Nourishing Mind and Body to Overcome an Eating Disorder

Patient Education

This article is tailored for patients. Refer your patients to this article for them to learn more about their condition.

 

Overcoming an eating disorder is never easy. It’s not a linear process, and people going through recovery are likely to experience several setbacks. Recovery is not impossible, though. 

 

Practicing some strategies for nourishing the mind and body will be helpful in overcoming the condition.

Look into the Mind-Body Connection

 

Everything in our bodies is connected. As such, looking into the mind-body connection of eating disorders can be a good first step into recovery. 

 

One of the best ways to build a mind-body connection is to practice mindfulness. Becoming more mindful of your own harmful thoughts about food and body image can make it easier to challenge them. 

 

To practice mindfulness, you can try to do breathing exercises and just stay present in the moment. Noticing all the sensations in your body can help you regain control of your emotions and be more aware of how they affect you. You may also want to try journaling so that you have a better view of your feelings and emotions. 

 

Lastly, always remember to practice self-compassion. Give yourself more grace. The recovery journey isn’t easy, and acknowledging that things are getting a little bit difficult is healthy. This reduces the severity of your negative thoughts and promotes healing in the mind and body. 

Get Nutritional Support

 

Those who are dealing with eating disorders are in real need of proper nutritional support. Proper nutrition is very important when dealing with an eating disorder since it’s how your body will support overall health. 

 

If you can, try to work with a nutritionist. While they can’t always help you develop healthier habits toward food, they are great at giving you tips on how to get essential nutrients in. 

 

Working with a nutritionist can also give you a personalized meal plan that focuses on nutrient-dense foods. These meal plans are good for those who are lacking the essential nutrients because of their disorder. Slowly incorporating healthy foods into your diet can help you fully recover and stay healthy. 

Seek Therapeutic Support 

 

Eating disorders are mental health conditions, and therefore, they require therapeutic support. Therapeutic support from healthcare professionals helps nourish the mind and essentially “fix” the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to the disorder.

 

Here are some evidence-based therapies used during eating disorder recovery:

 

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of talk therapy that challenges negative thought patterns and behaviors that may contribute to the eating disorder. Once these thought patterns and behaviors are identified, clients will work with clients to develop healthier coping mechanisms to reduce the frequency of harmful behaviors. For instance, clients may learn about Set Point Theory and body diversity to challenge the harmful notion that one must constantly strive for a specific body size.

• Interpersonal Therapy (IP): Interpersonal Therapy is an approach that looks at how a person’s relationship with others affects how they look at food and body image. During IP, therapists will help clients learn about which of their relationships directly or indirectly contribute to their condition. Then, they will help the client build healthier relationships with others to manage the symptoms of their eating disorder. 

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT can be more effective for those who don’t respond to traditional CBT. It helps those who experience intense and destructive behaviors with their eating disorders. DBT is a structured treatment that helps with eliminating maladaptive behaviors.

• Exposure Therapy: Some patients may struggle with eating disorders because of a fear of food anxiety around body image. Through exposure therapy, clients are gradually exposed to these triggers in a safe and controlled setting. Over time, this will help patients feel more comfortable facing these fears. 

 

Remember that these evidence-based therapies require active participation from you, the patient. Without the willingness and honesty to engage in these therapies, they may be useless and not contribute to recovery. 

Build Healthy Routines

 

Building a healthy routine can also improve your overall well-being and eventually overcome the symptoms of an eating disorder.  Structure in daily life can make it easier to build healthy eating habits and reduce the urge to give in to disordered eating. 

 

A healthy routine may also include incorporating gentle movement or exercise throughout the day. This can be light walking, a yoga session, or any workout class of your choice. 

 

Incorporating movement throughout the day can be a good way to improve body acceptance and overall well-being. They’ll make you feel better, which is very important when someone is recovering from an eating disorder. 

The Bottom Line

 

Those with eating disorders may find recovery very difficult. Fortunately, there are different ways to nourish the mind and body to overcome and manage eating disorders. With the proper support and strategies, you can create a healthier relationship with food and body image.

 

As always, it’s best to seek professional help when it comes to mental health problems. Professionals can provide the right help and support needed for anyone going through eating disorder recovery.