Disordered Eating vs Disordered Lifestyle
If I don’t have an eating disorder, what do I have? If you have thought this, you are not alone. In this article, you will look into the differences in eating issues, the impact of disordered eating behaviors, and treatment options.
What is Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are mental health disorders that impact the whole body. There are 6 common types and you can learn more here. These have specific criteria you have to meet to be diagnosed and receive specialized, tailored treatment. Eating disorders are severe and life threatening.
Often, Eating Disorders is a general term to include all eating issues. This isn’t reality, though. It’s not so clean cut. You might check some boxes but not all apply.
For many, you may feel frustrated and like your complaints aren’t being addressed. You may feel lost. This is where disordered eating comes in.
What is Disordered Eating?
Disordered eating is problematic patterns or behaviors surrounding food and lifestyle choices. It can lead to eating disorders if left untreated for some. Disordered Eating is serious and can be harmful but less extreme than eating disorders. There is a fine line, though.
Examples of Disordered Eating:
Ritualistic behaviors (only eating at this time, eating once a day, etc.)
Fad Diets
Fad Exercising Systems/Routines
Diet Pills/Supplements
Hyper focus on appearance or clothes
Under- or over-eating
Obsessively documenting on social media
Emotionally Eating
Disordered eating for a lot of us started at a young age. Often modeled by adults in our lives or the negative messages we received. Negative messages that became our mantras, fueling our behaviors surrounding food and exercise, making an impact lasting a lifetime.
Disordered Lifestyle. Is it a better term?
As a lifestyle therapist, I struggle with calling it disordered eating, as it isn’t just food behaviors. I prefer to call it a disordered lifestyle. It affects our relationship with food, exercise, people, and ourselves. It plays a part in our mental well-being and thought processes.
How does a Disordered Lifestyle Impact Me?
Relationship with Food
Outside sources impact our relationship with food. From our younger years, when our moms took us to that diet club meeting, that taught us to assign food points. Often putting food into categories of bad or good increasing shaming thoughts and behaviors when we eat the items on the bad list.
We lost touch that food nourishes us and our bodies. It’s the fuel and healing source. Eat food in the truest, most natural form is best. Focusing on whole foods that are plant based ensures your body is getting the most nutrients.
Relationship with Exercise
Disorder lifestyle extends to exercise as well. Disordered exercise is over exercising, exercising more to eat specific foods, or specific workout rituals like wearing sweats while working out. When you put yourself through a rigorous workout program takes toll on your body, you create a disordered lifestyle response to food or body image. Disordered exercise is as obsessive as eating habits, often occurring together.
Relationship with People
Our relationships with others take a hit in a disordered lifestyle. We pick fights with others, hide behaviors from them, and avoid social situations surrounding food. It affects trust with others through deception, manipulation, and avoidance.
We also miss out on connection and opportunities with our disordered lifestyle. Isolation is a large part of the struggle so that others can’t pick up on your behaviors or to avoid having to eat around others. It can also be because you are too restrictive with your eating habits. You experience anxiety with the thought of going to a restaurant or party with others.
Relationship with Ourselves
Our self-relationship is one that takes the deepest pain. We are our own worst enemy. We have disordered thoughts that affect our self-esteem and how we view ourselves. For some, our thoughts affect our perceptions, causing disordered view on our self-image. We become uncomfortable being around ourselves as much as we are around others.
Relationship with Mental Well-being
When we are having negative thoughts or self-talk, it takes a toll on our mental health. Isolation and disconnection from others lead to depression. We experience anxiety when being around food or disrupted exercise routines. We doubt ourselves and sabotage any recovery efforts when thoughts and beliefs tell us we are not good enough. Despair, shame, and guilt become a spiral that can increase more disorder lifestyle behaviors if they go untreated. Some even result to use of alcohol and/or drugs to help cope. Our mental health affects our physical well-being.
How can I get help?
First step is questioning if you need help. Disordered lifestyle can lead to eating disorders if it goes unchecked. Some can recognize and change in order to prevent it from getting worse. Some need a little extra help. No path is better than another. Recovery is possible no matter what. You can contact me here for a free consultation.
Disclaimer: This is in no way a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or substance abuse/mental health services. This is for educational purposes only and should be in used only in conjunction in working with a licensed mental health professional. Reading this blog or responding to it does not constitute a provider-patient relationship. If you are looking for a local mental health professional feel free to use the contact tab to request an appointment or search Mental Health Match, Therapy Den, or Psychology Today for local therapists in your area. If this is a mental health or substance abuse emergency and you need immediate assistance, please call 911, call 988, go to your local ER, visit your local detox center, or call 211 if you are in Oklahoma.