OCD vs. Eating Disorders

There was a time when my son Dan would go days at a time without eating. When he did eat, it would have to be a specific food at a specific time in a specific place. There was no negotiating with him, and, not surprisingly, his health suffered. You might think he was obviously battling an eating disorder. That wasn’t the case, however. He was dealing with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. While it can be argued that both OCD and eating disorders involve obsessions and compulsions, as well as the need for control, those who suffer from eating disorders typically obsess over their weight or body image. My son was not focused on either. His eating (or not eating) rituals stemmed from magical thinking, a cognitive distortion that is common in those with OCD. Maybe something bad might happen if he ate on Tuesday, for example. Eat that peanut butter sandwich before midnight and someone he loved might die. Others with OCD might restrict their food intake for other reasons, perhaps because they are concerned about germs and contamination. Recently, a lot of attention has been paid to the “newest” eating disorder: orthorexia. Those who suffer from orthorexia typically obsess over eating a perfectly healthy diet. Interestingly, this eating disorder (not yet listed in the DSM-5, but included in the category of “Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder”) is the one that is most similar to OCD. Obsessions revolve around health, and not weight or body image. Examples...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Anorexia Bulimia Cognitive-Behavioral Disorders Eating Disorders Family General Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Parenting Psychotherapy Treatment Anorexia Nervosa Binge Eating Disorder Bulimia Nervosa Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Source Type: news