Eating Disorders Causes
There are many theories about the Eating Disorders Causes including cultural influences, family patterns, psychological issues and biological components. Surprisingly, development of an eating disorder can be viewed as an attempt to solve a complex set of emotional and psychological difficulties.
Often the person with an eating disorder is seeking security and self-protection in the only way they know.
Some potential eating disorder causes include:
- Our society’s emphasis on being as thin as models at the same time that were encouraged to eat fast food and use alcohol (empty calories)
- Low self esteem
- Shame (our secret fears that we are worthless)
- Depression
- Losses and grief
- Abuse (of any sort)
- Relationship disappointments/conflicts
- Perfectionism (if it makes my outside okay, then maybe everything else I’m scared about will be okay)
- Anger
- Feeling controlled by others
- Loneliness
- Inability to feel feelings/ bottling them up
- Alcohol/drug use/abuse
- Anxiety/panic attacks
Because an eating disorder is a “solution”, no matter how dangerous or self-destructive, it is difficult to give up. A supportive intervention program that addresses the physical, behavioral, and emotional aspects of an eating disorder is essential for effective treatment.