Healing From Disordered Eating
“Don't turn away. Keep your gaze on the bandaged place. That's where the light enters you.”
― Rumi
If you struggle with disordered eating, you know it’s a complex issue that affects your physical and emotional well-being. Disordered eating encompasses a wide range of problematic eating behaviors and attitudes, such as restrictive eating, binge eating, compensatory behaviors, and extreme preoccupations with body image. Healing from disordered eating is a journey that requires a deep understanding of the protective nature of these behaviors, the role they play in providing a sense of control and safety, and the underlying wounds they attempt to distance you from. The journey to healing from disordered eating is not linear and can be a deeply personal process.
In this blog post, we will explore the concept of disordered eating healing, drawing insights from the Internal Systems Family (IFS) model of therapy.
The Protective Nature of Disordered Eating Behaviors
Disordered eating behaviors, such as restrictive eating, binge eating, or compulsive exercising, often serve as a way to cope with emotional pain, anxiety, or shame. Richard Schwartz, the founder of IFS Therapy, highlights the protective nature of extreme behaviors, including disordered eating behaviors. These behaviors may be protected by exerting control to prevent pain, striving for perfection, creating an illusion of safety, or reacting to pain by soothing or distracting oneself from pain.
Understanding the Positive Intention and Function of Disordered Eating
Disordered eating serves as an adaptive response to trauma or adverse life experiences with the positive intention to help a person. By numbing emotional pain, seeking temporary relief, or trying to gain a sense of control, individuals attempt to regulate overwhelming emotions and protect themselves from experiencing emotional pain. Understanding the complex dynamics of disordered eating thoughts and behaviors begins by appreciating their positive intention. Then, by finding out what they are afraid would happen if they stopped such behaviors. By fostering a compassionate relationship with these parts, they will begin to reveal the underlying emotional pain, fear, unresolved trauma, or grief.
Healing from Underlying Issues
To truly heal from disordered eating, it is essential to address the underlying issues or burdens from trauma that often fuels these harmful behaviors. Traumatic experiences can create dysregulation in the nervous system, and lead to a disconnection from yourself. IFS therapy will help you to access and deeply listen to them from your true authentic self. Compassionately witnessing and releasing the burdens caused by trauma, whatever their origin, begins to heal these parts of yourself and creates the possibility for lasting change.
What Does Disordered Eating Healing Look Like?
Disordered eating healing is a multifaceted process that encompasses various aspects of self-discovery, self-compassion, and personal growth. Here are some key components of this transformative journey:
1. Awareness and Acceptance:
Healing begins with recognizing the presence of disordered eating patterns and acknowledging their impact on one’s life. This is often when clients or their loved ones reach out for support.
2. Therapeutic Support:
Seeking professional help from therapists trained in trauma-informed eating disorder care is crucial.
Early in therapy, you’ll likely learn coping skills to help you manage the day-to-day struggles. Unlike recovery from substance abuse, you won’t be able to abstain from food or your body. Toxic diet culture images and messages are all around us, and may easily trigger you when you get exposed to them. This is why it is important to have a few coping strategies that can help you through the early phase of your treatment.
You will also likely begin to cultivate self-compassion and learn to treat yourself with kindness; similar to the way you would treat a friend or someone you truly love. With self-compassion, you will begin to recognize that many people struggle throughout their lives, and you are not alone. Keep in mind, disordered eating behaviors do not define your worth as a person.
Therapy provides a safe space to be vulnerable, explore the roots of disordered eating, and process unresolved trauma. Engaging in trauma-focused therapy reduces traumatic burdens’ influence on your disordered eating behaviors. Modalities like IFS, EMDR, or somatic therapies can aid in healing the burdens of trauma, by restoring a sense of safety and embodiment.
3. Reconnecting with the Body:
Disordered eating often leads to a disconnection from bodily sensations and intuitive cues. Healing involves rebuilding a trusting relationship with the body through practices, such as intuitive eating, body awareness exercises, or gentle movement.
4. Rebuilding a More Harmonious Relationship with Food:
Healing from disordered eating involves reestablishing an intuitive relationship with food. This may involve working with a dietitian who specializes in disordered eating.
5. Building a Supportive Community:
Healthy relationships matter for our well-being. They can provide emotional support, understanding, and validation, as well as a sense of community and belonging. Social support acts as a buffer against the negative effects of stress and can enhance resilience throughout our lives, no matter what you are struggling with.
Healing from disordered eating is a deeply personal and transformative journey. It requires understanding the protective nature of damaging eating behaviors, recognizing their protective function and positive intention (despite their negative consequences), and addressing the underlying emotional wounds that drive them. By seeking professional help, you can embark on a path toward genuine healing and a more harmonious relationship with food, your body, and yourself. Always remember, the journey may be challenging, but with perseverance and support, healing is possible.
Take The First Step Towards Healing Disordered Eating in California
At Kindful Body, we understand how disordered eating negatively impacts your life. We believe healing is a worthwhile journey full of surprises as you discover more about who you really are. Our team of eating disorder therapists and registered dietitians can help you in recovering from your disordered eating, enabling you to cultivate a more loving and trusting relationship with the most important person in your life – that’s you! If you are located in California, you can start online therapy with our team by following these simple steps:
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with our client care coordinator or call (415) 323- 6755.
Connect with a caring therapist or dietitian.
Start receiving the support you deserve!
Other Services Offered With Kindful Body
Our team understands you may experience more than one mental health concern at a time. This is why we offer multiple mental health services in addition to disordered eating. We are happy to also offer support for EMDR, low self-esteem issues, anxiety treatment, and body image. We also offer trauma therapy and grief counseling. When you’re ready, we are here to help you with your eating disorder recovery. We also offer eating disorder treatment in Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland/Berkeley, Walnut Creek, San Mateo, Orange County, CA, or anywhere online in California. Learn more about us by checking out our blog and FAQs page!