Comments on: How are eating disorders related to food addiction? http://addictionblog.org/body/how-are-eating-disorders-related-to-food-addiction/ "a" is for addiction Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:50:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Britany Nicar http://addictionblog.org/body/how-are-eating-disorders-related-to-food-addiction/#comment-3404 Britany Nicar Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:19:10 +0000 http://addictionblog.org/body/how-are-eating-disorders-related-to-food-addiction/#comment-3404 The concept of food addiction covers a wider field than self-development or self-help: personal development also includes developing others. This may take place through roles such as those of a teacher or mentor. The concept of food addiction covers a wider field than self-development or self-help: personal development also includes developing others. This may take place through roles such as those of a teacher or mentor.

]]> By: Addiction Blog http://addictionblog.org/body/how-are-eating-disorders-related-to-food-addiction/#comment-1407 Addiction Blog Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:18:22 +0000 http://addictionblog.org/body/how-are-eating-disorders-related-to-food-addiction/#comment-1407 Thanks so much for your feedback, Brittany. I sense that you have been personally affected by an eating disorder (personal or someone close) and are extremely informed about it! I must admit that I do have a bias towards spiritual connection, as this helps drive my life and purpose. After years of being an agnostic, I find that belief in a driving force in the universe calms many doubts and fears. How would you suggest that the wording in the "Spiritual causes" be changed? Thanks so much for your feedback, Brittany. I sense that you have been personally affected by an eating disorder (personal or someone close) and are extremely informed about it! I must admit that I do have a bias towards spiritual connection, as this helps drive my life and purpose. After years of being an agnostic, I find that belief in a driving force in the universe calms many doubts and fears. How would you suggest that the wording in the “Spiritual causes” be changed?

]]> By: Brittany http://addictionblog.org/body/how-are-eating-disorders-related-to-food-addiction/#comment-1388 Brittany Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:36:53 +0000 http://addictionblog.org/body/how-are-eating-disorders-related-to-food-addiction/#comment-1388 I believe an eating disorder is an addiction. It is an addiction to food. It is a coping mechanism. Although the coping mechanism is unhealthy and dangerous, it works for the people who get relief from it. Similar to the relief someone suffering obsessive compulsive disorder get by performing rituals, those who have an eating disorder use it as a way to handle their overwhelming emotions. I am not clear on what the "spiritual causes" described above are. That particular section sounds biased. It makes it sound like one MUST be connected to higher power. This completely disregards atheism or those who simply believe we are just animals. We live and we die like everything else. I think the wording needs to be different in order to include all potential beliefs or understandings of our existence. In the "How do doctors treat an eating disorder" section, I agree with the weight restoration and the need for development of healthy, normal, eating habits. Often inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment is best for getting the food behaviors undercontrol in a supervised, supportive setting. Vitals and other monitoring is essential to keep patients safe and on track. I do believe treatment must incorporate individual psychotherapy. For eating disorders--and addiction in general--Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) has been proven successful for many. Much of the cause of eating disorders is the inability to handle emotions properly. By focusing on one's thoughts and feelings, behaviors can change. In order to enter recovery, all three (thoughts, behaviors, and feelings) must be addressed to control the disorder. Lastly, in the "What's the cure for an eating disorder" section, I want to make it clear that there is no cure. Because people must eat to survive, total abstinence from the drug (food) is impossible. Instead, recovery is the maintenance of using healthy coping mechanisms instead of unhealthy coping mechanisms. Recovery is not perfection, but the moving forward in a positive direction. I agree that twelve step may offer some support for eating disorders; however, it is only one option. Overeaters anonymous (OA) is a good group which focuses on food issues. I do want to stress the importance of same-sex self help groups. Although men suffer from eating disorders, women still make up the majority of cases. This is one reason I strongly suggest same-sex support groups. Especially because deep emotional issues are often discussed as being the underlying turmoil driving the behaviors. I believe an eating disorder is an addiction. It is an addiction to food. It is a coping mechanism. Although the coping mechanism is unhealthy and dangerous, it works for the people who get relief from it. Similar to the relief someone suffering obsessive compulsive disorder get by performing rituals, those who have an eating disorder use it as a way to handle their overwhelming emotions.

I am not clear on what the “spiritual causes” described above are. That particular section sounds biased. It makes it sound like one MUST be connected to higher power. This completely disregards atheism or those who simply believe we are just animals. We live and we die like everything else. I think the wording needs to be different in order to include all potential beliefs or understandings of our existence.

In the “How do doctors treat an eating disorder” section, I agree with the weight restoration and the need for development of healthy, normal, eating habits. Often inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment is best for getting the food behaviors undercontrol in a supervised, supportive setting. Vitals and other monitoring is essential to keep patients safe and on track. I do believe treatment must incorporate individual psychotherapy. For eating disorders–and addiction in general–Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) has been proven successful for many. Much of the cause of eating disorders is the inability to handle emotions properly. By focusing on one’s thoughts and feelings, behaviors can change. In order to enter recovery, all three (thoughts, behaviors, and feelings) must be addressed to control the disorder.

Lastly, in the “What’s the cure for an eating disorder” section, I want to make it clear that there is no cure. Because people must eat to survive, total abstinence from the drug (food) is impossible. Instead, recovery is the maintenance of using healthy coping mechanisms instead of unhealthy coping mechanisms. Recovery is not perfection, but the moving forward in a positive direction. I agree that twelve step may offer some support for eating disorders; however, it is only one option. Overeaters anonymous (OA) is a good group which focuses on food issues. I do want to stress the importance of same-sex self help groups. Although men suffer from eating disorders, women still make up the majority of cases. This is one reason I strongly suggest same-sex support groups. Especially because deep emotional issues are often discussed as being the underlying turmoil driving the behaviors.

]]> By: Maria http://addictionblog.org/body/how-are-eating-disorders-related-to-food-addiction/#comment-1274 Maria Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:13:13 +0000 http://addictionblog.org/body/how-are-eating-disorders-related-to-food-addiction/#comment-1274 12 steps program works only for religious and disciplined people. 12 steps program works only for religious and disciplined people.

]]> By: Douglas Cook, M.D. http://addictionblog.org/body/how-are-eating-disorders-related-to-food-addiction/#comment-1192 Douglas Cook, M.D. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:11:20 +0000 http://addictionblog.org/body/how-are-eating-disorders-related-to-food-addiction/#comment-1192 I started the first inpatient eating disorder treatment program in Northeast Louisiana in 1987. I have treated hundreds of ED sufferers since then. In my opinion, conquering an eating disorder is much harder than getting into recovery from alcoholism of substance dependence. It takes an enormous amount of willingness to go to any reasonable lengths to get well. I fully endorse the combination of psychiatric care, addictionist care, therapy, nutritional counseling and 12 step meetings. Accountability with physician, therapist, nutritionist and sponsor is of paramount importance. Recovery from and eating disorder takes time and is usually fraught with setbacks. Patience and time are essential to allow progressive healing and complete abstinence from the addictive behaviors and/or food. I started the first inpatient eating disorder treatment program in Northeast Louisiana in 1987. I have treated hundreds of ED sufferers since then. In my opinion, conquering an eating disorder is much harder than getting into recovery from alcoholism of substance dependence. It takes an enormous amount of willingness to go to any reasonable lengths to get well. I fully endorse the combination of psychiatric care, addictionist care, therapy, nutritional counseling and 12 step meetings. Accountability with physician, therapist, nutritionist and sponsor is of paramount importance. Recovery from and eating disorder takes time and is usually fraught with setbacks. Patience and time are essential to allow progressive healing and complete abstinence from the addictive behaviors and/or food.

]]>