3 Common Ways Eating Disorders Develop

Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and overeating develop in people of all shapes and sizes, from all backgrounds and walks of life. Here are three common ways an eating disorder develops: Low Self-Image or Self-Esteem It may seem like common sense: Low self-confidence can lead to someone not caring for him- or herself. But the cause of a negative self-image can run much deeper than just body image. On the surface, an eating disorder seems to be all about weight, but the desire to reach a certain size may be a symptom of underlying self-loathing. An eating disorder can develop when other efforts to increase confidence have failed, or have not been externally recognized. Our society has become obsessed with physical appearance. “Beauty” has been defined as “thin.” If an individual has not created a fulfilled, internal personal opinion, society’s external opinions can dominate his or her self-image. The desire to look a certain way, paired with inner pain, can trigger the development of an eating disorder. Co-Existing Disorders In many cases, the symptoms of a mental illness contribute to the need for control. When your brain chemistry is altered, and your own mind is telling you that you are fat, or that you will feel better (or will feel less shame) when you restrict what you eat, or get rid of all the calories you just ate, it is extremely difficult to self-regulate. Instead, self-medication occurs with pleasure coming...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Tags: Addiction Anorexia Brain and Behavior Bulimia Disorders Eating Disorders General Psychology Anorexia Nervosa Body Dysmorphic Disorder Bulimia Nervosa Depression Maudsley Family Therapy Self Loathing Soul Vomiting Source Type: blogs