Earlier today I was writing about control. Dear reader, you have to wait on that because I saw an article from National Eating Disorders Association that ENRAGED me! New Study Explains How Those With Eating Disorders Can Override Hunger Cues (I’ve also calmed down considerably)
What I first took away from the article is rewiring the brain of someone with an eating disorder to recognize hunger cues helps reach that “weight-recovered” place. The particular post from NEDA barely mentioned the other psychological aspects — about grasping for control, anxiety, depression, addiction, lack of self-worth (I could go on). That food and weight is not the core of the disease. As if you can slap an Easy Button on “fixing” someone with an eating disorder.
As I relearned to eat and know if I was Physically Hungry or Emotionally Hungry…facing that nuance and deciding what to do with it, that is where the real recovery lies. I still think about physical versus emotional hunger, particularly when I’m depressed or having an anxiety attack (provided I’m that clued in to what is happening). All a part of figuring out how to make better choices and not engage in binging, purging, calorie restriction or excessive exercise. If I know I’m emotionally hungry, then I’m in control of what happens next not the bulimia.
Was I looking at this through the lens of experience versus medical definitions? What is an eating disorder, is it really only about food and weight (I knew the answer, I was looking for support) So I went to the American Psychiatric Association. Paraphrasing here, bold is my emphasis, with full definition on their site.
What Are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are illnesses in which the people experience severe disturbances in their eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. People with eating disorders typically become obsessed with food and their body weight.
People with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa tend to be perfectionists with low self-esteem and are extremely critical of themselves and their bodies. (…) In early stages of these disorders, patients often deny that they have a problem.
In many cases, eating disorders occur together with other psychiatric disorders like anxiety, panic, obsessive compulsive disorder and alcohol and drug abuse problems. (…) Without treatment of both the emotional and physical symptoms (…) fatal conditions can result. However, with proper medical care, those with eating disorders can resume suitable eating habits, and return to better emotional and psychological health.
That was inline with what I thought was an eating disorder, and my own experience. To take a few paragraphs and only talk about eating and weight and new research — my anger was about not addressing the full picture of the disease. As much as I have reread the NEDA post since this afternoon, I now see it is there, extremely subtle and nuanced, but there.
I went to the CU Anschutz page announcing the research results. This one felt more factual about the biology of the research and “mind over matter” (OMFG DUH!!!!) as an aspect that contributes to diagnosis (even though he still doesn’t talk about the psychological and emotional aspects). So I’ve calmed down.
I suppose aside from my anger, my fear is people that do not understand an eating disorder could see this and take it out of context. That the messages of… “Just EAT and it will be better”… “Just STOP purging it is so disgusting”… “Just XYZ, magic happens, QED you are cured”… Science!
None of that is reality.
It completely dismisses the entire experience of a person with an eating disorder, their pain, their journey, their willingness or resistance to recovery.
Every one of us has our own story. Learn the story, never make assumptions.
Otherwise — It is offensive. As plain and simple as I could explain it myself. Offensive.
