Eating disorders are often overlooked when it comes to mental health issues. These disorders are easy to conceal. Many people don’t discover their loved one has this condition until there’s been a significant change in their health.
It is not uncommon to be diagnosed with a dual condition of having an eating disorder and addiction. Thankfully, by entering an addiction recovery center, you will get the necessary treatment to help you overcome both of these disorders.
Eating disorders leading to addiction
The desire to be a certain body weight can drive a person into having an eating disorder. Anorexia, Bulimia, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder are just a few of the more common forms of eating disorders.
People limit the amount they eat by different means so that they can continue to lose weight or so that they can stay at their current weight.
However this is very difficult to do. Your body does not want to be in a state of starvation because it knows it is not healthy. Many people with eating disorders turn to stimulants to keep themselves from eating.
At first, it may be over-the-counter diet pills or even prescription medications. However, the body will still desire food because it needs it to function. Soon the person with the eating disorder has to turn to much stronger stimulants to keep from eating.
Soon an addiction to the stronger stimulant overtakes the person. Now they are suffering from the physical, emotional, and mental distress caused by an eating disorder and the addiction. It is at this point that they need to seek help from a qualified drug rehab program.
Eating disorders caused by addiction
Many people also suffer from eating disorders as a result of their addiction. They do not even realize that they are harming their bodies by what or how they eat until they are in drug rehab and their substance abuse counselor is working with them.
Addiction can cause you to go for long periods of time without eating. Different situations with addiction may cause you only to eat foods that are not nutritional or to eat so poorly that your body is malnourished.
The malnourishment then leads to medical issues and discomfort, which the person then uses more of their preferred substance to hide this new pain. It is a vicious circle. The end result is the same. However, you are suffering from addiction and an eating disorder.
Dual Diagnosis is not uncommon
It is not uncommon for someone with an addiction to enter into a substance recovery program to receive a dual diagnosis. Other mental health issues often accompany addiction. These disorders can contribute to the addiction or be a result of the addiction. Either way, there is help.
When you enter into a drug rehab program, you will work with medical professionals that are going to help you recover from your addiction. Part of the process is addressing all of the health issues that may lead to your addiction or result from your addiction.
When you can manage these conditions, staying in recovery will become much easier. This is why it is so important to work with a drug rehabilitation center that treats all your conditions and not just the addiction.
When you feel better physically and mentally, it is much easier to focus on overcoming your addiction and staying sober. Feeling physically better is conducive to feeling mentally better. This helps you with sobriety and building a new life after addiction.
A note about eating disorders
Eating disorders are serious conditions that many people overlook. If you suspect that you or your loved one is suffering from an eating disorder, it may be very beneficial to get your loved one help as soon as possible. Doing so before it advances to other conditions like addiction or health problems makes dealing with it much easier. Eating disorders can harm you emotionally and physically.
Addictions do not always happen with an eating disorder. They can, however, be an addiction in itself, depending on the type of disorder. Seek therapy for any type of eating disorder, even if you think it is manageable. Overcoming this problem can help you in many areas of your life and prevent many things from occurring in the future.
