What To Do About Eating Disorders

What To Do About Eating Disorders

Many factors can contribute to eating disorders, including genetics, biochemics, cultural norms and psychological miscues. But no matter where they come from, the effects of an eating disorder can be drastic.

While most think that eating disorders are simply about food, the truth is that those who suffer from a disorder are actually using food as a medium to cope with some underlying, more deeply rooted struggle. These can include anxiety, life stressors, personal insecurities, and many more. Unfortunately, as a disorder worsens, it actually serves to magnify these negative emotions, which only worsens the relationship with food.

In this article, we’ll debunk the different kinds of eating disorders that exist, outline where they stem from, and give you concrete tips for how to handle them when they arise.

COMMON TYPES OF EATING DISORDERS

Anorexia Nervosa: Perhaps the most notorious eating disorder, people with anorexia are unable to see themselves as anything but overweight. This can create debilitating consequences when in reality, the patient is actually unhealthilty underweight. While it can affect men, majority of people with anorexia are women and typically skew younger. Sufferers of anorexia keep weight off by either A) food restriction or B) food binging then food purging through laxatives, vomiting or excessive exercise.

Signs of anorexia: Being severely underweight, heavily restricting calories, always commenting on body weight and a fear about it, denial about their own weight.

Bulimia Nervosa: Those with bulimia typically eat a severe amount of food in a very short period of time. This binge can happen any time, and usually features a food that the person actively tries not to eat. Once a binge occurs, the individual will try to reduce the gut pain and negate the calories by purging the food out. Vomiting, laxatives, diuretics or enemas are all techniques used to rid the food.

Signs of bulimia: Unlike anorexia, sufferers of bulimia are usually normal weight. They have a fear of gaining weight, feel like they lack control when eating, and may have physical symptoms like swollen glands, tooth decay, acid reflux, and dehydration.

Binge-Eating Disorder: Unlike anorexia and bulimia, binge-eaters do not try to purge their food intake after a meal. Similar to the above two conditions, however, binge-eaters feel a helpless lack of control of what, when and how much they eat. The problem exacerbates with negative emotions from gaining weight.

Signs of binge-eating: Excessive eating, either in public or secret. This can come with feelings of deep shame over their weight and their behaviour. Sufferers of this disorder are often obese or overweight.

Uncommon Eating Disorders:

Pica: Sufferers of pica crave eating non-food items, like hair, dirt, chalk, soil and more. It can cause heavy injuries and even death.

Rumination Disorder: This disorder pertains to individuals who eat a meal, voluntarily regurgitate it, then swallow it back down.

Night Eating Disorder: Sufferers of this condition usually eat excessive amounts before bed, or immediately after awakening from sleep.

WHAT CAUSES EATING DISORDERS?

As mentioned earlier, there are many different factors that can all contribute to eating disorders in both children and adults.

Genetics can play a part, as scientists have discovered identical twins split at birth share similar eating disorders later in life. This adds a new element to the nature vs. nurture debate.

Biochemistry varies from person to person, and individuals with an eating disorder may have unbalanced chemical levels in their brain. A good example is a heightened cortisol (stress hormone) level in individuals with anorexia.

Psychologically, eating disorders can stem as symptoms from mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, neuroticism, perfectionism and low-impulse control.

Cultural norms have also created a negative expectation cycle, where we idealize thinness and dieting and demonize obesity.

Environmental factors include your family dynamics, your childhood history and whether it was traumatizing in any way, peer pressure, or even bullying. All of these can create a dangerous mental loop that encourages eating disorders and does little to prevent it.

WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF AN EATING DISORDER

Every eating disorder demands a different route of treatment; however, there are some concrete steps you can take to adress an eating disorder before it gets worse.

Step #1: Do Not Beat Yourself Up

Everyone makes mistakes. It is the joy of being human. But punishing yourself for a behaviour that can feel out of control can only make the issue worse. We need to recognize that every moment is a moment where we can reinvent ourselves. Where we can start fresh. A relapse does not mean you’ve lost…it just means you have more fire and passion to try harder next time.

Step #2: Acknowledge the Problem To Others

Don’t be afraid to share with others if you think you have a problem. People that care for you—including medical professionals—only want what is best for your life. You will not be judged. Acknowledging that you have a problem will open doors to recovery and help you become present to the urges when they arise.

Step #3: Ask For Help

Professionals, like those at Absolute Bliss, are equipped with the tools and techniques to help you battle your disorder. When you ask for help, you get access to these methods, alongside a connection with someone who truly cares about you. When you try to overcome your struggles alone, the mind can go through a vicious cycle, blaming itself for not following through. With help, you are not alone in your path to recovery.

Step #4: Do Not Give Up

Recovery from an eating disorder does not happen overnight. It is a slow, and sometimes painful journey that can take months and even years. But with patience, and the right support team, you can accomplish a full recovery, and have long-lasting tools to deal with any future issues that might arise.

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