia nervosa that unites couples. In the program, the couples work together toward recovery instead of going through individually based treatment.

Bulik's interest in studying eating disorders started during her sophomore year of college when someone she was working with had her write a chapter on the relation between anorexia and sleep.

"While writing the chapter, I went to visit an eating disorders unit and I said ‘This is fascinating.' I had one foot in, and I just went down the rabbit hole and I've been in it ever since," Bulik said.

The cover of Bulik's book shows a woman holding an antique mirror in front of her face. Bulik brought the same mirror from the book cover with her to the signing. She is using the mirror for a project where she is creating a collage of photos with people looking into the mirror. Students who attended the book signing got the chance to become part of the collage.

"The goal is to develop a new relationship with your reflection as a way to develop a new relationship with yourself. It is trying to get people to feel more positively about their body image and getting people to pull apart their body esteem from their self-esteem," she said.

Sarah Hudak, a freshman psychology major, found out about the book signing through an email from the Psychology Department.

"I'm interested in clinical psychology, and I thought it would be good to meet somebody who is obviously in that field. I kind of wanted to buy the book too," Hudak said.

Hudak said she thinks the subject of the book is relatable because many women have self-image issues and it is something that needs to be addressed. Bulik said that her book is not just for women.

"Men can learn so much from this book. Men can learn how to understand women if they read this book," Bulik said.

To learn more about The Woman in the Mirror: How to Stop Confusing What You Look Like with Who You Are, visit http://www.womaninthemirrorbook.com.