What it’s Like to Have an Eating Disorder

We all have to eat in order to survive, and while this is something that we are all very aware of, there are some people who view food as more than just a necessity for survival. For some, that means eating much more than the body requires, while others avoid eating or purge it immediately after in order to maintain what they believe to be a positive body image. Eating disorders of any kind are incredibly dangerous for various physical health and emotional health reasons. Let’s take a closer look at the signs that someone might have an eating disorder, as well as some of the things that they might go through.

***Note: I am talking about eating disorders in vague terms. Reading a blog post is never a replacement for getting medical help. Do not use this blog post as a way to diagnose yourself or someone else because this is oversimplified for the sake of it being a blog post and not a book. Also, symptoms look very different in different people, so this can be a guide to recognizing that there may be red flags and to get a further assessment from a professional.***

There are several different kinds of eating disorders out there. Eating disorders involve people who don’t eat enough food, people who eat and purge (by either vomiting or using laxatives, diuretics and/or enemas), people who have drastic weight loss that isn’t assisted by a doctor, and also people who overeat. Many people will go to great lengths to make it appear that they are eating when they really are not. Many other people will go to great lengths to make it appear that they are not eating, when they really are. Hiding the amount you are eating is often a red flag that you may have a problem.

Many people with eating disorders use food as a way to deal with the problems that they are facing in their life. Whether it be that food allows them to have some form of control in their life or food allows them to be good to themselves when everything else seems uncontrollable and/or bad. For people who use food as comfort, it will often bring a level of comfort that often ends up making them unhealthier and feeling bad about themselves.
As mentioned earlier, people with eating disorders will go to great lengths to hide the fact that their eating habits are not what would be considered the norm (whether it is actually too much or too little). As such, it can be difficult for loved ones to notice that there is a problem until such times as the symptoms of each one start to take a hold. When symptoms are quick and/or drastic, a total change in the physical appearance and demeanor of someone, it is not that hard to miss. Other times, it’s not that easy to notice.

Perhaps the biggest issue faced by the people who suffer from eating disorders is that many of them simply don’t believe that they need help. It may take some level of intervention to get them to a doctor, at which point they can be properly diagnosed. Therapy is an essential part of the healing process with eating disorders, as you really have to get to the heart of why the person is doing it in the first place. No two people have the same triggers, and it is only by talking to a mental health professional that the reasons can be uncovered and worked upon.