Something Spectacular: The True Story of One Rockette's Battle with Bulimia - Paperback

by Greta Gleissner (Author)

Something Spectacular is Gleissner's raw, personal chronicle of the devastating effects bulimia exacts upon her personal and professional life during her time as a Rockette. As her disorder takes over, she begins to lead a dual life: a talented, accomplished, and happy-go-lucky dancer on the outside; a food addict tortured by obsessive, self-destructive voices on the inside. Immersed in an environment in which even talent is secondary to appearance, Gleissner hides her disorder by any means necessary--lying, cheating, and stealing with no regard for the consequences to herself or her loved ones--until she hits rock bottom and is forced to face the truths behind her disease. Her intensive odyssey of self-discovery ultimately gives her the strength to reshape her self-image, embrace her sexuality, and break free of the malignant hold bulimia has on her life.

The first book to give a voice to the pervasive but often unaddressed problem of eating disorders in the dance industry, Something Spectacular is a gripping exposé of the insidious nature of eating-related diseases--and a profound account of one woman's journey toward self-acceptance and recovery.

Author Biography

In recovery from bulimia for the last ten years, Greta Gleissner uses her experience as a platform to help others. Gleissner has been a contributor for The Disordered Times and The F-Word, and also publishes a personal blog about eating disorder recovery, Life with Cake, which is a Gürze Books Eating Disorders Blog. Gleissner has a master's in social work from New York University, dedicates her life to the eating disorder field, and is a member of NEDA, NASW, and IAEDP. She is the Day Treatment Team leader at The Renfrew Center of Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and has a practice in New York City.