Eating Disorders like Anorexia Nervosa Are Not Addictions
by Ellern Mede Eating Disorder TreatmentEating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia
are often referred to as an “addiction.” Is there any truth to it? Are these
disorders really a form of addiction? Well, not really!
The treatment of anorexia and other eating
disorders is a highly specialised field. Unless you have been directly involved
with it over a long period of time, it can be extremely difficult to understand
the “eating disorder voice” and how distressing the illogical and distorted
thought processes can be to the anorexic individual.
What approach does anorexia
nervosa treatment need
to take?
Assuming that eating disorders are addictions,
it would only stand to reason that the addictions model of treatment would be
the most effective. Some would argue that it is the only effective
method of treatment. Those who follow this model believe that eating disorders
are simply variants of substance abuse addictions. The problem with this model
is that it lumps all eating disorders together into the same category – whether
the issue is anorexia, binge eating, compulsive overeating, or bulimia. It
leaves no room to consider the fact that each of these is an illness unto
itself. They are all different in their aetiology (causes and origins).
Furthermore, the addictions model of treatment
suggests that all types of eating disorders and substance abuse are virtually
the same in the way they begin, and the way they should be treated. The
addictions model focuses on the ‘addictive personality’ and abstinence. Where
disordered eating is concerned, one’s relationship with food is seen as an
addiction. Groups such as Overeaters Anonymous (OA) are based on this method,
and abstinence from binge eating is required – just as abstinence from alcohol
is required in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). In some cases, OA groups insist on
abstinence from “trigger foods” such as chocolate or sugary foods. These
methods of treatment, however, are not widely advocated by those specialising
in eating disorder
treatment in London, and there are several reasons for this.
First, any treatment method that requires
abstinence will only serve to promote the concept of dieting in the mindset of
anorexics. This is where it becomes imperative that the treatment provider be
familiar with the differences amongst the types of eating disorders, and the
“eating disorder voice.” Knowing how cognitive distortions may come into play
with regards to dieting vs. abstinence is essential. This is something that the
addictions model of treatment completely ignores. Secondly, the addictions
model of treatment does not address the core clinical features of most eating
disorders, such as irrational thoughts about food and weight, distorted body
image, or any psychobiological connections regarding self-starvation.
Application of the addictions model as one of the treatments for anorexia also
fails to address issues such as personal identity, control issues, or emotional
sensitivity.
There is no way how the statement that we see
and hear so often – “eating disorders are addictions” – can possibly be true.
There are too many major differences between anorexia and substance abuse, and
just as many differences amongst the various types of eating disorders for
everything to be treated equally.
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Created on Jan 28th 2020 04:27. Viewed 255 times.