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Eating disorders - such as Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge-eating disorder, and Eating Disorders NOS - are all insidious, imprisoning, and pervasive. Eating disorders are illnesses in which one suffers severe disturbances in their eating behaviors, related thoughts and emotions. It permeates all aspects of each sufferer’s life and has profound effects on the individuals suffering and their loved ones. Once “it” has its grips on you or someone you love, the sun stops shining and the flowers seem to stop blooming. Being with that eating disorder becomes the only thing that matters. Eating disorders are extremes in eating behaviors-a diet that never ends. But while eating disorders may begin with a preoccupation with food, shape, and weight, they become about much more than food. People with eating disorders most often use food and the control of food in an attempt to compensate for feelings and emotions that may otherwise seem too overwhelming. A common thread between all eating disorders is low self-esteem. Self-esteem is the degree to which an individual values and respects themselves, and is proud of his or her accomplishments. According to Steinhausen, 1993, components that are characteristic of low self-esteem are insecurity, negative mood and depression, poor body image, feelings of inadequacy, social and personal withdrawal, poor adaptation skills, and unrealistically high aspirations. All these traits are seen fairly consistently in individuals suffering from eating disorders. Eating disorders involve intense preoccupation with behaviors and rituals surrounding food- obsessively counting calories, binging on food in secret, throwing up after eating, following rigid diets, but again, eating disorders go far deeper than just about food. The constant intrusive thoughts surrounding body, weight, and food issues can inevitably lead to isolation, secrecy, depression, self-mutilation, substance and alcohol abuse, and even social phobias. But don’t get me wrong, depression, anxiety, loneliness, trauma, difficulty expressing feelings, genetics, media and cultural pressures, troubled family and personal relationships, fear and refusal to grow up, substance and alcohol abuse are also vulnerability factors that may contribute to the development of an eating disorder. There is no single cause of eating disorders. Eating disorders affects individuals on a physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual level. As one may be seeking control through food, the truth is the food is actually controlling them and they are therefore losing control. Eating disorders have no discrimination; they are found in every culture, religion, ethnicity, and socio-economic group. In a majority of cases, eating disorders occur together with other psychological disorders, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and alcohol and drug abuse. Although, symptoms of an eating disorder usually begin in adolescence, there are many signs present long before. But unfortunately, how would one know if they don’t even know what they are looking for? But it IS NEVER TOO LATE to get help. Eating disorders are a serious illness that can have life-threatening consequences. BUT YOU CAN GET THE HELP YOU NEED...
Almost everyone overeats on occasion and some of us may feel “too” full, that we have eaten more than we should have. The individual suffering from the grips of Binge Eating Disorder periodically goes on large binges, consuming an unusually large quantity of food in a short period of time (less than 2 hours) uncontrollably, eating until they are uncomfortably full. Unlike with Bulimia, they do not purge following a binge episode. Binge Eating episodes are associate with three (or more) of the following:
When one suffers from Binge Eating disorder, he or she may vow again and again to stop, but they feel such a compulsion that they cannot resist the urges and continue bingeing. Some triggers for binge eating disorders include depression, anxiety, and trouble with interpersonal relationships, boredom, prolonged dieting, and body image dissatisfaction. Many binge eaters, also know as compulsive overeaters, speak of using this coping skills of bingeing as a way to numb all that is going on around them and to deal with uncomfortable feelings. The binge may temporarily relieve the stress of these unwanted feelings, but unfortunately the binge is followed by intense feelings of shame, guilt, disgust, and further depression. One may even develop psychological and physical problems relate to Binge Eating Disorder, making he or she even more miserable and further reducing their quality of life. He or she may avoid work, school, or socializing with peers because due to the shame associated with binge eating problem, actual physical discomfort following a binge, or changes in their body shape and weight. Signs of Binge Eating Disorder include but are not limited too:
Psychological and medical complications:
Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. The individual suffering from anorexia experiences an intense fear of weight gain. Any actual or perceived weight gain is met with a horrifying fear of getting fat. When it comes to the anorexics experience of the way they see themselves, their perception becomes distorted. The areas of the body representing maturity, femininity, and/or sexuality are often the areas viewed as “Fat.” The anorexic sufferer also experiences unrealistic expectations of self, extreme rigidity, and perfectionistic traits. These traits can most often be traced back to early childhood. Anorexia causes one to be in a constant state of depletion, feeling undeserving of love, protection, and nurturance. This depletion and lack of nourishment results in the display of how they often feel: less than, unworthy, and invisible. Most individuals suffering from anorexia end up with a very restricted diet that is sometimes limited to only a few foods. But, there is also a subtype of Anorexia Nervosa who may regularly purge, even after the consumption of small amounts of food, through self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas. The individual suffering from Anorexia engages in behaviors to disconnect from their bodily hunger cues but, actually obsess about food all day long. These individuals deeply experience a strong yearning to control, deny, or disconnect from their desire to eat. They will engage in unhealthy and ritualistic behaviors to try to control their weight or hunger. To the individual suffering from anorexia, self-starvation and weight loss are viewed as a success, a sign of remarkable discipline, and control over their life. The following diagnostic criteria which defines Anorexia Nervosa are taken from The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition:
According to the National eating disorder association (www.NationalEatingDisorders.org) the following are statistics regarding prevalence of anorexia:
Signs & symptoms of Anorexia:
Psychological signs & symptoms of Anorexia:
Unhealthy behaviors and food rituals:
Medical complications:
Bulimia Nervosa, often referred to as bulimia, is a serious eating disorder characterized by a destructive and recurring pattern of binging, eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, followed by inappropriate behaviors to prevent weight gain. Those who suffer from Bulimia nervosa commonly live in a world of shame, secrecy, and self-disgust. Binges most often occur in private and are accompanied by a sense of lack of control, According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, this sense of lack of control is defined by a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating. In addition, with the all or nothing thinking of bulimics, any slip-up is a total failure. So, since they failed anyway, why not go and engage in an all-out binge. But if there is any enjoyment or even a sense of disconnect before or during the binge, it is quickly replaced with feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and self-loathing. Once the binge episode ends, the purging behaviors begin. The Diagnostic Statistical Manual describes these behaviors as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications, fasting, and /or excessive exercise. Fasting may often take place the day following a binge. The period of time between a binge and purge is connected with high anxiety, intense desperation, and extreme feelings of guilt and shame. They may purge in a desperate attempt to burn off the calories following a binge, because they feel overwhelmed in coping with their emotions, or/and a means to punish themselves. Yet, because they have so much shame after a binge, purging becomes a relief. It may be shameful to be in the cycle of binging and purging, but in the moment is seems far less shameful than it is to eat too much and actually let it digest. The preoccupation before the binge even takes place, the whole act of a binge-and-purge episode, and then becoming consumed with feelings and thoughts following is extremely time consuming. There is so little time to be productive and in all just becomes insidious to the core. Those suffering from bulimia are with usually within a normal weight range and may even look relatively healthy. They may even hide their symptoms pretty well most of the time. But, don’t be fooled, that does not mean the symptoms are not there. And as the disease progresses, the signs do become more apparent and bulimia nervosa takes over a person’s life. It compromises her body, uses up her time and money, limits her peer relationships, and narrows her emotions to those that support the disorder itself. Bulimia nervosa has a profound effect on the body and can have severe, even life threatening medical complications. Listed below is a list of these signs and symptoms and medical complications. Binge eating signs and symptoms:
Purging signs and symptoms:
Emotional signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa:
Medical Complications and Consequences of Bulimia Nervosa: According the National Eating Disorder Association, the recurrent binge-and-purge cycles can damage the entire digestive system and purge behaviors can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions.
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