People
with eating disorders may face an especially
difficult struggle, since food is essential to
survival. There's no avoiding it — you have to deal
with it on a daily basis. Having an eating disorder
and being overweight is a double whammy,
particularly since many people think of the
emaciation of anorexia when they think about eating
disorders.
So how do you cope with a
serious illness that may also subject you to ridicule and scorn?
- Ease up on yourself. Don't buy into your own self-criticism.
- Identify situations that are likely to trigger thoughts or behavior that may contribute to eating
binges so that you can develop a plan of action to deal with them.
- Look for positive role models who can help lift your self-esteem, even if they're not easy to
find. Remind yourself that the ultrathin models or actresses showcased
in women's magazines or gossip magazines often don't represent healthy,
realistic bodies.
- If you're hiding your eating disorder from loved ones, try to find a trusted confidante you
can talk to about what's going on. Together, you may be able to come up
with some treatment options.
- Try to find someone who can be your partner in the battle against this disorder. Someone you can
call on for support instead of bingeing.
- Consider journaling about your feelings and behaviors. Journaling can make you more aware of your
feelings and actions, and how they're intertwined.
*End of Mayo Clinic content.
