Eating Disorders Explained

Shannon Cutts

Attempting to understand the mystery that is an unfolding eating disorder is akin to attempting to comprehend the complexities of black holes in space….they just appear, suck everything living and light into their depths, and then sit patiently, eternally, waiting for more. In fact, this is exactly how the family and friends of an eating disorder sufferer feel, watching everything they have known and treasured about their loved one disappear into the black hole depths of mental illness. How does this happen? What causes an eating disorder? How can a sufferer begin heal? And what can loved ones do to help? What causes eating disorders? Eating disorders are brain disorders. Period, the end. They have very little to do with food. Scientific researchers have identified genetic markers for both anorexia and bulimia – proof that eating disorders, like breast cancer and schizophrenia, run in families. A host of interesting theories exist to explain the complex biological origins of eating disorders. Yet the simple fact remains that, whether we fully understand the why of it yet or not, 56% of the baseline cause for the development of an eating disorder is biological. The other 44% is environmental. We live in a society increasingly focused on physical perfection. Our photos are airbrushed. Our standards for beauty are attainable by only 2-4% of the population, leaving the other 96-98% spending thousands of dollars annually in an attempt to obtain what is genetically impossible to achieve. So while the genetic markers may be there from birth, it is the environment we live in that has triggered the dramatic rise in the incidence of eating disorders in females and males of all ages and from all walks of life. How can a sufferer begin the recovery process? Two elements are key in any successful recovery process – quality care, and quality relationships. During the illness, a relationship is formed between the sufferer and the disease. Weight management presents itself as a simple solution for life’s complex issues. The sufferer’s emotional development and maturity is delayed as the disease takes over. The recommended treatment approach is thus both intensive and comprehensive, providing the nearly round-the-clock care that is required to break the dependence on the disease and help the sufferer regain a sense of independence and emotional development. Recommended treatment members include: 1. Medical doctor: responsible for assessing the sufferer’s physical health and addressing immediate health threats caused by the disease 2. Psychologist/Therapist/Social worker: facilitates talk therapy to identify underlying stressors and causes for the disease 3. Psychiatrist: provides and monitors medication to control co-occurring issues such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and other complications that can stand in the way of the sufferer’s ability to engage fully in the recovery process 4. Dietitian or nutritionist: provides nutritional counseling to guide the sufferer in achieving adequate nutritional stabilization to do the hard work of recovery 5. Ancillary support professionals: yoga, movement, expressive arts and music therapy, meditation and other creative disciplines can provide essential support to help the sufferer regain a sense of self expression and meaningful life outside the confines of the disease 6. Mentor: now considered a “missing link” in the comprehensive treatment team, the mentor is the individual who has personally experienced eating disorders recovery and is able to reassure and guide the sufferer in between visits to treatment professionals What can loved ones do to help? Relationships replace eating disorders. This is why it is so vital that loved ones, friends, and significant others remain connected and involved in the sufferer’s day-to-day life throughout the duration of the recovery process. Cultivating these three qualities will go a long way to keeping loved ones steady and sane while supporting a sufferer in their recovery efforts: 1. Knowledge. Learning the facts about what the sufferer and their support system are up against will go a long way towards managing fear and maintaining hope of eventual full recovery. There are lots of excellent resources and inspiring personal stories of triumph which prove there is never a reason to give up hope . 2. Patience. The recovery process generally takes one to five years for every year of illness. Patience is key in managing expectations and pacing recovery support efforts</li> 3. Support. Because the disease will attempt to put distance between the victim and his or her support system, consistent support from loved ones is essential to facilitating the sufferer’s eventual successful recovery. For more information about eating disorders recovery resources, treatment referrals, reading materials, and mentoring, visit the following websites: National Eating Disorders Association: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ ED Referral: http://www.edreferral.com/ Gurze Books: http://www.gurze.com/ MentorCONNECT: http://www.key-to-life.com/mentorconnect Shannon Cutts is first and foremost a survivor of a fifteen-year battle with anorexia and bulimia. Today, she is an international speaker and founder/director of MentorCONNECT, the first global online mentoring community created specifically for those in recovery from eating disorders. Shannon is the author of Beating Ana: How to Outsmart Your Eating Disorder and Take Your Life Back (Health Communications, Inc.) which chronicles her experiences of first being mentored and later becoming a mentor. She also blogs for Gurze Books and the Huffington Post. Visit her at www.key-to-life.com

Attempting to understand the mystery that is an unfolding eating disorder is akin to attempting to comprehend the complexities of black holes in space….they just appear, suck everything living and light into their depths, and then sit patiently, eternally, waiting for more. In fact, this is exactly how the family and friends of an eating disorder sufferer feel, watching everything they have known and treasured about their loved one disappear into the black hole depths of mental illness. How does this happen? What causes an eating disorder? How can a sufferer begin heal? And what can loved ones do to help? What causes eating disorders? Eating disorders are brain disorders. Period, the end. They have very little to do with food. Scientific researchers have identified genetic markers for both anorexia and bulimia – proof that eating disorders, like breast cancer and schizophrenia, run in families. A host of interesting theories exist to explain the complex biological origins of eating disorders. Yet the simple fact remains that, whether we fully understand the why of it yet or not, 56% of the baseline cause for the development of an eating disorder is biological. The other 44% is environmental. We live in a society increasingly focused on physical perfection. Our photos are airbrushed. Our standards for beauty are attainable by only 2-4% of the population, leaving the other 96-98% spending thousands of dollars annually in an attempt to obtain what is genetically impossible to achieve. So while the genetic markers may be there from birth, it is the environment we live in that has triggered the dramatic rise in the incidence of eating disorders in females and males of all ages and from all walks of life. How can a sufferer begin the recovery process? Two elements are key in any successful recovery process – quality care, and quality relationships. During the illness, a relationship is formed between the sufferer and the disease. Weight management presents itself as a simple solution for life’s complex issues. The sufferer’s emotional development and maturity is delayed as the disease takes over. The recommended treatment approach is thus both intensive and comprehensive, providing the nearly round-the-clock care that is required to break the dependence on the disease and help the sufferer regain a sense of independence and emotional development. Recommended treatment members include: 1. Medical doctor: responsible for assessing the sufferer’s physical health and addressing immediate health threats caused by the disease 2. Psychologist/Therapist/Social worker: facilitates talk therapy to identify underlying stressors and causes for the disease 3. Psychiatrist: provides and monitors medication to control co-occurring issues such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and other complications that can stand in the way of the sufferer’s ability to engage fully in the recovery process 4. Dietitian or nutritionist: provides nutritional counseling to guide the sufferer in achieving adequate nutritional stabilization to do the hard work of recovery 5. Ancillary support professionals: yoga, movement, expressive arts and music therapy, meditation and other creative disciplines can provide essential support to help the sufferer regain a sense of self expression and meaningful life outside the confines of the disease 6. Mentor: now considered a “missing link” in the comprehensive treatment team, the mentor is the individual who has personally experienced eating disorders recovery and is able to reassure and guide the sufferer in between visits to treatment professionals What can loved ones do to help? Relationships replace eating disorders. This is why it is so vital that loved ones, friends, and significant others remain connected and involved in the sufferer’s day-to-day life throughout the duration of the recovery process. Cultivating these three qualities will go a long way to keeping loved ones steady and sane while supporting a sufferer in their recovery efforts: 1. Knowledge. Learning the facts about what the sufferer and their support system are up against will go a long way towards managing fear and maintaining hope of eventual full recovery. There are lots of excellent resources and inspiring personal stories of triumph which prove there is never a reason to give up hope . 2. Patience. The recovery process generally takes one to five years for every year of illness. Patience is key in managing expectations and pacing recovery support efforts</li> 3. Support. Because the disease will attempt to put distance between the victim and his or her support system, consistent support from loved ones is essential to facilitating the sufferer’s eventual successful recovery. For more information about eating disorders recovery resources, treatment referrals, reading materials, and mentoring, visit the following websites: National Eating Disorders Association: <a href="http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/">http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/</a> ED Referral: <a href="http://www.edreferral.com/">http://www.edreferral.com/</a> Gurze Books: <a href="http://www.gurze.com/">http://www.gurze.com/</a> MentorCONNECT: <a href="http://www.key-to-life.com/mentorconnect">http://www.key-to-life.com/mentorconnect</a> Shannon Cutts is first and foremost a survivor of a fifteen-year battle with anorexia and bulimia. Today, she is an international speaker and founder/director of MentorCONNECT, the first global online mentoring community created specifically for those in recovery from eating disorders. Shannon is the author of Beating Ana: How to Outsmart Your Eating Disorder and Take Your Life Back (Health Communications, Inc.) which chronicles her experiences of first being mentored and later becoming a mentor. She also blogs for Gurze Books and the Huffington Post. Visit her at <a href="http://www.key-to-life.com">www.key-to-life.com</a>

2009-07-31T22:42:46Z

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Eating Disorders Explained