Eating Disorders and Anxiety
Anxiety manifests in many ways, and it is no surprise that the symptoms of anxiety are also connected to eating disorders. Whether struggling with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder or disordered eating, learning about symptoms and how to best manage anxiety can benefit recovery.
By: Anna Capetola
It is no secret that there is a strong correlation between eating disorders and anxiety. According to Kaye et al., (2004), approximately two-thirds of individuals with eating disorders also battle with anxiety at some point in their lives. Research has also shown that about 42% of people experience an anxiety disorder before their eating disorder (Kaye et al., 2004). There are several types of anxiety disorders, but the two most common to co-occur with an eating disorder are Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Social Anxiety Disorder, also known as Social Phobia (Kaye et al., 2004).
OCD is defined as recurrent, unwanted thoughts or sensations also referred to as obsessions, that lead to repeated behavior, such as compulsions. This behavior can interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions. For individuals with eating disorders, compulsions can show up in the form of food rituals like tearing food into small pieces, weighing food, eating one food group at a time, eating finger foods with utensils, and more.
Social phobia is marked as an intense and persistent fear of being watched or judged by others. For instance, someone with an eating disorder may feel anxious when others are watching them eat or drink. However, the fear can extend beyond that and it can affect work, school, and other daily activities. With this being said, it can be challenging to establish and maintain social connections along the way.
Generally speaking, anxiety is the body’s natural way of responding to stress, fear, uncertainty, and change. It can be caused by a combination of factors, including environmental, physiological, neurological, and genetics. For many, the response can include physical symptoms such as nausea, digestive trouble, headache, restlessness, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, and more. These symptoms can evoke feelings of losing control, which can be uncomfortable and overwhelming. For someone with an eating disorder, they might attempt to cope with this loss by controlling other areas of their life, like food intake. However, an eating disorder will only act as an illusion of control, meaning it does not actually help the situation, in fact, it causes more harm. To put things into perspective, compared to other psychiatric illnesses, eating disorders have the second-highest mortality rate. If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or disordered eating, know that you are not alone and help is out there.
Treatment Options
It is possible to treat anxiety and eating disorders at the same time, however recovery from one disorder does not ensure recovery from another, so seeking help for both is key. There are several therapeutic interventions that can help treat anxiety and eating disorders. One treatment intervention, in particular, is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This method is best known for identifying, understanding, and altering thought and behavioral patterns. Additionally, medications under the supervision and regulation of a doctor can be another way to manage symptoms. If you are ambivalent about your anxiety or eating disorder, joining a support group can be a helpful first step in your road to recovery.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, we offer a variety of virtual programs, groups, and individual services personalized to meet each client’s needs. Our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating behaviors and body image issues.
Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our virtual programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below or read more about our philosophy here.
This post was written by BALANCE Social Work Intern, Anna Capetola.
Anna is a second-year graduate student at New York University pursuing her Master’s in Social Work. She completed her undergraduate education at Quinnipiac University, majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology. She previously worked for Vibrant Emotional Health, formerly known as The Mental Health Association of NYC, where she conducted assessments, provided short-term counseling, and offered crisis intervention services to individuals who were struggling with an array of mental health and substance use concerns. Anna also has experience working with the Traumatic Brain Injury population, as well as individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is devoted to learning about the mind-body connection, health, and overall wellness. She is deeply passionate about eating disorder awareness and recovery. Anna believes everyone has the right to feel supported, accepted, understood, valued, and cared for.
Reference
Kaye, W. H., Bulik, C. M., Thornton, L., Barbarich, N., & Masters, K. (2004). Comorbidity of anxiety disorders with anorexia and bulimia nervosa. The American journal of psychiatry, 161(12), 2215–2221. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.12.2215