It's staggering how much trauma and eating disorders are related.
NEDA shows these statistics on Eating Disorders.
A 2007 study asked 9,282 English-speaking Americans about a variety of mental health conditions, including eating disorders. The results, published in Biological Psychiatry, found that 3.5% of women and 2.0% of men had binge eating disorder during their life
This makes BED more than three times more common than anorexia and bulimia combined.
In a study of 31,406 Swedish twins born from 1935-1958, 1.2% of the women had strictly defined anorexia nervosa during their lifetime, which increased to 2.4% when a looser definition of anorexia was used.
A 2007 study asked 9,282 English-speaking Americans about a variety of mental health conditions, including eating disorders. The results, published in Biological Psychiatry, found that 1.5% of women and 0.5% of men had bulimia during their life
These statistics are significant alone without looking at trauma.
Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross shared these statistics:
Why put forth statistics? Because it gives us a picture of how many individuals struggle with eating disorders, and these statistics don't include those without a specific diagnosis of the 3 diagnoses addressed here. Then looking at how trauma is correlated to eating disorders is important to show that survivors aren't alone in struggling with an eating disorder or even an eating problem not diagnosed.
There is hope though. Recovery for those struggling with an eating disorder and/or trauma is a process but is attainable with hard work. It will unlikely be a perfect recovery, meaning that there may be ongoing struggles but never as bad as the original journey of recovery. Merriam Webster Dictionary Online defines recovery as the process of combating a disorder or a real or perceived problem. The key word being process. Deciding to choose recovery is step one, but the actions of recovery are a series of steps. Being a process means that everyone takes a different amount of time to reach a point of stability and resolution of symptoms.
Why do trauma and eating disorders go together? The jury is still out on that question. My thoughts are that trauma wasn't in our control. People don't choose to be traumatized. Eating however, initially individuals have control over their eating. Perhaps there is a significant relationship because it was something to control in the midst of a lack of control? Maybe in a an abused child's life food was used as a tool of manipulation or reward? Maybe there wasn't food readily available because of neglectful parents? Initially eating is something we have control over, but as an eating disorder progresses, it takes on a life of it's own. It is something that begins to control the individual with potentially life threatening consequences. While studies vary, the mortality rate of individuals with eating disorders is somewhere around 3-4%. Adding the rate of completed suicides of those with PTSD which is staggering, it's important that no matter what, a survivor of trauma with symptoms of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-injury or any other symptoms seek help as soon as possible.
Where is God?
He's right there with us. Unfortunately it's a fallen world where sin has separated us, but no matter what, He still loves us. I think He tries to show us this in the little things in our lives. Perhaps a note of encouragement from someone, or a beautiful butterfly landing outside our window, or the sun's rays warming our face on a chilly day. I know that there have been ways that God has reached out to me outside of church or scripture. Even on the darkest days, He will give me something if I can just see it or hear it. The words of a song, the form of a cloud, a rain drop on the window, the chirp of a bird, the purr of a kitten, or any number of other ways He shares He is there with me. Sometimes it is bolder - maybe someone tells me He is there and reminds me of how He moved in my life before. Sometimes we can experience so much pain, that even beginning to see anything from God is nearly impossible. That's where faith and just being come in. Sometimes that is too much, and it boils down to a choice to hold on to hope that we don't believe is there. But, because God tells us He is there, it's a choice to hold fast until the darkest of darkness passes.
Psalm 147:3 - He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Isaiah 40:31 - But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Psalm 31:24 - Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
Isaiah 41:10 - So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Let me leave this with you. No matter what you are going through today, you are worth investing time and energy in your recovery. You are more precious than the most precious stone, and God loves you dearly.
NEDA shows these statistics on Eating Disorders.
A 2007 study asked 9,282 English-speaking Americans about a variety of mental health conditions, including eating disorders. The results, published in Biological Psychiatry, found that 3.5% of women and 2.0% of men had binge eating disorder during their life
This makes BED more than three times more common than anorexia and bulimia combined.
In a study of 31,406 Swedish twins born from 1935-1958, 1.2% of the women had strictly defined anorexia nervosa during their lifetime, which increased to 2.4% when a looser definition of anorexia was used.
A 2007 study asked 9,282 English-speaking Americans about a variety of mental health conditions, including eating disorders. The results, published in Biological Psychiatry, found that 1.5% of women and 0.5% of men had bulimia during their life
These statistics are significant alone without looking at trauma.
Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross shared these statistics:
Why put forth statistics? Because it gives us a picture of how many individuals struggle with eating disorders, and these statistics don't include those without a specific diagnosis of the 3 diagnoses addressed here. Then looking at how trauma is correlated to eating disorders is important to show that survivors aren't alone in struggling with an eating disorder or even an eating problem not diagnosed.
There is hope though. Recovery for those struggling with an eating disorder and/or trauma is a process but is attainable with hard work. It will unlikely be a perfect recovery, meaning that there may be ongoing struggles but never as bad as the original journey of recovery. Merriam Webster Dictionary Online defines recovery as the process of combating a disorder or a real or perceived problem. The key word being process. Deciding to choose recovery is step one, but the actions of recovery are a series of steps. Being a process means that everyone takes a different amount of time to reach a point of stability and resolution of symptoms.
Why do trauma and eating disorders go together? The jury is still out on that question. My thoughts are that trauma wasn't in our control. People don't choose to be traumatized. Eating however, initially individuals have control over their eating. Perhaps there is a significant relationship because it was something to control in the midst of a lack of control? Maybe in a an abused child's life food was used as a tool of manipulation or reward? Maybe there wasn't food readily available because of neglectful parents? Initially eating is something we have control over, but as an eating disorder progresses, it takes on a life of it's own. It is something that begins to control the individual with potentially life threatening consequences. While studies vary, the mortality rate of individuals with eating disorders is somewhere around 3-4%. Adding the rate of completed suicides of those with PTSD which is staggering, it's important that no matter what, a survivor of trauma with symptoms of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-injury or any other symptoms seek help as soon as possible.
Where is God?
He's right there with us. Unfortunately it's a fallen world where sin has separated us, but no matter what, He still loves us. I think He tries to show us this in the little things in our lives. Perhaps a note of encouragement from someone, or a beautiful butterfly landing outside our window, or the sun's rays warming our face on a chilly day. I know that there have been ways that God has reached out to me outside of church or scripture. Even on the darkest days, He will give me something if I can just see it or hear it. The words of a song, the form of a cloud, a rain drop on the window, the chirp of a bird, the purr of a kitten, or any number of other ways He shares He is there with me. Sometimes it is bolder - maybe someone tells me He is there and reminds me of how He moved in my life before. Sometimes we can experience so much pain, that even beginning to see anything from God is nearly impossible. That's where faith and just being come in. Sometimes that is too much, and it boils down to a choice to hold on to hope that we don't believe is there. But, because God tells us He is there, it's a choice to hold fast until the darkest of darkness passes.
Psalm 147:3 - He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Isaiah 40:31 - But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Psalm 31:24 - Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
Isaiah 41:10 - So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Let me leave this with you. No matter what you are going through today, you are worth investing time and energy in your recovery. You are more precious than the most precious stone, and God loves you dearly.
