08/10/2021
Thirty years ago, I worked with someone who spent most of the day eating. In between, she somehow accomplished the accounting! But it became awkward between us because I realised she was also vomiting - often, every day.
How could I have known? Because I had also suffered from Anorexia Nervosa…and for me, it was a 20-year battle. So it wasn’t that hard to recognise a few of the signs of an eating disorder; which in reality is an obsession with food and resulting compensatory behaviour. My co-worker showed all the signs of Bulimia Nervosa. Later she confirmed this after I asked.
It's a horrible way to live and takes away many if not most of the pleasures of life. The whole day centres around food - and not in a good way. It becomes an overwhelming obsession.
I have met so many people who have suffered from an eating disorder. They often feel depressed, trapped, and hopeless.
Here is a shortlist of eating disorder classifications:
Anorexia Nervosa - restrictive eating with a fear of gaining weight. A lack of recognition of the seriousness of the low body weight and a distorted view of body shape. That used to be me.
Bulemia Nervosa - repeated binge eating with a feeling one can't stop eating and compensatory behaviour to prevent weight gains such as vomiting, fasting, or exercise. 1-14 or more times weekly.
Binge-eating- Repeated, uncontrolled eating, usually in secret, followed by distress. Compensatory vomiting not occurring.
Restrictive - lack of interest in eating, significantly affecting nutritional requirements.
Pica - eating non-nutritional substances, such as paper, paint, or pebbles.
Rumination - repeated regurgitation of previously swallowed food, re-chewed, and re-swallowed or spat out.
There are many reasons why eating disorders commence. They can start after an episode of dieting or multiple life stressors like broken relationships, negative feelings, boredom, and sadly, childhood physical or sexual abuse.
More often than not, females are the most likely to develop eating disorders (10 females to 1 male). However, a growing number of males are now succumbing to eating disorders.
In my co-workers' case, vomiting brought immediate relief from emotional and weight concerns. For me, I wanted attention from my parents. I also enjoyed the attention from others. But it was short-lived and had long term consequences like shame, distress, weight fluctuations, loneliness, hopelessness and significant health risks.
I don't know whether my co-worker ever recovered because she moved interstate. But I did. I ended up seeking help and overcame my obsessive behaviour. Perhaps you, or someone you know, needs support at the moment. You can call now to make a start and gain the freedom you've wanted.
https://www.jennybrown.net.au/
