Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa affect Singing Mechanics
1. The body-image challenges that accompany EDs cause a hyper-tonicization (over-tightening and eventual rigidity) of the rectus abdominis (six-pack) muscle, in an attempt to look/be thinner. This causes havoc with the respiratory and support system due to not being able to breath diaphragmatically. Postural issues follow as the scapulae are pulled up due to chest collapse. Costal breathing and/or mouth breathing follows, which creates a vicious circle of ED leading to anxiety, leading to increased bouts of ED...
2. The accompanying gag reflex will mess with the vocal mechanism. The larynx can get itself frozen into a high position, the soft palate becomes rigid, and the swallowing muscles may becoming habitually inflamed due to the stomach acid coming up.
3. The emotional impact of “pay attention to me - don’t look at me” can cause the placement of the voice to hide in the back of the throat. Singing requires what may feel like extreme vulnerability. Finding one’s vocal power and forward resonance, and the confidence to “take up space” vocally and physically may at first be very frightening.
These effects can remain in the muscle and fascial memory of the singer long after the ED has “passed”. Its sad how many of these girls get left behind by many voice teachers, because to the untrained eye, the singer “just can’t do things right”. All is not lost.
Help with the effects on the voice and fascia can be found through many avenues, including restorative yoga, specific vocal work aimed at balancing resonance, Wilson Method breath therapy, core strength, emotional stability and personal confidence exercises. And of course, to work out the upper belly tension, Wilson Method Breath Ball abdominal massage will often prove to be a life-long game-changer.
How Eating Disorders Affect Your Voice
Down the rabbit hole…
