Food Is NOT the Primary Issue in Eating Disorders. So What Is?
There are multiple factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of an eating
disorder like anorexia or bulimia.
Eating Disorders are an irrational and unhealthy means of pursuing what are rational and healthy goals.
Key Question: What is the FUNCTION of the eating disorder?
The eating disorder fulfills a role in the patient's life. It meets basic human needs for: autonomy,
security, connection, uniqueness, specialness, identity, and love.
Other Roles of The Eating Disorder May Be:
- Expresses Emotion
- Helps your loved one deal with anger by channeling emotions inward
- Relieves or manages stress
- Allows your loved one to procrastinate on
overwhelming tasks
- Controls weight
- Suppresses traumatic memories
- Gives your loved one momentary freedom ("play,
escape, high, "temporary amnesia")
- Helps your loved one hold the family together
- Gives comfort
- Suppresses Wounds, Hurts, Traumas, and Losses
- Gives your loved one discipline or punishment
("I don't deserve to eat")
- Helps your loved one fit ideal of society
- Relieves boredom
- Delays Physical Maturation
- Gives a Sense of Control
- Helps cope with negative thoughts and feelings
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- Focuses and distracts your loved one from more
difficult issues
- Helps your loved one strive for perfection
- It feels familiar to your loved one (companion, habit)
- Protects self-esteem
- Acts as an excuse for failed expectations
- Gives your loved one a unique identity
- Helps your loved one feel in control
- Helps your loved one receive attention from family members/friends
- Buffers relationships
- Purging allows your loved one a perception of normalcy- allows for "normal eating"
- Acts as an excuse for escape from daily stress
- Gives your loved one a sense of accomplishment
- Gives your loved one time for them self
- Regulates Emotions
- Numb Emotions
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*The underlying issues are basically the same, whether the patient is anorexic, bulimic, or ED NOS.