Aside from disordered eating, can you think of any other behaviors that have similar causes? What might some solutions be (interventions) for the behaviors you think of and/or for eating disorders?
First off, I don’t think the causes of eating disorders are the same for everyone. It could be caused from a number of different factors. It can be family related, the child may not have any control in a dysfunctional family so they control the only thing they can--their weight. They may be looking for attention. They may have low self-esteem or suffer from self-hatred. They may have problems with impulse control such as in the "binging" associated with Bulimia. Demands from society and the pressure to be thin may be the cause along with the media playing a huge part in adding to the pressure. I think any emotional disorder can have similar causes. People may suffer from depression or anxiety disorders because they don’t like their image and have low self-esteem. People with Obsessive-compulsive disorders have problems with impulse control. All can be treated with individual treatment, group and/or family therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be effective in identifying faulty thinking and challenging these beliefs. Exposure therapy can also be used. Gestalt and “the empty chair” can be useful in helping the client realize who they actually are instead of the image they created of themselves that simply is not there. Behavior therapy can help clients learn better behaviors. Lastly, postmodern approaches can help clients develop a healthy self-identity so they can resolve their flawed opinions of themselves.
Hello All, I have recently heard of strange eating disorder called "manorexia,” which is the chewing and spitting, and eating paper. There was a young lady on Tyra's show who ate paper to fill her stomach so she wouldn’t have to eat full meals. She started with the eating disorder at age 7. She was triggered back into the behavior by watching an episode of America’s Next Top Model.Even though she knew that eating paper to fill her stomach would harm her, she felt powerless to stop it. The media messages and images to be thin had more influence and power over her will and need to be safe and healthy.
I have a very close friend who is dealing with a 23 year old child with bulimia. It has been at least 4 years since she bagan and has not see any improvement even though she is seeing a therapist regularly. I have known this child for a long time and she has always been an attention seeker. I wonder could this have started as as a way to get attention and now it is a condition she can't quit?
I agree with Dawn, not all disorders are the same. When children, I would say teenage girls, have an eating disorder it could be from peer pressure. Girls can be very cruel to one another. If there are clicks in school some girls can feel left out so they will try to do anything to get attention, whether it be a positive or a negative situation. Whether it be doing drugs, having an eating disorder or drinking alcohol any disorder can be helped if you search for it. There is help for anyone who needs it...
A social phobia has many of the same behaviors that are seen by a person with an eating disorder. Usually this person has low self-esteem and feelings of inferiority. Paxil is one medication available for this. Another approach can be cognitive-behavior therapy. In this therapy they try to correct people's perceptions of what others are thinking about them and what the real consequences are of a less than perfect performance. This type of therapy helps the person put things in perspective.
Eating disorders are all-consuming attention seeking self-destructive behaviors. Society sets the stage for these disorders, then pressures a percentage of people to fall victim to the disorders. The self-destructive piece is the hardest to get a handle on AND the most important piece to facilitate a "cure." What are the factors that create self-hatred in the indivdual? Its different for everyone, but there must be connecting links.
We are facing with so many destructive behaviors, sometimes we are asking ourselves: where is this world going? Here another disorder people pay little attention to. however, it is as destructive as eating disorder or any other disorder:workaholic (a person who works compulsively). People who have this disorder suffer from a lack of self-esteem and want to demonstrate to their entourage their prowess. These people don't make time for their family and even for themselves because they are absorb with work. they are always on the go. I don't know if there is some kind of intervention yet for this disorder. that's a good question to ask to Mr Schissler.
Professor HFS, I agree with your comment that "Society sets the stage for these disorders, then pressures a percentage of people to fall victim to the disorders." Society prompts us with strong mental cues through media and print about how we should look. Good bad or indifferent. If one can not meet these expectations, they often find themselves doign what ever it takes to measure up; even if it means eating paper to fill up their stomachs or vomiting what they've eaten to get and stay thin.
On a personal level, for me it was a matter of control. "It" was mine, no one else knew about it, and when they found out...I was outraged and it only got worse. I was going through a rough time (parents divorcing, long-time boyfriend moved to Miami, and first time living on my own) and I felt as though I was loosing control of MY world. It started, not by conscious decision making, but somewhat by accident due to a knee surgery. I was prescribed laxatives after the surgery and it kinda just slowly got out of control. My breaking point landed me in the institute of living day program and I HATED it. The last thing I wanted to hear about was the nutritional value of food. It WASN'T about that. And I was fuming mad about my family knowing and dragging me there. My condition became even more secret and way worse than before. My recovery came from within. I litterally woke up one morning and had had it. I was done, or so I thought. I SLOWLY began to get better by myself. Today... I still have tiny issues with food (like I can't stand if people eat off of my plate or make comments about what I'm eating) but I eat and it stays in my tummy! Yeah Me! As far as therapy... it didn't work for me. The most helpful thing for me was meeting a girl and discovering she had suffered from a similar eating disorder. We talked for hours about it and I really felt like she understood. Having the "flashback" conversation almost made me want to start again. Thankfully I was strong enough to overcome these urges and have moved on. I haven't had an urge to start again, (it's been about 6yrs now) but I also can not say that I won't some day in the future. Staying very organized and busy seems to help alot. O.K. enough about that... I'm gonna go get a pizza!
9 comments:
First off, I don’t think the causes of eating disorders are the same for everyone. It could be caused from a number of different factors. It can be family related, the child may not have any control in a dysfunctional family so they control the only thing they can--their weight. They may be looking for attention. They may have low self-esteem or suffer from self-hatred. They may have problems with impulse control such as in the "binging" associated with Bulimia. Demands from society and the pressure to be thin may be the cause along with the media playing a huge part in adding to the pressure. I think any emotional disorder can have similar causes. People may suffer from depression or anxiety disorders because they don’t like their image and have low self-esteem. People with Obsessive-compulsive disorders have problems with impulse control. All can be treated with individual treatment, group and/or family therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be effective in identifying faulty thinking and challenging these beliefs. Exposure therapy can also be used. Gestalt and “the empty chair” can be useful in helping the client realize who they actually are instead of the image they created of themselves that simply is not there. Behavior therapy can help clients learn better behaviors. Lastly, postmodern approaches can help clients develop a healthy self-identity so they can resolve their flawed opinions of themselves.
Hello All,
I have recently heard of strange eating disorder called "manorexia,” which is the chewing and spitting, and eating paper. There was a young lady on Tyra's show who ate paper to fill her stomach so she wouldn’t have to eat full meals. She started with the eating disorder at age 7. She was triggered back into the behavior by watching an episode of America’s Next Top Model.Even though she knew that eating paper to fill her stomach would harm her, she felt powerless to stop it. The media messages and images to be thin had more influence and power over her will and need to be safe and healthy.
I have a very close friend who is dealing with a 23 year old child with bulimia. It has been at least 4 years since she bagan and has not see any improvement even though she is seeing a therapist regularly. I have known this child for a long time and she has always been an attention seeker. I wonder could this have started as as a way to get attention and now it is a condition she can't quit?
I agree with Dawn, not all disorders are the same. When children, I would say teenage girls, have an eating disorder it could be from peer pressure. Girls can be very cruel to one another. If there are clicks in school some girls can feel left out so they will try to do anything to get attention, whether it be a positive or a negative situation. Whether it be doing drugs, having an eating disorder or drinking alcohol any disorder can be helped if you search for it. There is help for anyone who needs it...
A social phobia has many of the same behaviors that are seen by a person with an eating disorder. Usually this person has low self-esteem and feelings of inferiority. Paxil is one medication available for this. Another approach can be cognitive-behavior therapy. In this therapy they try to correct people's perceptions of what others are thinking about them and what the real consequences are of a less than perfect performance. This type of therapy helps the person put things in perspective.
Eating disorders are all-consuming attention seeking self-destructive behaviors. Society sets the stage for these disorders, then pressures a percentage of people to fall victim to the disorders. The self-destructive piece is the hardest to get a handle on AND the most important piece to facilitate a "cure." What are the factors that create self-hatred in the indivdual? Its different for everyone, but there must be connecting links.
Hello everyone,
We are facing with so many destructive behaviors, sometimes we are asking ourselves: where is this world going? Here another disorder people pay little attention to. however, it is as destructive as eating disorder or any other disorder:workaholic (a person who works compulsively). People who have this disorder suffer from a lack of self-esteem and want to demonstrate to their entourage their prowess. These people don't make time for their family and even for themselves because they are absorb with work. they are always on the go. I don't know if there is some kind of intervention yet for this disorder. that's a good question to ask to Mr Schissler.
Mireille
Professor HFS, I agree with your comment that "Society sets the stage for these disorders, then pressures a percentage of people to fall victim to the disorders." Society prompts us with strong mental cues through media and print about how we should look. Good bad or indifferent. If one can not meet these expectations, they often find themselves doign what ever it takes to measure up; even if it means eating paper to fill up their stomachs or vomiting what they've eaten to get and stay thin.
On a personal level, for me it was a matter of control. "It" was mine, no one else knew about it, and when they found out...I was outraged and it only got worse. I was going through a rough time (parents divorcing, long-time boyfriend moved to Miami, and first time living on my own) and I felt as though I was loosing control of MY world. It started, not by conscious decision making, but somewhat by accident due to a knee surgery. I was prescribed laxatives after the surgery and it kinda just slowly got out of control. My breaking point landed me in the institute of living day program and I HATED it. The last thing I wanted to hear about was the nutritional value of food. It WASN'T about that. And I was fuming mad about my family knowing and dragging me there. My condition became even more secret and way worse than before. My recovery came from within. I litterally woke up one morning and had had it. I was done, or so I thought. I SLOWLY began to get better by myself. Today... I still have tiny issues with food (like I can't stand if people eat off of my plate or make comments about what I'm eating) but I eat and it stays in my tummy! Yeah Me!
As far as therapy... it didn't work for me. The most helpful thing for me was meeting a girl and discovering she had suffered from a similar eating disorder. We talked for hours about it and I really felt like she understood. Having the "flashback" conversation almost made me want to start again. Thankfully I was strong enough to overcome these urges and have moved on. I haven't had an urge to start again, (it's been about 6yrs now) but I also can not say that I won't some day in the future. Staying very organized and busy seems to help alot.
O.K. enough about that... I'm gonna go get a pizza!
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